It was at a December 15 news conference in Beijing that the
Ministry of Public Security issued details of "Eastern Turkistan"
terrorism for the first time. Four "East Turkistan" terrorist
organizations were identified and 11 alleged members of the
organizations were named. Zhao Yongchen, deputy director of the
counter-terrorism bureau of the ministry responded to questions
from a dozen representatives of the media both domestic and
foreign.
Reporter: Why issue the list at this particular
point in time?
Zhao Yongchen: Not long after the September 11
attacks, the United Nations (UN) passed Resolution 1373. This
anti-terrorism measure calls on all UN states to take measures to
identify terrorist organizations and members of these
organizations. China as a permanent member of the UN Security
Council has a responsibility to fulfill anti-terrorist commitments
according to the UN resolution.
We have collected criminal intelligence on the "Eastern
Turkistan" terrorist organizations. Through a careful and rigorous
process of gathering evidence on their criminal activities we
completed an initial identification of four terrorist organizations
and 11 alleged members of the organizations. We have now taken the
step of formally making the list public. This demonstrates the
Chinese government's firm determination to act against
terrorism.
Reporter: It has been claimed for some time
that the "East Turkistan Information Center" merely performs a
social function. What evidence is there that it is actually a
terrorist organization?
Zhao Yongchen: Careful investigation has shown
that the "Eastern Turkistan Information Center" is actually an
out-and-out terrorist organization. It is engaged in terrorist
activities under cover of its front as an information provider. The
organization is devoted to the planning and implementation of
terrorist acts of violence both inside and outside Chinese
territory.
Firstly this is an organization that has openly propagated
extremism. It has published such works as Is Our Independence
Hopeful or Not and Independence or Death, articles
that clearly promote religious extremism. It has called for a holy
war to be conducted by means of violence and terror tactics. It
openly urges Muslims in China to engage in terrorist activities
aimed at Han nationality kindergartens, schools, government
institutions and the Chinese armed forces by means of bomb and
poison attacks.
Secondly it has developed terrorist organizations and
established terrorist networks via the Internet.
Thirdly it has gathered information on the Xinjiang Uygur
Autonomous Region and has provided this information to assist
terrorists conduct terror activities.
Fourthly it has both planned and been in command of terrorist
activities such as bomb attacks on infrastructure facilities like
oil and gas pipelines and railways inside Chinese territory.
Finally it has directed its members in the conduct of terrorist
activities through the Internet and Internet contacts. And it has
actively conspired with other terrorist organizations outside
Chinese territory via the Internet.
Reporter: What criteria are used in identifying
terrorist organizations and terrorists?
Zhao Yongchen: The criteria used to identify
terrorist organizations and terrorists are contained in the
relevant legislation of the People's Republic of China together
with relevant international law. Specifically, the standards used
to identify terrorist organizations are:
Firstly the organizations, which could have their headquarters
either inside or outside Chinese territory, would be engaged in
terrorist activities involving violence and terror and causing harm
to state security, social stability, lives and property.
Secondly they would have established leadership and
organizational structures with specialized roles within the
structures.
Finally the organizations would satisfy one of the following in
addition to meeting the first two criteria.
1. currently or previously involved in the organization,
planning, instigation, conduct or implementation of terrorist
activities?
2. financing and supporting terrorist activities
3. building bases used for terrorist activities or organizing,
recruiting and training terrorists
4. collaborating with international terrorist organizations by
receiving finance or training from these organizations or engaging
in terrorist activities with them
Terrorists are defined as follows:
Firstly they are people who have significant relationships with
terrorist organizations engaged in terrorist activities harmful to
state security or the lives and property of people inside or
outside Chinese territory. This would apply irrespective of whether
or not they have become naturalized citizens of foreign
countries;
Secondly in addition to the first criteria they would also meet
one of the following conditions:
1. organizing, commanding or engaged in terrorist
activities
2.? organizing, planning, propagating or instigating the
implementation of terrorist activities
3. financing and supporting terrorist organizations or terrorists
to assist them in the conduct of terrorist activities
4. funded or trained by a terrorist organization or other
international organization to engage in terrorist activities
Reporter: How many known terrorists are there
inside Chinese territory? And why don't you issue lists of
terrorist organizations including those operating outside Chinese
territory, other than those relating to "Eastern Turkistan"?
Zhao Yongchen: The list of terrorist
organizations and terrorists issued at this time has involved
careful identification based on sound criminal intelligence work
and known evidence of terrorist activities. Before we would
identify such organizations and terrorists we must be in possession
of the facts and have verified evidence.
As for the second question, the UN has established a sound
mechanism for issuing lists of terrorist organizations and
terrorists. It is the position of the Chinese government that the
fight against terrorism should be led by the UN and conducted in
conformity with international law and principles.
The Chinese government will comply with UN resolutions and
international law when identifying terrorist organizations and when
taking counter measures against them.?
