I just read on my e-mail-provider's page and article from the Spiegel about a Muslim terrorist group called 'Islamic Party Turkistan' claiming responsibility for bus bombs in Yunnan (spelling?) and an explosive-laden tractor attack in Wenzhou (spelling?) on the 17th. They're threatening more attacks etc. Much of that on Chinese TV and are those attacks in Kunming included in the claims, too?
Yeah, I'm honestly not sure what to think of this at all. The Chinese authorities are denying it is part of any organized terrorist effort; and there seems to be little or no evidence to support the IPT's claim that they're responsible.
The talk about this -- and the rumors that are flying around -- is quite fevered, with numerous different theories. Some foreigners lean towards a belief that the Chinese gov't engineered the attacks in order to justify increased military presence at the Games...I personally discount that theory entirely.
First, some clarification -- "Turkistan" is the name of the independent nation that some Uigher Muslims want to establish in north-western China. While it seems that overall only a minority of Uighers support this notion, those who do support it have a fairly active terrorist faction that has been responsible in the past for bus bombings, and other such activities.
However, their attacks in the past have tended to target cities that represent Chinese power -- Beijing, Shanghai, or cities within the Uigher Autonomous Region that have predominantly Han Chinese populations. Hitting places like Kunming -- that is far from the Uigher area, and has no real significance to their struggle -- has never been a strategy they've used in the past, and one that doesn't seem to make much sense.
But then others point out that, with the increased security surrounding the Games, Beijing and other such targets may be too difficult...so they could be seeking to disrupt the Games with a strategy of fear by hitting other, less protected targets.
Added to all this, while bombing a bus may seem an implicity terrorist action, it is actually not that uncommon in China for other people to use such a tactic; similar to the "going postal" idea, if someone feels that they've been unfairly fired from their job working for public transit, or has a family member killed when hit by a bus, or just someone who hears voices telling them to destroy the buses, they may decide to bomb the buses.
I personally tend towards the belief that it is just a local thing, that the IPT has seized on to gain publicity; the main reason for this is that the bombs they've used in the past have been more powerful, and more effective. The bombs used in this instance were very amateurish, not at all like what they've used before. But its still possible that the IPT is responsible; or that the IPT will get inspired by this to launch other, similar attacks.
Given the level of security in Beijing these days, I'd say that a well organized attack within the city is fairly minimal (they've had American anti-terrorist military forces consulting with them for the past year on this); but that doesn't rule out attacks on other more vulnerable targets.
And to add to the list of inconveniences -- the gov't has announced that from now until the end of the Games, any public meetings of over 20 people must get special authorization in advance. This, unfortunately, includes the training classes that my company offers; and getting permission is a pain in the tuckus. So we're taking a one month holiday.
In addition to this, all "non-residents" of Beijing must get special identity papers in order to stay in Beijing during the Olympics; if the police stop a non-resident, and they don't have the papers, they can be escorted out of Beijing until the Games are over. Here's where it gets tricky. China has a system called "hukou" (who-koe), whereby each person is given 'citizenship' in a specific town/city. In order to live in another city, you must transfer your hokou to that city (similar to getting a visa to visit another country, or a green card to live in another country). It's a little complicated, so let me try to explain it like this:
Buy property in another city -- you must have a hukou for that city. So a person with a Xi'an hukou can't buy property in Beijing.
Work in another city -- technically, you're supposed to have a hukou to get a job in a particular city; however, the authorities tend to overlook this (although it can be a handy rational for getting rid of someone they find undesirable).
Live in another city -- as long as you are renting (not buying), you can live in another city without a hukou for that city
Visit another city -- travel is no problem whatsoever, your hukou doesn't matter.
What the Beijing gov't has done is to significantly tighten the normal hukou restrictions. If you don't have a Beijing hukou (and there are lots of Chinese in Beijing who don't), you either get the special permit, or you leave. And if you want to go to Beijing, you have to apply for the permit in advance (similar to getting a visa, although it is much faster).
Foreigners are subject to the same restrictions; I'm considered a resident of Beijing, since my visa and residence permit were issued here. But other foreigners may be required to get the additional permit (although this does not seem to be strongly enforced right now).
More fun times in jolly ol' Beijing.
