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January 12, 2007
China's al-Qaeda
Those of you who read my "Xinjiang 2021" entry a few weeks back must forgive me. I should have entitled my musings on Xinjiang's future security situation, "Xinjiang 2007"... that is, if the events of the past week spiral out of control. Since I was away traveling while these significant events unfolded, here's a brief summary from The Times:
China revealed the depth of its fear of Islamic-linked violence yesterday when police disclosed that they had killed 18 terrorists and captured another 17 after a fierce battle at a secret training camp in a remote northwestern region. It was the first time that China had announced the discovery of such a camp in its territory. Officials said that they had uncovered links between the activists and international terrorist groups, hinting at connections to al-Qaeda.
The clash in the Pamir mountains on Friday was one of the deadliest for years in the restive Xinjiang Uighur autonomous region, where 8.5 million Muslims make up most of the population. One policeman was killed and a second wounded. Police said that the camp, in Akto county, was run by the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM). It is listed as a terrorist group by the US, at China's insistence, despite concerns among Beijing-based diplomats over lack of evidence.
Firearms and 22 grenades, plus materials to produce another 1,500 such devices, were seized at the camp, Xinjiang police said. Officials declined to reveal other details, saying that they would release information only as part of a manhunt for fugitives. State media said that the group may have infiltrated the region with the help of al-Qaeda, but gave no details.
Of course, beyond the fact that a policeman is dead, the Chinese authorities have provided little evidence to support their account of the raid. No pictures of the camp, the seized weapons cache, or the dead and captured "terrorists" have yet been published.
Predictably, exiled Uyghur leader Rebiya Kadeer expressed scepticism at the existence of an al-Qaeda-style training camp in Xinjiang. "If the Chinese authorities want to be taken seriously as a responsible member of the world community, then they must allow independent scrutiny of any evidence they have for the claims they are making."
Some experts have also expressed reservations that militant Uyghurs would be able to find refuge and set up a camp in an area populated mostly by Tajiks. In my un-expert opinion, however, the common bond of Islam and the proximity to Afghanistan and Pakistan (read al-Qaeda) makes the camp idea plausible. I'm not saying it's true... just that it doesn't necessarily sound like a hoax concocted just to bust a few Uyghur heads.
Various outlets have reported that China has already strengthened security along the borders with Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan... more support for my imagined Zone of Military Control (ZMC). I just hope the shit that is currently hitting the fan doesn't fall on my head in terms of renewing visas and living in Xinjiang. Have I publicly reiterated my opposition to Uyghur seperatism yet today?
Chinanews carried a report of the funeral in Urumqi on Tuesday of the policeman killed in the raid. (As always, the report in Chinese reached me in translation via the BBC Monitoring Service.) The policeman, Huang Qiang, was 21 years old and worked in the anti-terrorism department of the Xinjiang Public Security Department (PSB). He was - unsuprisingly - an upright and respectable chap:
Huang Qiang was a good kid even in his childhood and he showed respect to his parents. He treated his neighbours nicely too and when he returned home to visit his relatives each year, he would bring some gifts to his relatives and friends. Huang Qiang was an upright and honest boy. On his way home in 2005, he subdued two robbers armed with a knife and was commended by the local government and people.
Huang Qiang has been posthumously accepted as a CCP party member and awarded the title of "Revolutionary Martyr" by the Ministry of Public Security. Xinjiang CCP deputy secretary Nuer Baikeli, who happens to be a Uyghur himself, talked tough at the funeral:
Baikeli also said that Kunlun will witness that we will not let the martyr shed his blood in vain and will deal heavy blows at any attempt to separate China and to undermine the unity and stability in Xinjiang. The people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang definitely will properly defend this piece of land to console the martyr in heaven.
So, is Xinjiang 2021 destined to become Xinjiang 2007? Only time will tell. As always, you can read the full text of the cited articles below.
China admits fear of Muslim terror as police kill 18 in mountain battle
Jane Macartney in Beijing
10 January 2007
The Times
China revealed the depth of its fear of Islamic-linked violence yesterday when police disclosed that they had killed 18 terrorists and captured another 17 after a fierce battle at a secret training camp in a remote northwestern region.
