Monitoring Cross-Border Cooperation and Anti-Chinese Security Mobilization in Two Counties of Primorskii Krai, 1993-1999

SUMMARY: The Ministry of Internal Affairs has a shortage of officers with college law degrees and paralegal degrees. "In connection with the opening of border crossings to China in Lesozavodsk, one expects that the number of border service units will increase in connection with the expected inflow of all and sundry visitors, including criminals into the area." Young, tough guys with a military service record are sought to fill positions in these new units.

Crime rates increased, from 1059 criminal acts in 1991 to 1439 in 1992, the number of grievous felonies increased 40 percent. The number of cases of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition increased twofold. One group terrorized the entire population.

SUMMARY: "News of Our Time" section: After a recent large trade exhibit of groceries produced by Chinese companies located along the border with Russia, a large consignment of alcohol containing fusel oil and other harmful substances appeared in Vladivostok. Medical doctors also warn against consuming Chinese-made cookies and chewing gum, because the sulfur dioxide content in these products is three times higher than admissible.

SUMMARY: 1. L. Kiseleva, senior warrant officer, liaison company, decorated with the order of "Excellence in Guarding the Border"

2. L. Mikhailova (author): "Service is service, and recreation is recreation." Cultural events and the border guards.

SUMMARY: In 1992, 500 foreign migrant laborers were registered in Dal’nerechenskii district. In Sukhanovka, there were migrants from North Korea, and ADK DOTs (Chinese nationals); 380 people came from North Korea and China on private business. So far in 1993, we have already 300 [foreign] visitors. They come to Lazo, Sukhanovka, Rozhdestvenskoe, Grushevo. Labor is imported without permission of Primorskii krai government and no rules exist at the district (county) level for importing labor. Everywhere one sees "people of …..?…. nationality."

Fines for violating [visa rules] were raised to 4,275 rubles as of April 1, 1993, by a decree "On the Procedure for Re-evaluating Fine Scales." Labor is imported illegally.

One PRC national is still living in the city under the protection of "kind people," the city’s bosses, even though his visa expired last year. He violated rules twice, for exceeding the term of stay and for failure to depart, yet he remains in the city. The laws exist, but no-one hastens to live by them.

TITLE: "What’s up, my dear motherland?" A digest of the Russian press: The Russian Far East will soon face competition.

SUMMARY: The Tumangan free economic zone which is currently being established, "may become a grave digger to all Russian ports and the entire Pacific coast of Russia," according to Gennadii Zhevelev, director of the Port of Vostochnii, the largest deep sea port in Russia.

SUMMARY: "People obliged to defend the border, especially at a time when Chinese wheeler-dealers would like to settle down in Primor’e, were amazed and disappointed upon discovering five teenagers in the border zone who had buckets filled with mushrooms. The operation to detain these teenagers cost the border guards unit 3 million rubles."

"Many people see the border as a place to profit from." The border guards caught a Chinese national with forged documents.

SUMMARY: In one military unit only a few officers, a warrant officer, and one private are still serving. Things are not as bad yet at the Menzhinski detachment of the Border Service, but it also has an acute shortage of military personnel. Fewer than 20 Dal’nerechenskii district residents are listed among the border guard unit employees. Residents of Grushevoe, Lazo, Filino, Sal’skii and other towns may apply at the nearest border posts. We need riflemen, gun layers, drivers, radio and telegraph operators, cooks, and brass band musicians.

SUMMARY: Industrial production by volume decreased by 33 percent on 1994. Migration levels to the area decrease [statistical services count primarily internal migrants], 537 people officially have a refugee/IDP status.

SUMMARY: The district is experiencing financial hardships. Unemployment: 244 officially registered, 158 receive unemployment benefits.

AUTHOR: G. Osintseva, chief veterinary and sanitation inspector, city [of Dal’nerechensk] veterinary service

TITLE: Be vigilant and attentive

SUMMARY: Reports on incidents when vendors sold pork imported from China that had been certified as unfit for consumption as food. Sales of uncertified meat from China and Vietnam have been banned. Sales of chicken and duck eggs imported from China continue disregarding the ban that’s in effect.

