China vows crackdown on terrorist publications

Beijing, June 23 (IANS) China will crack down on illegal publications whose content involves "Tibet independence" as well as terrorism, separatism and extremism, government agencies said Monday.

At a meeting held Monday, Jiang Jianguo, vice head of the State General Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television, stressed that the country's campaign against illegal publications should safeguard long-term social stability and security, Xinhua reported.

Jiang called for a crackdown on illegal religious activities and promotional materials as well as online dissemination of illegal religious information.

He said the theme of the campaign was "anti-separatism, anti-sabotage and anti-infiltration".

Local offices were told to focus on illegal publications that promote separatism, religious extremism and instigate terrorist and violent activities.

Li Changjiang, from the National Anti-Pornography and Anti-Illegal Publications office, urged anti-illegal publication officials to "strengthen management and control of key aspects and intensify online supervision".

A statement from police in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur region Monday said an anti-terror movement saw 32 gangs busted, over 380 suspects apprehended, and 315 people convicted in a month.

The campaign was launched after the May 22 bombing in a market in the capital Urumqi killed 39 people.

Police also confiscated about 100 computers and 1,700 books on terrorism and religious extremism during raids on 21 illegal preaching sites and training camps.