It was the first time that China had announced the discovery of such a camp in its territory. Officials said that they had uncovered links between the activists and international terrorist groups, hinting at connections to al-Qaeda.
The clash in the Pamir mountains on Friday was one of the deadliest for years in the restive Xinjiang Uighur autonomous region, where 8.5 million Muslims make up most of the population. One policeman was killed and a second wounded.
Police said that the camp, in Akto county, was run by the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (Etim). It is listed as a terrorist group by the US, at China's insistence, despite concerns among Beijing-based diplomats over lack of evidence.
Firearms and 22 grenades, plus materials to produce another 1,500 such devices, were seized at the camp, Xinjiang police said. Officials declined to reveal other details, saying that they would release information only as part of a manhunt for fugitives.
State media said that the group may have infiltrated the region with the help of al-Qaeda, but gave no details.
Liu Jianchao, a Foreign Ministry spokesman, said: "There is a large amount of evidence, including evidence from this raid, that shows the movement is associated with international terrorist forces, and that it planned, organised and carried out a series of violent, terrorist activities in China."
A resident said that he was not surprised to hear of such a training ground, adding that the Uighur ethnic minority had long been struggling to set up an independent East Turkestan state.
He said: "These mountains are very remote and cold, and no one could set up a camp without outside technological help and financial support." State media said that the suspected militants had even begun mining to help to finance their operations.
Police had found out that key members had arrived in the region, but no details were given of the exact location of the camp or how they were alerted to the suspects' presence.
More than 50 people were killed in an anti-Chinese uprising in Akto county in 1990. Li Wei, an anti-terrorism researcher at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, said that Beijing needed to reassess the movement's strength. "It has received external training and financial assistance and it has munitions-smuggling channels."
Western experts and diplomats voiced doubts about the report, saying that it would be unusual for Turkic-speaking Uighurs bent on independence to set up a camp in mountains populated mostly by members of the Tajik minority, which is opposed to a separate state and would be unlikely to give refuge to members of a rival ethnic minority.
China says that Etim is one of the region's most violent groups and that 1,000 of its members have been trained by al-Qaeda. Western terrorism experts say that the organisation has effectively ceased to exist since its leader, Hasan Mahsum, was shot dead by Pakistani troops in October 2003.
Dru Gladney, a US-based expert on Xinjiang, said: "Most groups in Xinjiang are not motivated by Islam but by sovereignty. It behoves the Chinese Government to provide much more evidence to remove the cloud of doubt that surrounds this incident."
Many Uighurs in Xinjiang are resentful of Chinese rule and feel that they have been left behind economically as better-paying jobs have been taken by the Han, who have moved into the region to seek their fortunes. Few are motivated by religious considerations.
A Western diplomat said: "We may see China now start to crack down on other possible terrorist threats further inland to show it is in control before the 2008 Olympics."
However, Zhao Yongshen, the deputy leader of Xinjiang's counter-terrorism force, said: "East Turkestan terrorism forces will remain the main terrorist threat facing China."
* There are 20 million Muslims in China; 8.5 million live in Xinjiang 23,000 of the 30,000 mosques in China are in Xinjiang
* Muslims in China fall into distinct racial groups. The largest, the Hui, are widespread. The next biggest, the Uighurs, are almost entirely in Xinjiang
* Islam suffered under Mao. After the Cultural Revolution imams were attacked and tortured
* China blames the East Turkestan Islamic Movement for more than 200 terror attacks between 1990 and 2001, causing 160 deaths and 440 injuries
Source: Times archives
Funeral held for Chinese policeman killed in Xinjiang raid - agency
11 January 2007
BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific
Text of report entitled: "Xinjiang mourns over antiterrorist martyr Huang Qiang", carried by Chinese Zhongguo Xinwen Wang website Chinanews.com on 9 January; all ellipses as carried
Urumqi, 9 January: The low and deep music, the white flowers catching the eyes everywhere, the sobbing of relatives and comrades-in-arms, and the deep sorrow of the people... On 9 January, a funeral for Huang Qiang, a policeman on the antiterrorist front of the 16th Section of the Xinjiang Public Security Department who sacrificed his life, was held at the Urumqi Funeral Home.
