URUMQI RIOT A "TERRORIST ACT": FBI DIRECTOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 002065 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/20/2034 TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM PTER CH SUBJECT: URUMQI RIOT A "TERRORIST ACT": FBI DIRECTOR MUELLER'S MEETING WITH MPS VICE MINISTER Classified By: Acting Political Minister Counselor Ben Moeling. Reasons 1.4 (b),(d). Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) The July 5 riot in Urumqi was a "terrorist act" and the rioters were "professional and well trained," Vice Minister of Public Security Liu Jing told visiting FBI Director Robert S. Mueller July ¶17. The violence in Urumqi was premeditated and well organized and had nothing to do with religious freedom or ethnic problems, the Vice Minister said. Liu Jing urged the United States to "restrict" Rebiya Kadeer so that she could not "harm people further." Director Mueller praiseQhina's decision tQlow unrestricted foreign media coverage of the violence. If China had evidence of terrorist involvement in the riot, Director Mueller said, then it should make this evidence public. Otherwise, outside observers would likely view the riot as an example of ethnic conflict. Contrary to China's claims, the USG had no evidence that Rebiya Kadeer incited the Urumqi riots. Director Mueller said that, in light of recent Al Qaeda threats against Chinese citizens abroad, the United States and China had a common interest in cooperating to protect Americans and Chinese from terrorists. Liu said China hoped to increase counter terrorism cooperation with the United States, including intelligence sharing. End Summary. Rioters Were "Professional and Well-Trained" -------------- ¶2. (C) Vice Minister of Public Security Liu Jing, in a July 17 meeting with FBI Director Robert S. Mueller, said the July 5 riot in Urumqi, Xinjiang was a "premeditated, well-organized terrorist activity." Liu said that, publicly, Chinese authorities were being cautious about characterizing the riots as a terrorist act, but China's law enforcement community was already using that term. The rioters were "professional, well-trained, and extremely brutal," Liu asserted, and killed many of their victims with a single blow. Even after the victims had died, the rioters would continue to smash their skulls in. The perpetrators made no distinction between old or young or between Han or other ethnic groups. The riots were unrelated to any ethnic problems or freedom of religion. The United States and China must fight together against violent terrorism, he added. Liu suggested that Director Mueller use his influence to urge U.S. leaders not to use double standards, not to make statements that run counter to U.S.-China cooperation, and not to support the "masterminds overseas" responsible for the unrest. ¶3. (C) The overall situation in Xinjiang was stable, Liu said, but authorities could not rule out further disturbances. Liu reported that, as of July 13, 196 people had died and 1,721 were injured, many of whom were still "critically ill." (Note: the official death toll has since risen to 197.) Liu showed Director Mueller an album containing photos of several dozen victims. The bodies appeared to be mainly Han and showed signs of severe trauma. Some photos showed Minister of Public Security Meng Jianzhu viewing bodies in a morgue. Liu also gave a detailed explanation of the July 13 fatal shooting of two Uighurs by Urumqi Public Security Bureau officers. Liu's version tracked closely with published official accounts of the shooting: those killed were armed with long knives, had attempted to incite Uighur worshippers at a mosque to engage in rioting and were only killed after they ignored warning shots. Liu said the incident was similar to the terrorist attacks experienced by U.S. forces in Afghanistan and Iraq. China Should Publicize Evidence of Terrorism -------------- ¶4. (C) Director Mueller praised the openness displayed by the MPS and the Chinese military in BEIJING 00002065 002 OF 002 allowing unrestricted media coverage of the Urumqi riots. Certain Islamic extremists, he noted, had aligned themselves to the Uighur cause, as evidenced by the recent calls by Al Qaeda Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) to attack Chinese citizens abroad, especially in Algeria. However, absent solid proof of terrorism, Mueller told Liu, most outside observers would view the Xinjiang unrest as an example of ethnic violence. To the extent China had evidence and proof of terrorism, or of terrorists starting and inflaming ethnic violence, it should make such evidence public, both via the media and in court proceedings. Director Mueller urged China to continue to be transparent. The public would need to see evidence for itself to be convinced, the Director stated, adding that the USG had no evidence that Rebiya Kadeer instigated the riots, as China has alleged. Kadeer enjoyed rights under the First Amendment and U.S. law enforcement could not take action against people for expressing their views, even though these views may make others uncomfortable. ¶5. (C) Referring to the AQIM threat against Chinese abroad, Director Muller said the United States and China had a shared interest in protecting their citizens and should expand information exchange and cooperation. Due to the nature of China's ties to Afghanistan, Pakistan, and other Muslim countries, China's intelligence services may have information that the United States does not. The two sides should exchange such information in order to eliminate this common enemy. USG Should Restrict Kadeer -------------- ¶6. (C) Liu replied that he supported increased information and intelligence exchanges, but this must be a "two-way street" and be in the interests of both sides. Liu said he agreed with the Director on the need to share evidence, and China would provide such evidence to the USG. Rebiya Kadeer and (Falun Gong founder) Li Hongzhi were in the "same boat," Liu said, adding that "anti-China" figures have "such a good life in the United States." If China provided evidence against Rebiya Kadeer, Liu said, he hoped the United States would take action. At the very least, the United States should restrict her from harming people further, he said. Shanghai Expo Security -------------- ¶7. (C) Liu reported that he will be in charge of overall security for the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai and invited Director Mueller to visit the Expo site. Liu said that, following the success of U.S.-China security cooperation during the 2008 Olympics, China was eager to work closely with the USG to ensure security at the World Expo. GOLDBERG