SUMMARY: A young man was wearing a sign on the front of his clothes saying "Russian National Unity" (Russkoe natsional’noe edinstvo). He turned out to be the leader of the local RNU branch, but he agreed to talk. RNU has similar branches in Vladivostok and Ussuriisk. Their goal is to work with young recruits, improving their "political and military training."

An RNU headquarters has been set up in the city. Training . . . is conducted. "We are not fascists. If patriotism and love of the Motherland are to be called fascism, what is one to call our presently ruling democrats and their deeds?"

SUMMARY: A commission (featuring representatives of the city government, town governments, and the military commissariat) reviewed 51 applications and personal files of individuals who want to become Cossacks. The selection criteria are based not on family origin and profession, but on moral qualities. After a review, 49 applicants were admitted to the Cossack ranks. They will guard the border, ensure law and order, and participate in joint patrols with the border guards on a volunteer basis.

SUMMARY: The compilation of the government register of Cossack units has begun. Before the New Year, Cossacks started guarding the border joining one of the border posts. They also have been working together with the federal road police (GAI).

3. A monthly review of activities of the "Border Guards" ("Pogranichnik") youth organization of Dal’nerechensk, and of the city government section on youth affairs, by L. Vysotskii, "A System of Youth Organizations is Complete." A public youth organization, the Committee on Youth Affairs, was established December 30, 1995, in accordance with a 1994 decree by the RF government.

The "Border Guard" youth group’s mission is to promote spiritual, moral, and patriotic education of the young people through joint activities with the [Russian Orthodox] church, the Border Service Command, the cultural affairs section, and the chieftain of the Cossack Army.

COMMENTS: Establishment of non-governmental organization with potential for nationalist mobilization. Government support for such organization.

SUMMARY: Training received at the "Border Guard" youth club helped St. Stasiuk and Ruslan Klobutskii to become professional border guards.

SUMMARY: For Dal’nerechensk, the Border Guards’ Day is a special holiday. The city has a museum of war and glory, established in 1972 after a clash [with Chinese troops] at Damanskii island (located in Dal’nerechenskii district). The training center helps.

TITLE: "Russian Orthodox Church’s Address to the Personnel of Border Service Units of the Dal’nerechensk Garrison."

SUMMARY: During the last five years, in accordance with intergovernmental agreements upon invitation of various companies migrants from China and N. Korea work here, mostly in agriculture. 1993: 416 migrant workers; 1994 – 370; 1995 – 266; 1996 – 180. Foreigners make up 6.9 percent of the workforce in the district. In 1996 Koreans worked in Suhanovka, Sal’skoe, and Rozhdestvenka. PRC migrants worked in Sretenka, Vedenka, and Rozhdestvenka.

do and who they are in response to the growing flow of applicants who want to join the Cossacks.

SUMMARY: On the fence surrounding the market there was graffiti: "Down with the Chinese! Wages and Jobs to the People!" Since the summer of 1998, the Chinese market that originally had been set up at the DOK sports center was made to move three times. The Chinese come to Dal’nerechensk from a sister city of Huliang (?). The city governments signed the letter of intent and the Chinese nationals got permission to trade and purchase goods in Dal’nerechensk till January 9, 1999. But measures were toughened after December 31: the Chinese nationals blatantly violated the "Rules for Foreign Citizens Staying in the Russian Federation." During check-ups cases came up when Chinese nationals were absent where they should have been according to their registration and that tourists engaged in business. And 8 [Chinese] were engaged in logging and collected cedar nuts, as well as illegally purchased foreign currency in violation of the law of the RF "On currency regulation."

Gennadii Nikolaevich Medvetskii, deputy mayor for international economic issues will be going to Moscow this month with a package of documents required for registration of Chinese nationals in DMS.

The opening of the [Chinese] market is scheduled for mid-February in the department store at the LDK township.

COMMENTS: Anti-Chinese slogans. Violations of the law by Chinese nationals (negative acts). Officials try to improve economic cooperation and accommodate migrant traders. Market to be opened.