On 5 January, the public security organs of Xinjiang shot dead 18 and arrested 17 terrorists of the "Eastern Turkestan Islamic Movement" and seized 22 home-made antitank grenades and more than 1,500 semi-finished antitank grenades. In the process of tracking down and arresting the terrorists on that day, the gang of terrorists put up armed resistance and Huang Qiang, who was taking part in the operation, sacrificed his life.
It has been learned that at present, a small number of terrorists are still at large and the local public security organs are going all out to track them down and arrest them. The "Eastern Turkestan Islamic Movement" is one of the most harmful terrorist organizations of the "East Turkestan" terrorist forces. In 2002, the United Nations declared that the "Eastern Turkestan Islamic Movement" is an international terrorist organization.
At 11.00 [local time] in the morning, many armed policemen were standing at the door of the hall for paying last respects where the funeral was held. They were holding white horizontal streamers with the words of "Farewell to Comrade-in-Arms Huang Qiang", "Carry Out the Behest of the Martyr and Carry Forward the Spirit of the Martyr" and so on, written in black on them. The parking lot of the funeral home was also crowded with people who had come to see Huang Qiang off. Because many people had come to the funeral to mourn Huang Qiang, a great number of policemen and public security personnel had also come to maintain order.
At the lounge by the side of the mourning hall, this reporter saw the parents, girlfriend, and other relatives of Huang Qiang. Nuer Baikeli, deputy secretary of the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region CCP [Chinese Communist Party] Committee, was trying to console Huang Qiang's parents.
Nuer Baikeli told Huang Qiang's parents that Martyr Huang Qiang had sacrificed his valuable life for the national security of China and for the tranquillity of the people in Xinjiang. The people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang will always remember the heroic feat of Martyr Huang Qiang. You have brought up a good son. The governments at all levels in Xinjiang express lofty respect for you and also mourn with deep grief over Comrade Huang Qiang. We hope you will restrain your grief.
Nuer Baikeli also said that Kunlun will witness that we will not let the martyr shed his blood in vain and will deal heavy blows at any attempt to separate China and to undermine the unity and stability in Xinjiang. The people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang definitely will properly defend this piece of land to console the martyr in heaven.
Chen Tingguo, a cousin of Huang Qiang, said that Huang Qiang was a good kid even in his childhood and he showed respect to his parents. He treated his neighbours nicely too and when he returned home to visit his relatives each year, he would bring some gifts to his relatives and friends. Huang Qiang was an upright and honest boy. On his way home in 2005, he subdued two robbers armed with a knife and was commended by the local government and people.
Chen Tingguo said that on the day before Huang Qiang died, Huang Qiang's father and girlfriend made a special trip from Sichuan to Xinjiang to see Huang Qiang and they had never expected such a thing could have happened. However, knowing that Huang Qiang had done what he should for the stability of China, they also hoped Huang Qiang could leave with his mind at ease and should not worry about his parents.
The pain of Huang Qiang's parents in losing their son was beyond description.
Zhang Jun, Huang Qiang's girlfriend, said that in her mind, Huang Qiang has always been a reliable, upright and trustworthy person. "I never expected that no sooner had we arrived in Xinjiang than..." Here, she was choked with sobs.
When interviewed by this reporter, Huang Qiang's comrades-in-arms said, "On his deathbed, Huang Qiang was still thinking of the safety of his comrades-in-arms and he said, 'The enemies are ahead of us. Leave me alone.'" The reason for Huang Qiang's comrades-in-arms to have travelled more than 2 km hastily day and night from Kashi [Kashgar] to Urumqi to bid farewell to Huang Qiang was to ask Huang Qiang to set his mind at rest because they definitely would not let the remnant enemies go unpunished.
Huang Qiang was born in Sanqiao Village, Honghe Town, Longquanyi District, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province. He was once commended by a local public security department of Xinjiang. On 5 January 2007, while performing his task of tracking down and arresting terrorists in the Kosrap mountain areas of Akto County, Xinjiang, he heroically fought against the terrorists and was unfortunately killed. He was only 21 years old. The Ministry of Public Security posthumously conferred on him the title of a "Revolutionary Martyr" and the Xinjiang Public Security Department posthumously admitted him into the CCP and conferred on him Merit Citation, First Class.
