China seeks int'l support in counter-terrorism

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, December 16, 2003

China seeks int'l support in counter-terrorism

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China's Ministry of Public Security (MPS) appealed for greater international cooperation in combating terrorism after issuing a list of the first identified "East Turkistan" terrorist organizations and 11 alleged terrorists on Monday.

The identified "East Turkistan" terrorist organizations are: the East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM), the East Turkistan Liberation Organization (ETLO), the World Uygur Youth Congress (WUYC) and the East Turkistan Information Center (ETIC).

The 11 identified "East Turkistan" terrorists are: Hasan Mahsum,Muhanmetemin Hazret, Dolqun Isa, Abudujelili Kalakash, Abudukadir Yapuquan, Abudumijit Muhammatkelim, Abudula Kariaji, Abulimit Turxun, Hudaberdi Haxerbik, Yasen Muhammat, and Atahan Abuduhani.

Zhao Yongchen, deputy director of the ministry's Counter-Terrorism Bureau, said the four terrorist groups, all based abroad,had conducted terrorist activities in Xinjiang and elsewhere in China aimed at splitting the country, including bombings, assassinations, arsons, poisoning and assaults.

He said the ETIM had shot dead a policeman and killed several innocent people in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The ETLO had committed many violent crimes, including arsons, bomb attacks and bank robberies, in Xinjiang of China, Kirghizstan and Kazakhstan. It also killed a Chinese diplomat to Kirghizstan.

The WUYC had conducted a series of bombings in Xinjiang. The ETIC had masterminded and directed attacks on oil and natural gas pipelines, railways and other large-scale civilian infrastructure facilities in China, he said.

"These terrorist activities have seriously undermined the lives and property, security and social security of Chinese people of all ethnic groups and posed a grave threat to security and stability in some countries and regions," Zhao said.

He said China had reinforced counter-terrorism efforts since the September 11 attacks in the United States by amending counter-terrorism laws, establishing and improving coordination in counter-terrorism, beefing up entry and exit checks, and enhancing safeguards on airports, ports and other national infrastructures.

Chinese police had seized 98 guns, over 4,500 hand grenades and a large cache of swords and knives, detonators and explosives belonging to the ETIM and its subordinates. In February, they uncovered in the northern province of Hebei a terrorist group organized by a member of the ETLO.

The four identified terrorist organizations had colluded with each other and had close connections with Osama Bin Laden's Al-Qaeda organization, the Taliban regime of Afghanistan, Chechen rebels and other terrorist organizations.

The ETIM was put on the list of global terrorist organizations by the United Nations on Sept. 11, 2002, and three identified terrorists were already subjects of Interpol red notices. Chinese police had requested Interpol issue red notices on the other eight.

Zhao called on the authorities in all countries to disband the four organizations, to ban their activities, support, financing and protection of these organizations and to freeze their assets.

He hoped all countries would investigate the whereabouts of 11 identified terrorists and extradite them to China.

Zhao said China had strengthened counter-terrorism efforts since the Sept. 11 attacks in the United States by revising counter-terrorism laws, establishing and improving a coordination mechanism for counter-terrorism and beefing up entry and exit checks.

Zhao said China wished to intensify cooperation with the international community in fighting terrorism, including the "Eastern Turkistan" organizations, in areas of information sharing, extradition and repatriation of suspects and blocking the financing sources of terrorists.

Criteria set for identifying terrorists, terrorist groups

The ministry issued the criteria for identifying terrorists and terrorist groups after publishing a namelist of four identified "East Turkistan" terrorist organizations and 11 members of the groups.

Zhao disclosed the criteria for identifying a terrorist or a terrorist organization. The criteria for identifying a terrorist organization are as follows:

(I) an organization or organizations that engage in terrorist activities endangering national security or social stability, and harm the life and property through violence and terror (regardless of whether it is based in or outside of China);

(II) some form of division for organization and leadership work, or system of division;

(III) meeting the aforementioned criteria and having involved in any of the following activities:

(a) Organizing, masterminding, instigating, staging or taking part in terrorist activities; (b) offering funding assistance or support for terrorist activities; (c) having a base or bases for terrorist activities, or recruiting and training terrorists in an organized way; (d) collaborating with other international terrorist organizations, accepting funding, training of other international terrorist groups, or taking part in their activities.

The criteria for a terrorist is as follows:

(I) having contact with a terrorist organization and engaging in terrorist activities at home or abroad that endanger national security and life and property of people (regardless of whether ornot the terrorist has been naturalized as a citizen of another nation);

(II) meeting the aforementioned criteria and being involved in any of the following activities:

(a) organizing, heading or taking part in a terrorist organization; (b) organizing, plotting, instigating and inciting terrorist activities; (c) providing funding and assistance for terrorist organizations or terrorists for terrorist activities; (d)accepting funding support or training from aforementioned organizations and other international organizations or pitching in their activities.