SUMMARY: The municipal timber processing company, "Iman-les," operating since October 1998 purchased Chinese timber processing lathes.

SUMMARY: On January 27, a 35-year old Chinese citizen working at a local logging area, left the area and disappeared. He had $5,000 on him.

SUMMARY: The municipal orphanage founded in 1969 is named after Leonov [a local hero known for defending the Damanski Island against Chinese forces in 1969], to educate the children [about Damanski island history].

SUMMARY: On March 1, Governor Nazdratenko attended the meeting of the Damanskii battle veterans held in Dal’nerechensk.

SUMMARY: Early in 1999, representatives of the Federal Migraion Service visited Dal’nerechensk to inspect foreign migrant workers. Seven Chinese nationals without work permits were exporting local timber to China. They were deported from the Russian Federation. Eight more foreign workers without permits were found at the "Prestizh" company and at limited liability companies, "Vaguton-les," "Inca," and "Para Drakonov" ["A Pair of Dragons"]

SUMMARY: A spot check by the border guards and … on August 11 along the Ussuri river uncovered one border violation, a boat with two Chinese fishermen.

SUMMARY: Representatives of the police department of the city of Huling paid a visit here as part of official exchanges to discuss the construction of a building for law enforcement agencies.

SUMMARY: Gennadii Nosov, chairman of the committee on shipping, ports, communications and transport of the Primorskii krai administration, responds to readers’ questions:

On the Khasan Triangle: Radzhin (?) in North Korea, Hunlung (?) in China, Khasan in the RF.

SUMMARY: For two or three years, Zarubino residents eyed foreigners with wonderment, but now they can easily communicate with the Japanese, the Australians, the Greeks. From 4 to 8 ships a month dock at the Troitsa harbor representing a number of countries.

SUMMARY: In 1995-96, 13,900 cars have been imported through the Khasan customs on special terms, i.e., duty-free. Such importers circumvent the law by signing advance contracts for allegedly produced cars and by receiving permits for their use.

COMMENTS: Economic activity could benefit Khasan officials (corruption likely).

AUTHOR: Valerii Rozov, former expert of the department for demarcation of the RF border in accordance with international law, Maj.-Gen., retired.

SUMMARY: "The strength of the governor’s position [opposing territorial concessions to China] is based on his confidence that he is doing the right thing and on the similar confidence of Primor’e residents—common people, scholars, and experts." "In defending Primor’e’s interests, the governor is not alone: the krai administration, the Cossacks, governors of other regions of Russia, residents of the Far East, government officials and political leaders are supporting Nazdratenko’s position. It’s a force no one can defeat."

SUMMARY: This border crossing was unveiled in early August [1998], but tourists still cannot use it--the Russian side has problems, including electricity supply breakdowns. The Chinese built the second power line to the highway checkpoint covering for emergencies, but there is no funding for the assembly of an emergency power generator. Another 25 mn rubles is needed for installing office equipment including a government communications fax line. Metal detectors have also not been procured for lack of funds.

SUMMARY: "Contrary to what they say, Ye. Nazdratenko makes no statements on Russian-Chinese relations contradicting the [central] government policy. Rather, he implements all Russian-Chinese agreements made at the highest level by actively developing tourism, trade, and economic, cultural, and scientific exchanges with the neighboring provinces of Heilongjiang and Jiling.

SUMMARY: After visiting Slavianka and Zarubino, she said: "The Chinese model of economic recovery is more suitable for Russia, to ensure future prosperity as a strong power."

SUMMARY: According to the [Khasan] district department of statistics, during the last 5 years the district’s population decreased from 44,800 to 43,000. In-migration was 8,600, out-migration was 11,000.

SUMMARY: On border demarcation: "I will go to the border when the weather gets warmer. In principle, there is an opportunity not to hand over to China those parts of the borderline territories that are valuable to Russia."