Source: Zhongguo Xinwen Wang website Chinanews.com, Beijing, in Chinese 9 Jan 07
posted January 12, 2007 at 11:28 AM unofficial Xinjiang time | HaoHao This!
Comments
Couple of points: Huang Qiang is being described as a policeman, but he was not PSB as you state. He was People's Armed Police, which is not under the PSB but rather jointly under the CMC (Chinese Military Commission) and the State Council. That's also why he has a green uniform and not the blue PSB uniform, although the Chinese press conferences on the matter were held by the PSB. The PAP is specifically tasked with border security and counterterrorism. They are recruited and trained simultaneously with PLA troops. The closest US analogy would be the National Guard, perhaps crossed with INS and FBI.
Kesilafu, Akto County, where the raid occurred is actually in Kizil Kyrgyz Autonomous Zone. I'm not so sure that the villages near the raid the population are predominantly Kyrgyz or Tajik, and various articles suggest a fair number of Uyghurs as well. Regardless, the area is terribly remote (Xinjiang Daily went there on a travel story a year ago and had a few breakdowns with their SUVs), and only received regular electrical generators and satellite phones in the past couple of years. Also, Akto County has repeated shutdown dozens of illegal coal mining operations in the area and locals often mine their own coal for heating purposes. As a result, explosive material could be stolen from those sites and there would also be motives for local terrorism directed at corrupt mining companies.
I'm skeptical as well that this is any kind of hoax. It is probable that what was raided was indeed some sort of separatist group bent on violence. The claim that they had outside support, however, is highly questionable. The connection with ETIM is most likely BS, but since ETIM has Al Qaeda links the PRC is capitalizing on it. Never mind that the most recent Uyghur related terrorism has been tied to the ETLO, or East Turkestan Liberation Organization, specifically arson and shootings targeting Chinese in Kyrgyzstan.
To connect them with Al Qaeda, since the ETIM
connection is dubious, is without real merit. More importantly, Uyghur extremists have shown no common ground towards Al Qaeda's key interests: they have never targeted or criticized modernity or the West, and have shown no interest in a restored Caliphate. They are violent separatists, but have yet to show any resemblance to Islamic terrorists in motivations. To conflate Al Qaeda and Uyghur separatists at all is to endorse the PRC's definition of terrorism, which has been applied even to soccer clubs.
For a good breakdown of all reported Uyghur separatist violence and groups, check out James Millward's article:
http://www.eastwestcenter.org/stored/pdfs/PS006.pdf
Posted by: davesgonechina at January 13, 2007 12:13 AM
Good info.
I actually read that during US led Afghan War, there were 7 camps out of 10 left. In one case, US special force units were entrapped by Uyghur fighters who are veterans from Chechen. China sent in specail forces to rescue US troops out and basically took out those 7 camps.
Posted by: Sha at January 13, 2007 02:35 AM
A member of the People's Armed Police is refered to as policeman and addressed as "officer".
PAP is under the joint commander of CMC and PSM. In practice, it is under the sole control of local PSB.
Posted by: beefbarrel at January 13, 2007 02:50 AM
Just so it's clear to my readers: I don't personally have knowledge of or endorse the idea that Uyghur seperatists are in any way connected with al-Qaeda. The title of this entry was merely playing of the comments by Chinese officials that ETIM (or whoever was running the camp) is emerging as a "second al-Qaeda".
Also, while Dave points out that this "policeman" wasn't your average neighorhood domestic violence-solver, Beefbarrel gets the point across that he also wasn't some sort of elite commando either. Living in Xinjiang, one often meets these anti-terror officers and they always refer to themselves as police. Of course, when you get down to semantic distinctions, what's the real difference between a police officer and a soldier anyway? I know what it means in the US, but in China the line blurs considerably.
Posted by: michael at January 13, 2007 05:43 AM
1) PAP is sort of militia, or reserved national guard if u want to compare to us.