Profiles of 11 identified terrorists

Hasan Mahsum (also known as Ashan Sumut or Hasang Zunduluohe), male, of the Uygur ethnic group, was born in 1964. A native of Alaf Township in Shule (Kunixar) County, Kashi Prefecture of Xinjiang, he now heads the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement.

Mahsum gathered together a band of Xinjiang religious extremists to form the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement, of which he served as chairman, after he fled abroad in 1997. His gang was responsible for a murder in Moyu County of Hotan on December 14, 1999, and robberies and murders cases on February 4 the same year in Urumqi. In total, six innocent people were killed.

Muhanmetemin Hazret, male, of the Uygur ethnic group, was born in 1950. A native of Moyu County in Hotan Prefecture, Xinjiang. He established the Eastern Turkistan Liberation Organization in 1996. He is behind a series of robberies and murders in Central Asian nations like Kazakhstan and Kirghizstan.

Dolqun Isa, male, of the Uygur ethnic group, was born on September 2, 1967. A native of Aksu, Xinjiang, he is one of the key members of the Eastern Turkistan Liberation Organization and has been head of the World Uygur Youths Congress for many years. Since he fled abroad, he has organized and participated in all sorts of terrorist activities launched by the separatist group.

Abudujelili Kalakash, male, of the Uygur ethnic group, and born in 1960, is a native of Moyu County in Hotan Prefecture, Xinjiang, China. He heads the East Turkistan Information Centre terrorist organization and is a key member of the World Uygur Youths Congress. In April 1999, Kalakash and other die-hard terrorists decided to carry out terrorist activities in Africa, and planned a series of bomb attacks against Chinese embassies there.

Abudukadir Yapuquan (original name Yabudukader Emit), male, of the Uygur ethnic group, was born in 1958. He is native of Uapqan Township, Shufu County, Kashi Prefecture. He is responsible for organizing and carrying out a series of robberies and murders such as the December 14 case in Moyu County of Hotan Prefecture in 1999 and the February 4 case in Urumqi, which resulted in deaths and injuries of innocent people.

Abudumijit Muhamma-tkelim (also known as Zibibulla), male, of the Uygur ethnic group, was born in 1967. A native of Shufu County of Kashi, he is one of the chiefs of the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement mainly responsible for personnel training and exterior liaison duties.

Abudula Kariaji (formerly named Abudulla Dawut), male, of the Uygur ethnic group, was born in December 1969. A native of Shache County of Kashi, he is a key member of the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement. Kariaji fled to Afghanistan in 1995 and later served as vice-chairman of the group.

Abulimit Turxun, male, of the Uygur ethnic group, was born in 1964. A native of Urumqi, he is a key member of the Eastern Turkistan Liberation Organization. He fled abroad in 1997. In early May 1998, he sent terrorists into China who made more than 40 chemical combustible devices and used them in 15 consecutive attacks on big stores and wholesale markets in Urumqi, on May 23. In June 1998, he killed four Uygurs and dismembered their bodies, to prevent possible information leaks by two members who intended to quit the terrorist group.

Hudaberdi Haxerbik, male, of the Uygur ethnic group, was born in August 1970. A native of the Hui Autonomous Township of Yuqunweng in Yining County, Xinjiang, he is a key member of the Eastern Turkistan Liberation Organization. On April 6, 1998, Hudaberdi Haxerbik smuggled large quantities of arms and ammunition into China.

Yasen Muhammat, alias Yasen Kari, male, of the Uygur ethnic group, was born in 1964. He is a native of Boskem Town, Zepu County of Xinjiang. On August 23, 1999, Muhammat and four other terrorists shot dead police officer Hudaberd and his son Aiez in Boskem Township of Zepu County. On October 24, 1999, he and other accomplices shot dead security assistant Altawula, injured police officer Wang Yazhou and security assistant Muhmed Yizemu, and killed Mehmut Yidelis, a suspected thief who was detained at the station.

Atahan Abuduhani, male, of the Uygur ethnic group, was born in 1964. A native of Luoke Town, Yecheng County of Xinjiang, he fled abroad in December 1984, and kept close contact with "Eastern Turkistan" organizations outside China. In August 1991, Atahan Abuduhani smuggled 7 handguns and 180 bullets into China, with which his accomplices robbed a security van belonging to the Shayar County branch of the Agricultural Bank of China in Xinjiang on November 13 that year.

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