Reporter: You mentioned that it is hoped that
foreign governments will support the Chinese government in
combating terrorism. Currently how many foreign governments are
supporting the Chinese government's anti-terrorism cause? And in
which fields would the Chinese government hope to cooperate with
foreign governments?
Zhao Yongchen: The Chinese Ministry of Public
Security has consistently stood for strengthening international
cooperation on anti-terrorism.
Firstly we wish to cooperate on anti-terrorist activities within
the UN framework. Secondly to engage in international
anti-terrorist cooperation via regional cooperative organizations
such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. And thirdly to
combat terrorism through bilateral police and judicial
cooperation.
According to the relevant UN resolutions we can cooperate with
other countries in combating terrorism by exchanging information,
arresting suspected terrorists, freezing their assets and
repatriating suspected terrorist criminals. Since the September 11
attacks, the Chinese government has conducted highly effective
anti-terrorist cooperation with the international community in the
above mentioned fields. In the future, we will continue to
strengthen cooperation in these fields.
Reporter: While fighting terrorism according to
the law how can it be guaranteed that the interest of local people
especially Uygurs will not be violated.
Zhao Yongchen: The publication of the list of
"Eastern Turkistan" terrorist organizations and terrorists is
intended to protect state security and effectively crack down on
terrorist activities. The "Eastern Turkistan" terrorists are not
representative of any nationality. Their terrorist activities have
severely violated the property rights, the right to economic
development, the right to health, the right to life and even the
very right to existence of the broad mass of the people including
Uygurs.
The crack down on their violence and terrorist activities
according to the law is aimed at effectively protecting the life
and property of all ethnic groups in the region including the
Uygurs. It is intended to serve the public interest, to maintain
the stability of Xinjiang and the surrounding regions, to maintain
the unity of the state and to promote social stability and the
smooth development of a modern socialist society.??
Those targeted in the crackdown are only a handful of the most
serious offenders. They are the key people, extremely violent
criminals engaged in planning, commanding, leading and organizing
terrorist activities and acts of violence. Therefore, in the
process of cracking down on the "Eastern Turkistan" terrorists, we
are protecting the human rights and interests of all citizens
including Uygurs.
Reporter: For Chinese citizens, terrorist
activities seem far removed from their daily lives. Would you
please give an overview of the emergence and development of
terrorism in China?
Zhao Yongchen: Terrorism can be said to have
been with us from ancient times. Since the 1960s the world has been
plagued by terrorist activities, which have gone through several
phases of development. Terrorism has changed since the end of the
cold war. Today the international community would categorize
terrorism into extreme religious terrorism, separatist terrorism,
ultra-left terrorism, ultra-right terrorism and the terrorism of
evil cults and the criminal underworld. Currently terrorism linked
to religious extremism and separatism does the greatest damage to
international society.
Terrorist activities include bombing, assassination, murder,
hostage taking, hijacking airplanes, hijacking vehicles and attacks
on property. In the future, terrorism can be expected to move on to
biological terrorism, chemical terrorism and even nuclear radiation
terrorism and there will be Internet terrorism.
We need to face up to the threat of terrorism. Ordinary people
should become more aware of how to be on their guard against such
attacks and how best to react to try to stay safe in the event of
an emergency.
Reporter: As for the list identifying the first
batch of "Eastern Turkistan" terrorist organizations and alleged
members of the organizations, which countries does the Chinese
government particularly hope to engage with it and what is the
message it would like to get across? And when can we expect second
and third lists to be made public?
Zhao Yongchen: We need to strengthen
anti-terrorist cooperation with related countries. This would
especially be the case with neighboring countries and countries
where terrorist activities are comparatively prevalent and would
include for example member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation
Organization.
On the second question, the investigation, identification and
verification of terrorist organizations and terrorists represent a
lengthy process. We will decide whether and when to issue a second
list only after careful investigation and according to established
facts and the rule of law.
Reporter: What kind of relationships are there
between the four terrorist organizations that have been identified
and terrorist organizations outside Chinese territory?
Zhao Yongchen: Among the four "Eastern
Turkistan" terrorist organizations listed this time, some have
their command structures outside Chinese territory. Some such as
the "Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement" and the "Eastern Turkistan
Liberation Organization" conduct terrorist activities inside
Chinese territory.
These two organizations are mainly engaged in terrorist
activities outside Chinese territory, but they continuously attempt
to infiltrate China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region to conduct
terrorist activities. They have an integrated their activities. For
example, a vice president of the "Eastern Turkistan Islamic
Movement" is also the vice president of the "Eastern Turkistan
Liberation Organization". They collude and collaborate with each
other to engage in a series of terrorist activities harmful to
state security in neighboring countries and to the life and
property of their peoples.
The severe crack down of these terrorist organizations will help
to maintain state and regional security and promote the smooth
development of a modern socialist society.
(China.org.cn by Li Jingrong, December 23, 2003)