2) all these minority automonous counties are named in a very confusing and misleading way, in that the minority named often only represent 10-20% of the population.
Posted by: sunbin at January 13, 2007 10:59 AM
@Sha: Where did you read that "Chinese special forces rescues US troops"? I'd love to see that article. Seriously, got a link?
@Beefbarrel: In China they may be referred to as policemen, but when describing the PAP to a Western audience it's a little misleading.
According to China's own national defense white paper, they are under local PSB control for public security work, but "command and training" are under the PLA. They are not simply under PSB jurisdiction. Tianshan-1, which I think Michael has blogged before, was no police exercise. It was military.
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/whitepaper/defense2006/defense2006(5).html
@Sunbin: ditto and ditto.
Posted by: davesgonechina at January 13, 2007 12:30 PM
Dave,
Don't know if you can read Chinese, but I read it through a website with an artcile by a Chinese Special Force soilder. Basically, American troop bombed the area and airleft special force units in to sweeping off Taliban/Al Quada, but was pinned down and entrapped by Uyghur force. The rescue team from Pakistan Army was also deterred by another group. So Pakistani suggested to call China for help. It went up to Washington and was approved. So US turned over 7 Uyghur captives to China as first gift and Chinese special forces belong to Xinjiang Military District went over.
By the way, I am kind of puzzled why Westerners keeep calling ethnic Hui "Chinese Muslim"? If Chinese means "people of China" as broad sense, then every Muslim, include Uyghur is a Chinese Muslim. But if Chinese means Hans as narrow sense, then Hui is not Han.
Posted by: Sha at January 13, 2007 12:52 PM
This seems suspect:
"
* Islam suffered under Mao. After the Cultural Revolution imams were attacked and tortured"
Shouldn't it be during the Cultural Revolution?
Posted by: Inst at January 13, 2007 02:16 PM
@Sha: if you find the link, I'd really like to read it. I can read some Chinese, plus I have dictionaries and friends.
As for the Hui, as you say if you mean by "Chinese" a citizen of the PRC, then you could call the Uyghurs "Chinese Muslims" as well, and technically they are not Han, which is classified as a separate group. I believe the term is used in order to point out that the Hui share more traits with Han Chinese. Common language and a longer history of being an integrated minority in China, for example. The obvious distinguishing characteristic is that the Hui resemble the Han in appearance, or at least far more than the Uyghurs. There's an interesting discussion of the ancestry of the Hui at Gene Expression (three related articles linked at the top).
In the context of the Uyghurs, its also important to note that Uyghurs tend to consider the Hui as being Han who claim to be Muslim, but are often seen as not being "real Muslims" because of their Chinese appearance, language, the fact that the Dungans fought for the Qing, etc. etc. Let it be said that discrimination in Xinjiang doesn't go in just one direction.
Posted by: davesgonechina at January 13, 2007 05:03 PM
中国人所认为的“维吾尔族”与全世界所知道的"Uyghur"不一样。看见多种看法很有意思。
为Dave我网上找了半天也找不到美军的故事。
可基本上我不太相信中文的国际新闻。
这些没有写日期的“转贴”算不算"article"?
“中国陆军还是大哥( So far as we see， the Chinese army is our big brother)!”
http://www.hbjjrb.com/jspd/ShowArticle.asp?ArticleID=2419
美国上尉称咱陆军是大哥
http://web.wenxuecity.com/BBSView.php?SubID=military_best&MsgID=97
Posted by: YAPONLUQ at January 13, 2007 09:48 PM
@Yaponluo:
谢谢！很有意思。
Posted by: davesgonechina at January 13, 2007 10:28 PM
At first, when I read the reports about the raid being in the Pamirs plateau and being near the Afghan and Pakistani border, I also had similar thoughts on the implications of a purported terrorist training camp in a predominantly Tajik area. For me, the formula seemed to point to a location in or around Taxkorgan, which is located on a plateau in the Pamirs and is near the borders. The thought of Tajik complicity or at least sympathies with what could be religious or purely political separatism interested me very much.
