Silent China as French police investigate the disappearance of Interpol's chief

PARIS (Reuters) – French police are investigating the disappearance of Interpol leader Meng Hongwei, who has been missing after his trip from France to China, and has placed his wife under protection after threats, the ministry said on Friday. of the Interior.

Meng's wife has contacted the police in Lyon, the French city where the international police agency is based, after not having any news since September 25 and after receiving threats by phone and social media, announced the ministry.

A person familiar with the disappearance investigation stated that Western investigators assumed that Meng had upset the Chinese authorities in one way or another and had been arrested.

"France is puzzled by the situation of the President of Interpol and concerned about the threats made to his wife," the ministry said.

Meng's wife, who stayed in Lyon with their children, according to police sources, was under protection, he added. "The exchanges with the Chinese authorities are continuing," added the ministry.

China has not officially commented on Meng's disappearance and was not mentioned in the official media on Saturday.

The Chinese Ministry of Public Security did not immediately respond to a request for comments sent by fax.

There have been several cases in recent years of top Chinese officials who have gone missing without explanation, the mere fact that the government announces weeks or even months later that they have been the subject of An investigation, often for alleged corruption.

It is unclear why Meng, 64, who was named president of Interpol two years ago, visited China.

Hong Kong's South China Morning Post, quoted by an anonymous source, was quoted as saying that Meng had been taken for interrogation as soon as he arrived in China, but no one knew why.

French police are investigating what is officially called "worrying disappearance" in France.

Interpol, which includes 192 countries and is generally seeking to find missing or wanted persons, said it was aware of reports of Meng's "presumed disappearance".

"This is an issue that concerns competent authorities in France and China," said the agency in a statement.

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Roderic Broadhurst, professor of criminology at the Australian National University, said Meng's demise would be "pretty disconcerting" for members of international bodies working with China, and could ultimately undermine China's efforts to develop China's anti-corruption measures. legal assistance in cooperation with other countries.

"It's weird," Broadhurst said on Saturday, adding that China was on the verge of "repairing" any political damage it would cause to Beijing's participation in international bodies.

"It's a price that may have to be paid, but I guess it's going to cost a lot of money," Broadhurst said.

The presidents of Interpol are seconded by their national administrations and remain at their original post while representing the international police body.

Meng appears on the website of the Chinese Ministry of Public Security as deputy minister, but lost his seat on his Communist Party committee in April, the South China Morning Post reported.

Meng has nearly 40 years of experience in the field of criminal justice and law enforcement, and has overseen issues relating to legal institutions, narcotics control and the fight against terrorism, according to the website. Interpol.

Interpol staff may be in possession of a special passport to expedite deployment in emergency situations, but this would have conferred on Meng no specific rights or immunities in his country. d & # 39; origin.

When Meng was named Interpol's president in November 2016, human rights groups said they feared that Beijing would try to take advantage of its position to prosecute dissidents abroad . In the past, Beijing has pressured countries to arrest and deport to China citizens accused of crimes ranging from corruption to terrorism.

At the time, Amnesty International called the appointment of Meng "incompatible with the mandate of Interpol to work in the spirit of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights".

Diplomats say that the role of Interpol's president is essentially ceremonial and that his secretary general, Juergen Stock, performs the daily tasks.