The Tibetans you’ve never heard of

Who hasn’t heard of Tibet? And who outside of Asia can even pronounce “Uyghur”?

Millions of Uyghurs (pronounced “WEE-ger”) live in China’s northwesternmost province, Xinjiang. They, like the Tibetans, are a religious as well as an ethnic minority; they have chafed under Beijing’s heavy-handed rule for the last six decades; and Chinese authorities have faced persistent accusations of repression and abuse against them. But the latest news is that Chinese authorities have closed a Web site aimed at promoting understanding between Han Chinese and ethnic Uyghurs following allegations that the site was linked to foreign “extremists,” the site’s owner said.

Uyghurs: Police raid Uyghur houses in Gulja

Qiao Long reports today (translation by Chen Ping):

Police of Xinjiang’s Yining City recently conducted two raids in Alamutuya Village of Yengiyer Township, and found locations where the Uyghurs were allegedly hiding their guns. Seven people were detained.

An employee at the Village Committee in Alamutuya: The detained people belong to the fifth production brigade.

RFA: How many people were detained?

Villager: One from each family.

RFA: Han Chinese or Uyghur?

Villager: Uyghur.

Uyghurs: China’s anti-porn campaign in Xinjiang

UYGHUR: 100-Day Campaign against “Pornographic Publications” (03/17/08)
Reporter: Kurban Wali

RFA: Dear radio listeners, according to the Tangritagh News Web site of China, Mr. Li Yi, head of the propaganda committee of the Chinese Communist Party’s Xinjiang branch, held a teleconference in Urumqi today, March 17, to organize a 100-day campaign against pornography.

李屹在会议上作了重要讲话，他肯定了过去一年“扫黄打非”取得的成绩，并提出了2008年自治区“扫黄打非”工作总的要求是：高举中国特色社会主义伟大旗 帜，以邓小平理论和“三个代表”重要思想为指导，全面贯彻党的十七大精神，深入落实科学发展观，以打击政治性、宗教类非法出版物为重点，加强日常监管，开 展专项行动，打击侵权盗版行为，开展网上“扫黄打非”斗争，查处非法报刊制售活动，扫除淫秽色情等文化垃圾，全力维护国家安定、社会稳定和文化安全，为新 疆改革、发展、稳定营造良好的文化舆论环境。More here…

During the meeting, Li Yi recognized the achievements of last year’s anti-pornography campaign in Xinjiang, saying that the challenges for 2008 were to hold high the glorious banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and taking Deng Xiaoping thought and the “Three Represents” as a guide, to fully implement the spirit of the 17th Party Congress, to put fully into practice the principles of scientific development, and to concentrate efforts towards cracking down on illegal publications containing religious and political material.

Newsdesk: Uyghurs support Tibetan cause

Many remote areas of the Sichuan, Gansu, and Qinghai plateau are home to large Tibetan populations, many of whom are nomads. Tibet also has an internal border with China’s northwestern region of Xinjiang, home to the Muslim Uyghur ethnic group, who also deeply resent Beijing’s rule. Here, their most prominent opponent of the Chinese regime, speaks out on Tibet for the first time:

The World Uyghur Congress condemns China’s use of military force against the peaceful Tibetan protesters in Lhasa and other provinces, and calls upon Chinese leaders to start constructive negotiations with His Holiness the Dalai Lama to seek a peaceful political solution to the problem.

Uyghurs: On the trail of the Urumqi shooting story

Xinhua news agency tells us that there was a shootout with Uyghur ‘terrorists’ in the regional capital, Urumqi, in which two ‘terrorists’ were killed. (Image: The Opposite End of China)

Chinese police kill two terorists, arrest 15 others

URUMQI, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) — Chinese police destroyed a terrorist gang last month in Urumqi, capital of northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, killing two persons and arresting 15 others, local sources said on Monday.

China: Troubled times at Bingtuan 106

Bingtuan 106, is in the middle of the long blue area to the south of the Tarim Basin on this map of the bingtuan. Otherwise known as the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, the bingtuan was set up in 1954 to secure China’s borders, and continuing access to the abundant natural resources in the area. Administratively, it is a law pretty much unto itself, answering only to Beijing, and having very little truck with regional officials who administer the civilian areas, which are home to millions of ethnic minority, Muslim, Uyghurs.

In this report by RFA’s Mandarin service (Chinese), retired bingtuan worker and petitioner Liu Xingyuan says 106 Bingtuan leader Luo Yucheng misdirected funds he said were to build a new highway. Liu, 80, has been writing letters of complaint since 1998, and has received threats and harassment from local authorities following a directive from China’s cabinet, the State Council, to sort out the issue as quickly as possible.

Uyghur: Ancient city ruins fall into neglect

Intro: Some Chinese media, such as the official China Daily and the Tangritagh Web site, have published several news articles and op-eds about the Kiroran City Ruins, the ancient lost city. According to the news, humans have played a major role in the destruction of the city ruins. The ancient city disappeared from history long ago; however, the central [Chinese] government has listed the city as one of the country’s historic cities that should be protected by the government as a national treasure. The Kiroran City ruins should be protected by the government as one of the very ancient national treasures; however, they are being destroyed. Ming Hangao was appointed director of the Culture and Civilization Bureau of Charkilik county by the government. His job is to protect the city. He charges 10,000 yuan (RMB) per person as an entrance fee.

Uyghur listener describes torture for listening to RFA

UYGHUR: Man Tortured For Listening to RFA Programs (09/03/07)
Reporter: Abdulla

Man: I was arrested by the authorities for listening to RFA programs. Some people, er, my arrest was linked to some people, er, some traitors who had reported me [to the authorities]. The radio used to broadcast here for about a half an hour from 7:00 a.m. to 7:30 a.m., er, a half hour.

Right after finishing the program, I left the house to go home. As soon as I came out of the house, two policemen came towards me with an arrest warrant, er, the arrest warrant in their hands.

Comment: Sidik Hajji Rouzi on Uyghur youth

UYGHUR: Problems Facing Uyghur Youth (05-11-07)

By Sidik Haji Rouzi

Length:  4:50

Today, young Uyghur men are being sold to inner regions of China as slaves, and the young women as prostitutes.  Unfortunately, the young men have not been able to raise the question, asking why they should be sold as slaves. And the young women have not been able to raise the question, and ask why they should be sold to brothels in the inner regions of China. This is because they have been deprived of any chance to obtain knowledge. Their thought-processing skills were not developed to achieve ethnic consciousness. 

— Sidik Hajji Rouzi

Bush refers to Rebiya Kadeer as ‘greatest resource of [her] nation’

George Bush met Uyghur activist Rebiya Kadeer at the sidelines of a conference in Prague before he flew to Germany to attend the G8 summit starting on June 6.

Before the meeting, Bush highlighted Kadeer as the symbol of struggle for the 10 million Muslim Uyghurs living under Chinese rule in Xinjiang region, RFA Uyghur service reports.