SUMMARY: The Council of Chieftains of the Ussuri Cossack Army was held for the first time in the administration building. Chiefs of local governments were invited. The governor made a speech. "During their discussions with the governor, the Cossacks linked all the issue, in one way or another, with the question of border and territory." In Slavianski cossack district, the Cossacks have two seagoing fishing vessels. But the Cossacks must provide government service to repay for privileges received from the state.

SUMMARY: Eight children at a children’s sanitarium in Vladivostok were hospitalized—food poising was traced to apples. Apples must be peeled.

SUMMARY: China: A watch tower at Mt. Pereval’naia near Kraskino disappeared. "What secrets? After all Chinese workers dismantled the military base at the Kraskino garrison." [i.e., Chinese workers employed on military/border service projects].

SUMMARY: The Primorskii krai directorate of the sanitary and epidemiological inspection of the Russian Federation has banned the import, use, and sales of light-emitters for kerosene lamps."

SUMMARY: A border guards’ team from the Karatsupa border post had to use 19 mines to "block an armed attempt to cross the border by a Chinese violator" … on February 22 in the Grodekovo border service district. "He had long expired documents that did not give him the right to stay on Russian territory."

TITLE: "Commercial Tourism Grows"

SUMMARY: In 1996 the tourist company OOO Khasantur rendered services worth 168,000 thousand rubles. Commercial tourism is the main type of activity of this local tourist company. In Primorskii krai there are 188 tourist companies, of which 152 are located in Vladivostok. Khasantur has the right to service 72 tourists per month.

SOURCE: Primorets

SUMMARY: Three greenhouses are set up at the "Posvetskoe" cooperative to grow cabbage—a team of agricultural workers from North Korea (50 people) is expected.

SUMMARY: The Zarnitsa operation ["Summer Lightning," a military training game for secondary school students] was staged by School No. 1 at Slavianskaia. Holiday [WWII Victory Day] greetings were made.

SUMMARY: The Khasan county government allocated land for [a Cossack-run] border post, "Cossack Khasan." Cossacks have begun setting things up there.

SUMMARY: A newspaper reader asked: "Will Chinese be allowed to pay, for a payment in hard currency, to settle in apartments of current residents who fail to pay rent [leading to evictions]?" Public officials denied the rumor.

SUMMARY: The Khasan border guards unit has the same [grave] problems regarding living conditions and personnel hiring and retention as the rest Russia.

SUMMARY: S. G. examined environmental situation; visited "Khasan" border post, received operational information on 22 border violations, mostly by Chinese nationals; inspected living conditions of servicemen; a local museum; visited the "Cossack Khasan" border post; Cossacks presented her with a snake, as a symbol of wisdom; saw blown-up redoubts on 3.5 hectares of land slated for hand-over to China; laid field flowers to a monument commemorating battle heroes; washed face with water from a sacred lake.

SUMMARY: According to vice governor, Vladimir Stegnii, Chinese negotiators expressed good will during the seventh session of the Sino-Russian border demarcation commission in Beijing, 7/10-8/5.

SUMMARY: G. Nosov, chair of the Primorskii Duma committee on shipping, ports, and transport met with a group of ERINA officers (including Hiroshi Ikoda) and discussed arranging transit shipments through the ports of Vostochnyi, Zarubino, and Kraskino from Northeastern provinces of China to Japan.

SUMMARY: A spokeswoman for the Khasan Customs Office reported that on August 16, 1997 at the "Dal’zavodskoi" border crossing, 14.852 kilograms of ephedrine were found in a package hidden inside a rice bag carried by a woman who is a citizen of China. Criminal charges were filed based on Article 188, part II of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. The Chinese woman was placed in a detention facility at the town of Slavianka.

SUMMARY: Reminds of the battle with Japan in 1939 and the need to strengthen borders, on land and at sea.

SUMMARY: Reminds of fierce battles with Imperial Japan, a monument at Kraskino to 658 men and officers who died in August 1945.

SUMMARY: Over 30 violators detained at the attempt to cross Russia’s border from neighboring China. The Cossacks help [border patrols] and come face to face with representatives of the forestry service. Chieftain Viktor Karamushko heads an infantry Cossack unit at the "Sinii Utes" ("Blue Cliff") border post.

