Courts in Xinjiang will maintain high pressure on the "three evil forces" of terrorism, separatism, and extremism, said Rozi Ismail, chief judge of the northwest Chinese autonomous region, on Monday.

"Stability is paramount in Xinjiang and its main threat is these forces," said Rozi Ismail, who is in Beijing to attend the annual parliamentary session as a nonvoting delegate.

Ismail, president of the Higher People's Court of Xinjiang, went on to add that the legal system must stay committed to catching and convicting these criminals, or else society will turn chaotic and economic and social development will be seriously harmed.

The courts in Xinjiang have handled a number of cases involving the "three evil forces" and effectively curbed violent activities, the chief judge said.

The criminal activities of the forces include murder, bombing, poisoning, and arson, and criminals involved will face severe penalties up to capital punishment, he added.

The chief judge explained that he had instructed all courts in Xinjiang to separate members deceived or intimidated into crimes from the leading members of a gang, so that those who organize violent activities are held responsible for their specific roles.

Days ago, Ismail Tiliwaldi, chairman of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, told a press conference at the parliamentary session that the room for terrorist activities has been shrinking in Xinjiang as the citizens committed to peace become aware of the problem.

Xinjiang police raided a terrorist training camp in January, in which 18 terrorists were killed and 17 others captured. The police also seized 22 hand grenades, more than 1,500 half- finished grenades, and some home-made explosives.

The training camp was run by the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), a group that the United Nations in 2002 labeled a terrorist organization. Leading terrorists in the camp had been trained by Taliban and Al-Qaeda before later sneaking into Xinjiang.

(Xinhua News Agency March 13, 2007)