However, in the search for more stories regarding this incident, I found this article, which incidentally is a from Pakistani news agency, that placed the incident in Akto. Akto county is actually in a Kirghiz autonomous prefecture, and, moreover, that county is 60% Uyghur and is located directly south of Kashgar, probably no more than 50 kilometers away.
Basically, although the possibility of multi-ethnic participation in Uyghur separatism, or more threateningly, transnational Islamic terrorism, seemed to be implied by the details of this story, the alleged raid was still carried out in a predominantly Uyghur part of Xinjiang very close to Kashgar.
Posted by: Vincent at January 14, 2007 12:36 AM
Dave,
I don't know any DNA test is accurate for Han population because it is an ancient melting pot that have too many gene origins. For example, there are Torchrian bloods in Zhou Tribe, Qin Tribe and State of Zhao. There are also Zhaowu (Aryans) who moved to Samakand after XiongNu attack, but later big population of them and Persians who are Mani and Zargorists moved to China under attack from Muslim Arabs. Those population are all in Han today. Of course, those assimilation of Huns, Tuba, Turks, etc into Han.
Also Hui is a much wide origin too. So a small sample in Liaoning may not represent the Hui origins in a broad sense.
Posted by: Sha at January 14, 2007 02:48 AM
@Sha: totally agree on Han being a melting pot, and actually a diverse milieu. But I do find the GNXP stuff interesting because many Hui maintain that they have ancestors of Middle Eastern or Central Asian origin who brought the faith. The stories of the Ma and Ding clans in Ningxia and Fujian have their own tales for this.
One of the other posts at GNXP has nothing to do with genes, but rather that the Hui were integrated into Chinese society far longer, and indeed Hui writings (in Chinese) adapted Islam to a Chinese scholarship perspective. And historically, Hui have been treated by, for example, the Qing emperors as Chinese - that is to say more harshly.
Posted by: davesgonechina at January 14, 2007 09:14 AM
My fear is that the Chinese are doing to the Uighurs what Russian has done to the Chechens: turned nationalist movements into Islamic fundementalist movements.
Would you please speak to this. Is this happening?
Posted by: China Law Blog at January 14, 2007 02:59 PM
@ChinaLawBlog: IMHO, not yet. It's possible that pushed far enough it could happen. I'd say that given that right now Rebiya Kadeer has become a globally recognized leader-in-exile and Nobel nominee, there's more life in a Tibetan exile sort of approach than in a Bin Laden allied one. It matters, too, that China has not allowed an environment with enough leeway for any sort of underground movement to become strong enough to mount an organized resistance like Chechnya, or a peaceful democracy movement for that matter.
I'd point out the Chechen conflict had roots in the disintegration of the Soviet Union, which undermined the brutal control the USSR maintained over the Chechens (deporting the whole lot to Central Asia in WW2, for instance). China exercise a similar tight grip on Xinjiang, and a disruption of that magnitude might be necessary for any sustained resistance, Islamic or otherwise, to get off the ground. Xinjiang also appears to have more intermittent resistance of the Chechens. Uyghurs didn't really consider themselves one unified group until the early twentieth century, and that was further solidified (ironically) by Chinese ethnic classification. Uyghurs also welcomed the Communists, as the Nationalists betrayed them. The only real Uyghur independence movement with military strength (Yakub Beg) only survived because he brought in forces from Khokand and the Hui in Gansu were blocking the Qing from reaching him.
This hardly seems a sign that such a fundamentalist movement is arising. There's no good evidence of who these guys in the cave were, ETIM or otherwise. They were primarily armed with homemade grenades, or so we are told. This from the PRC that told us a youth soccer league to discourage binge drinking was an ETIM plot. I'd say we're still a ways off from any fundamentalist movement in Xinjiang.
The Hui in Gansu, on the other hand, often believe some hardcore Sunni s**t. But no one talks about that.
Mike, what do you say? I left a year and a half ago.
Posted by: davesgonechina at January 14, 2007 05:17 PM
I don't get the feeling at all that Uyghurs are receptive to Islamic extremism. Sure, they may identify with Muslims around the world, but the Uyghur identity seems strongest in opposition to life under the Chinese. Indeed, as Dave points out, the common identity as Uyghurs really only extends back 50 or 60 years... before that people considered themselves Hotanese, Kashgari, Kuqaean, etc.