SUMMARY: At the "Verkhniaia" border post a woman from China was detained in an attempt of illegal border crossing. This is the seventh such case in 1998. Local residents help.

SUMMARY: A program for the long-term development of Khasan county adopted. A decline in crime rate reported in 1997. Population currently at 42,800 with 25,900 people capable to work, 672 unemployed (2.6%).

"We are doomed to cooperate with our neighbors on a mutually beneficial basis"

International auto race in Kraskino planned for April 1998; A "China-Zarubino-Japan" line opened.

SUMMARY: There are 2,166 Cossacks officially registered in Primorskii. There is a Cossack district in Slavianka. They organize volunteer border patrols. "So that Chinese contraband smugglers, [ginseng] root diggers ["kornevshchiki"] and frog catchers ["liagushatniki"] now know what the Cossacks are."

SUMMARY: In late January 1999 in Slavianka a new non-governmental political organization, "The Patriot of Khasan" has been established. It is headed by Leonid Mikriukov. The organization’s goal is patriotic education of young people. The organization is part of the krai’s network of the All-Russian Movement in Support of the Armed Forces.

SUMMARY: On March 1 a public gathering will take place to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the battle at Damanski island.

SUMMARY: After a motorized infantry battalion had left Pogran-Petrovka, the Cossacks stepped in to protect this military town. They did it on a volunteer basis, with no support from the government. Cavalry sergeant-major A. Khramov believes that the transfer of town government to the Cossacks is hampered by "bureaucrats from Moscow." Uniformed patrols started to appear a year after the abandonment when in Razdol’noe "property in leftover military towns began to be transferred to foreigners from the ‘near abroad’" [Soviet successor states].

SUMMARY: At Makhalino border transit station in the town of Kraskino jobs have been cut, 5 employees were laid off in 1998. Hopes are linked with the prospective opening of a transit station at Kamyshevaia that will provide a connection between Japan with China with cargoes to be shipped through the ports of Pos’et and Zarubino. So far the authorization has not been made yet.

COMMENTS: Currently a reduction in economic benefits from cross-border trade reported, offset with hopes for improvement in the future.

SUMMARY: An armored vehicles’ march called "The Flames of Memory" has been launched to mark 30th anniversary of the Damanski island battle. A public rally took place at the town of Slavianka attended by students, border guards, veterans, and the town government manager, G. Filiagin. A BRDM armored cavalry vehicle carrying a float that reads "From Khasan to Damanski" has left for Dal’nerechensk.

SUMMARY: County government manager, A. M., spent 3 days in Dal’nerechensk and Luchegorsk taking part in the festivities marking the 30th anniversary of the border battle [with China] at Damanski Island

SUMMARY: Describes the border battle with China at Damanski island [that began March 1, 1969]. Criticizes the "democrats" ruling in Moscow. Moscow allowed purchase of everything foreign-made, accepted the demarcation of the border giving away territory in Khasan county to China. Moreover, 50% of the so-called "disputed" territories were given away in exchange for "friendship and good-neighborliness." If it were not for public opposition of the Khasan county, supported by the Khasan county government, Moscow bureaucrats would have indulged their self-interest and sacrificed the entire Lake Khasan."

SUMMARY: A delegation of the education department of the Khasan county government (director, A. N. Karpenko) visited Suifen’he and Kharbin to exchange experiences. In 1991 she was part of the first delegation of education specialists from Primorskii krai that visited China. In Chinese schools the visitors saw many computers and TV sets. Teacher salaries are high (approximately 1,200 yuan [per month]) while food prices are very low. An excursion tour to Seifun’he is run by the Primorskii krai center for children’s tourism. The Primorskii department of education also operates six tours to China.

SUMMARY: County government manager, Anatolii Mel’nichenko spoke about the establishment of an International Peace Park under the auspices of the United Nations in a border town of Fanjung. The agreement was signed in Hunchung about setting the park on 330 hectares spanning Russian, Chinese, and Korean territories. The plan is to start by building a medicinal mud spa at the former military settlement of Maiachnoe and an airport in Kraskino. The United Nations said to provide most funding. Approximately $7.5 million planned to be invested in the project by 2003.

