Beijing: China on Saturday passed a resolution that defines terrorist groups for the first time and will soon release its first formal list of terrorists and groups, a legal expert said.
The list will be based on the country's existing terrorist laws and previous UN decisions, China Daily reported.
The resolution passed by the top legislature defines terrorist groups and their members for the first time in China, and empowers the State Council (cabinet) to identify a list of terrorists and organisations, said Li Shouwei, a legal expert with the National People's Congress Standing Committee.
It defines terrorist activity as "behaviour aimed at generating social panic, jeopardising public security, intimidating state agencies or international organisations, and actions that cause or intend to result in casualties, major economic loss, damage to public facilities or social disorder through violence, destruction, threats or other means. Stirring up, funding or assisting such actions are also considered terrorist activities".
Li said the list will cover terrorists and organisations both at home and abroad.
The list was a "step forward" in the country's "extended, complicated and intense" anti-terrorism work, Li said.
Previously, the public security ministry published two informal lists of 10 terrorists and four groups in 2003, and eight terrorists in 2008.
IANS
First Published: Saturday, October 29, 2011, 18:05