Judging by most of the young Uyghur men I know, I wouldn't say they are particularly wrapped up in the tenets of Islam. Drinking, whoring, and drug use are fairly common, as well as bloody street brawls. My own feeling is that most Uyghurs (at least those who live in cities) feel that Islam is an identity that seperates them from the Chinese, not something they see as a necessary truth to force on all the people of the world.
Of course, I don't get down to Hotan very often, where I would imagine that things are far more traditional and religious.
Posted by: michael at January 14, 2007 05:28 PM
I wouldn't think Uyghurs are prone to religious extremists. Even though Muslim as a life style as the main seperation from Han Culture, there are no historic hatrad between Uyghurs and Hans. Great Leap Forward and Culture Revolution aside, China is failing to improve people's life among all the Western regions, so grivences and complains are very natural. Guess we have to wait for few years to see if the living standards of common people improve or not. A better living will calm down extrem thinking, in turn will loosing government grip to move in a positive cycle.
Posted by: Sha at January 15, 2007 07:20 AM
oooh, how about a summary in front of the entire post - for those of us skipping through several blogs before the night's sleep?
Posted by: Serge at January 27, 2007 10:40 PM
the comments and assumptions are very interesting, or intriguing to some extend. But i find myself questioning the idea of intra-ethnic rivalry suggested among the natives of xinjiang. what makes the idea so appealing and parroted by the rest that the Tajiks are the rival ethnic group? interesting....any evidence? this is a claim with far reaching implications i guess...
Posted by: sada at January 31, 2007 12:26 AM
One would assume that the linguistic and cultural differences that separate Tajiks and Uzbeks in Afghanistan and Central Asia would apply as well to Tajik/Uyghur relations in Xinjiang. Tajiks are Indo-European with affinities to Iran, while Uzbeks and Uyghurs are Turkic-speaking cousins with affinities to other Altaic cultures. This is not to say that pan-Islamic unity cannot happen, however, even the concept of 'East Turkestan' excludes Tajik and Hui even as it promotes pan-Turkic unity amongst the Uyghur,Uzbek,Kyrgyz,and Kazak.
Posted by: schtickyrice at February 4, 2007 11:07 PM
good assumption, one may say, and theoritically makes sense, as well. i still wonder, is rivalry defined by the linguistic faultlines today? since the culture, if ones allowed to assume, is more of central asian than owned by any single ethnic group in that part of the world. most of the local cultural expressions may long predate its modern settlers and the cultural "unity" has actually glued the people through the ages...rivalry?
Posted by: sada at February 5, 2007 10:18 PM
Xinjiang people volunteer in raid on terrorist camp: lawmaker
5 March 2007
Xinhua News Agency
BEIJING, March 6 (Xinhua) -- People of various ethnic groups have contributed to the January raid on a terrorist training camp in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, in which 18 terrorists were killed and 17 others captured, a lawmaker said here on Tuesday.
The local residents provided clues linking to the terrorists and volunteered to help the police pursue a number of others after the gun battle on Jan. 5, said Mutuola Musha, who is in Beijing attending the annual session of the 10th National People's Congress, the top legislature.
Fifth-eight-year-old Mutuola Musha, who has been a policeman in Xinjiang for 40 years, said the police mainly target the masterminds, hard core and criminals engaged in violent terrorist activities, and are cautious not to infringe on the rights and interests of the local people.
Xinjiang has been investing heavily to support the development of areas bordering some Central Asian countries, which helped increase the income of farmers and herdsmen. The people there have contributed a lot in the fight against terrorism, Mutuola Musha said.
The training camp was run by the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), a group that the United Nations in 2002 labeled a terrorist organization.
In the January raid, the police also seized 22 hand grenades and more than 1,500 others the terrorists had not finished making, as well as guns and other home-made explosives. The police found the terrorists operate several mines near the camp to raise fund.
One policeman was killed by terrorists and another wounded in the gun battle.
It is believed that more than 1,000 ETIM members have been trained by Al-Qaeda.
