CHINA: Five men shot and killed by police in Xinjiang were suspected of terrorism

Record ID: 1519458

  • Title: CHINA: Five men shot and killed by police in Xinjiang were suspected of terrorism
  • Date: 10th July 2008
  • Summary: (BN08) BEIJING, CHINA (JULY 10, 2008) (REUTERS) JOURNALIST LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN, LIU JIANCHAO, SAYING: "She is a key member of the Tibetan Youth Congress. She conducted activities against Chinese law and relevant authorities have investigated her case." JOURNALIST TAKING NOTES (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN, LIU JIANCHAO, SAYING: "The Chinese people are a hospitable people. China is a courteous country. So I think the vast majority of Chinese people welcome outsiders, whether they be politicians, state leaders, tourists or athletes." CONFERENCE FINISHING
  • Embargoed: 25th July 2008 12:47
  • Keywords:
  • Location: China
  • Country: China
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement
  • Reuters ID: LVA3HON37Z68XVICXL00GIHVYV6F
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: China said on Thursday (July 10) that it had foiled plans by five "terrorism" groups to target the Beijing Olympics.
    The foreign ministry statement came after the Chinese state media agency Xinhua reported on Wednesday (July 9) that Chinese police shot and killed five men in northwest China's Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region.
    Police opened fire after an officer was stabbed by a member of a 15-person group they were trying to nab, Xinhua said.
    Two other injured suspects were hospitalised while eight were detained, it added.
    Beijing accuses militant Uighurs of working with al Qaeda to use terror to bring about an independent state called East Turkestan.
    It claims to have foiled at least two Xinjiang-based plots this year to launch attacks during the Beijing Games.
    Speaking at a regular Chinese foreign ministry briefing in Beijing, the ministry spokesman, Liu Jianchao, said the Chinese police were working to control suspected terrorist activities in the region.

    "The facts and evidence show that there exist terrorist organisations that are against China and which even wish to split the country.
    On this issue I think the international community should have a set standard," he said.
    The foreign ministry spokesman also reacted to reports that a Tibetan holding British nationality had been deported. Liu said China was justified in deporting Dechan Pemba from Beijing.
    Pemba was deported on Tuesday (July 8) after two years of living in the capital according to the Los Angeles Times.
    In an interview with the newspaper, Pemba said police escorted her to the airport, only giving her time to pack a small bag before being supervised onto a plane bound for the UK.

    "She is key member of the Tibetan Youth Congress. She conducted activities against Chinese law and relevant authorities have investigated her case," Liu reacted.
    Liu also said he hoped China's relations with France would improve, following an announcement by the French president that he would attend the Olympic Games opening ceremony in August.

    "The Chinese people are a hospitable people. China is a courteous country. So I think the vast majority of Chinese people welcome outsiders, whether they be politicians, state leaders, tourists or athletes," he said.
    French President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Wednesday (July 9) he would go to next month's Games after earlier having said it depended on China's willingness to talk to the Dalai Lama, the exiled Tibetan Buddhist leader seeking autonomy for his homeland.
    The remark had prompted prickly comments from China's bloggers and from Beijing officials who say Tibet is a domestic affair and should not involve outside nations.
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