Beijing: China is finalising a comprehensive
legislation to curb terrorism as it battles rising militancy
in its restive northwest Xinjiang province, which borders
Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
China`s legislature, the National People`s Congress
(NPC), today began discussion on a bill that aims to freeze
funds and assets of terrorists and their organisations after
their names are published by the public security authorities,
state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
The bill came up before the Standing Committee of the
NPC, which opened its bi-monthly session.
China`s legislature began discussion on the anti-terror
draft bill which is expected to pave the way for further
crackdowns on terrorism by defining terrorist acts and
organisations, official media here reported.
China, which deployed large number of security forces in
Xinjiang province experienced periodic attacks by militants
belonging to East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM), targeting
the mainland Han community`s establishment.
Xinjiang, home to Uyghur Muslims of Turkik origin, has
been experiencing ethnic tensions after the 2009 riots during
which about 200 people were killed and hundreds injured.
Xinjiang officials blamed militants camps in Pakistan for
training some of the militants who took part in the July
attacks after which Islamabad stepped up its anti terrorism
cooperation with China.
Besides the anti-terrorism legislation, Chinese lawmakers
will review draft laws and amendments concerning mental
health, military service and clean-production promotion in the
session to run till Saturday.
The draft resolution on government reports on affordable
housing and environmental protection will also be submitted to
the legislature.
The lawmakers will also review reports from the Supreme
People`s Court and the Supreme People`s Procuratorate on
promoting justice in judicial systems during the session.
The bill submitted to the NPC defined terrorist acts as
those which are intended to induce public fear or to coerce
state organs or international organisations by means of
violence, sabotage, threats or other tactics.
These acts cause or aim to cause severe harm to society
by causing casualties, bringing about major economic losses,
damaging public facilities or disturbing social order, Xinhua
reported.
Instigating, funding or assisting with other means are
also terrorist acts, according to the draft bill.
Terrorist organisations are defined in the draft bill as
those which are established to conduct terrorist acts, while
terrorists are those who organise, plot and conduct terrorist
acts, and those who are members of terrorist groups, it said.
PTI