COMMENTS: Positive role of international organizations and investment. Title implies that economic cooperation will replace territorial disputes in the area.

SUMMARY: Primorskii duma deputy V. M. Rozov receives visitors on Tuesday and Fridays from 9 am to 1 pm, appointments can be made by calling 41-3-83, at the penthouse level in the Primorskii government building. Administrative assistant is G. Belozerov.

SUMMARY: Contacts between Russian and Chinese border service representatives at the Khasan-Hunchung section of the border continue. Chinese colleagues (28 people led by colonel Chow Goguan) are visiting Pos’et. Colonel Leonid Lobanov, a border service representative, will lead the reciprocal visit in July 1999 to mark the anniversary of NOAK.

SUMMARY: Deputy [to Primorskii duma] V. M. Rozov [opposing border demarcation with China] visited [border areas] of Kraskino and met with S. V. Chislova (Kraskino mayor) and Iakushenkov (Pos’et government mayor). The accompanying photo features Rozov in his general’s uniform.

SUMMARY: Reports about a recently [no date given] installed border post at the juncture of interstate borders on the left bank of Tumannai (Tumangan) river at the border post named after Tereshkin. V. A. Stegnii (vice governor): "For the first time in the global diplomatic practice an already ratified treaty favoring China on the Khasan section of the border has been revised in Russia’s favor." Stegnii supported the governor and accused most of the Primorskii duma deputies of indifference [regarding Russia’s interests].

SUMMARY: A team of teenage soccer players from Hunchung visited the county. The players lived with local families in the town of Kraskino. A reciprocal visit [by a local team] will take place in August.

SUMMARY: Despite the efforts of Primorskii government agencies, the avalanche of illicit trade in ferrous and non-ferrous metals has not been stopped—year in, year out more metal is transferred across the border. According to the county police department (ROVD), five companies and several individuals in Khasan county collect and export metals. Regular inspections are conducted. One company had its license revoked, one criminal case has been started, according to deputy chief of county police for public security, T. Iu. Kon’kova.

SUMMARY: Primorskii vice-governor, Konstantin Tolstoshein issued a decree closing border crossings with China for 5 days to receive information on epidemiological situation in China regarding cholera [local outbreak occurred in Primor’e and was blamed on China].

SUMMARY: The committee on emergency situations (CES) found that a third driver who returned from China got sick with cholera. According to the Chinese authorities, no cholera was found in Jilin province. The CES allowed to reopen the Kraskino-Hunchung crossing, but in Primor’e the quarantine has been extended till August 15.

SUMMARY: The Kraskino-Hunchung border crossing remains open. Cargo flows go to and from Ussuriisk where a wholesale trading center is located and Vladivostok. Individual traders from Khasan county do not go to China!

SUMMARY: In Kraskino festivities were held to mark the anniversary of Khasan events [Soviet army victory over Japanese invaders in 1939]. A public rally and a concert took place, people visited the [local history] museum.

SUMMARY: On August 18, the first cargo ship departed the port of Pos’et. Present were a deputy minister of transport of Russia, head of the department of transportation of Primorskii, a Chinese delegation headed by deputy executive of Jilin province, and a representative of a Japanese company from Akito.

SUMMARY: A new international container transport line has been opened. A Chinese vessel, "Fu Yuan" opened the line carrying 110 containers. The plan is to process 300 containers per month. Cargo will be transported between Pos’et and Akita by a Chinese shipping company. The plan is to attract business from Jilin, Heilongjiang, and Liaonin provinces; from Khabarovsk territory in Russia; and from Southern China (Donghai). Thus, Nakhodka, Vladivostok and Pos’et will have international container lines.

SUMMARY: According to the Khasan Customs Office, at the Kraskino-Hunchung crossing, a contraband was found in a bus: 480 pieces of dried sea cucumber (trepang). Charges were filed against Chinese tourist, Wang Yuan, in accordance with Article 227 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. The sea cucumber was confiscated.