Beijing, February 11 – China will ensure fool-proof security at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games which could face threats from East Turkistan and Tibetan extremists, the state media reported today.
While pointing out that China is not a direct target of international terrorism, the director of the Counter-terrorism Studies Centre, Li Wei said that possible internal threats might come from the ‘traditional’ school of terrorism such as the East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM) — who advocate an “independent” Xinjiang — along with the extreme Tibetan separatist movements.
China last month held its biggest counter-terrorism raid in northwest China’s Xinjiang, killing 17 and arresting 18 others belonging to the outlawed ETIM, which is reportedly backed by Al-Qaeda.
Beijing is also keeping a tab on pro-Dalai Lama Tibetan activists, who want to separate Tibet from rest of the country.
Li also warned that individual disturbances are also possible, as China is experiencing a growing rich-poor divide, “Some individuals may take extreme actions such as poisoning food and planting bombs in order to avenge society.” “Nowhere can be 100 per cent safe, especially as terrorism is now a global issue and the Olympics will offer a mouth-watering opportunity for groups such as Al-Qaeda to spread terror,” he said.
The Olympic Games will be the biggest sporting event ever to be held in China and the government is making sure that there is no room for embarrassment with security preparations already well under way, the report said.
