BEIJING - China's legal authorities will release their first formal catalog of terrorists and terror groups in an effort to freeze their assets "in a timely manner", based on the country's existing terrorist laws and previous UN decisions, a legal expert said on Saturday.

A legislative resolution passed by the top legislature on Saturday defines terrorist groups and their participants for the first time in China, and it empowers the State Council to identify a list of terrorists and their organizations according to the definition, a step forward to deal with the "extended, complicated and intense" anti-terrorism work, Li Shouwei, a legal expert with the National People's Congress Standing Committee, said at a news conference.

The resolution defines terrorist activity as behavior aimed at generating social panic, jeopardizing public security, intimidating State agencies or international organizations, and actions that cause or intend to inflict 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..

An individual terrorist, meanwhile, is described as a person who organizes, masterminds or carries out such activities and someone who participates in a terrorist organization.

"Financial institutes and some specific non-financial groups should seize listed criminals' assets, once they discovered such property," Li said, adding that the list of names will cover targets both at home and abroad, and it will be fine-tuned over time.

Although there are existing articles in China's Criminal Law and other stipulations that help fight terrorism, the lack of a clear definition of terrorist activities, terrorist organizations and their participants has directly hindered cracking down on such activities, controlling related assets and international anti-terrorist cooperation, Li said.

While drafting the list, the country's top anti-terrorism group under the State Council will refer to existing rosters published by the Ministry of Public Security and those identified by the United Nations, ensuring it is "in line with both domestic and international regulations".

Previously, the country had published two lists of terrorists and their groups in 2003 and 2008. The 2003 roster includes 10 people and four groups, while eight attackers comprise the latter one, according to information seen on the ministry's website.

According to the lists, almost all the identified terrorist groups and participants are affiliated to the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, a group seeking the independence of East Turkestan.

"The East Turkestan Islamic Movement remains the most direct and imminent object of China's anti-terrorism work. Although its major force is deployed overseas, they have constantly infiltrated into China, especially in the Xinjiang area," said Li Wei, an anti-terrorism expert with the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations.

Despite the resolution's effects on cracking down on terrorism, Li said China's efforts in this field are still challenged.

China Daily

(China Daily 10/30/2011 page2)