Former head of the terrorist group, Hasan Mahsum, was shot dead by Pakistani troops on Oct. 2, 2003, in a joint anti-terror operation along the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Hasan Mahsum was accused of plotting a series of violent terrorist activities in recent years, including robbery and murder in Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang, and murders in Xinjiang's Hotan region, which caused heavy loss of life and property.
Posted by: michael at March 7, 2007 03:09 AM
ok everybody who is reding this text ! ITS VERY IMPORTANT.... I´M AN UYGHUR. I´M LIVING WITH MY FAMILY IN THE USA. THIS ARTICLE IS A FAKE, BECAUSE THE AUTONOME PART " XINJIANG" OF CHINA IS IN IN REAL THE COUTRY " EAST TURKESTAN" ... CHINESE POLICE KILL VERY MUCH CHILDREN AND YOUNG MEN BETWEEN 18-40 EVERY YEAR.. BECAUSE THE TAKE PART TO AN STRIKE AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT... WE UYGHURS ARE AN TURKISH FOLK AND WE AREN´T ALLOWED IN OUR OWN COUNTRY TO SEE OR TO SHOW OUR OWN FLAG... PLEASE WORLD HELP US.
CHINESE ARE KILLING US... BECAUSE WE ARE AN TURKISH FOLK AND WE ARE MUSLIM ... PLEASE WORLD HELP US... GOD HELP US!!!!!!!!! PLEASE....
PLEASE EVERYBODY WHO IS READING THIS TEXT.. REMEMBER WE UYGHURS ARE NOT EXTREMISIMN PLEASE.. WE ONLY WANT TO HAVE OUR COUNTRY BACK.. WE CAN´T WATCH HOW OUR FOLK IS BEING KILLED OR OUR RELIGIOUS GIRLS FROM little CITYS ARE OBLIGDED TO PROTETUTE ...
PLEASE HELP US.. DON´T IMAGINE WHAT CHINESE ARE SAYIN ABOUT US.. WE ARE NOT TERRORIST..
WE ARE A FOLK THAT WAN´T TO LIVE IN FREEDOM.. NOT IN THE HANDS OF CHINA PLEASSSE HELP US...
if u have any questions about me send me a mail to bushidogeil@yahoo.de
I KNOW EVERY DATAILS ABOUT THAT HAPPENING !! WHAT IST DESVRIBED IN THIS PAGE
Posted by: PLEASE HELP at April 28, 2007 08:48 PM
Hmmm, It's going to be even more tricky now that there is this Al-Qaeda stuff.
Posted by: Hello at May 1, 2007 05:40 PM
China hands death sentences to Uighur "separatists"
Sun Nov 11, 2007 2:32pm IST
BEIJING (Reuters) - China has sentenced to death or life imprisonment six Uighur activists in its far north west convicted of "separatist activities", state media said on Sunday.
The six, described as members of the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, received the verdicts on Nov. 8 at a local court in Kashgar in the northwest Xinjiang region, for taking part in "separatist activities", "illegally making explosives" and "training up a terrorist camp", official government Web site www.china.com.cn said.
Three were sentenced to death, two received suspended death sentences and the sixth was jailed for life.
The six people were part of "terrorist group" captured by the Chinese police during a gun battle last January in the Pamirs Plateau in southern Xinjiang, the report said. Eighteen of the group were killed in the raid and 17 others arrested.
China has waged a relentless campaign against what it calls violent separatist activities of Uighur Muslims agitating for an independent East Turkestan State in the restive, oil-rich Xinjiang region that borders Pakistan, Afghanistan and Central Asia.
Xinjiang governor Ismail Tiliwaldi said in March that the group had links with al Qaeda.
Rights groups have said Beijing is using its support for the U.S.-led "war on terror" to justify a crackdown on Uighurs.
Xinjiang is home to 8 million Uighurs, a Turkic, largely Islamic people who share linguistic and cultural bonds with Central Asia. Many resent the growing Han Chinese economic dominance in Xinjiang, as well as government controls on religion and culture.
© Reuters 2006. All rights reserved.
Posted by: michael at November 11, 2007 10:15 PM
Good stuff for the people who learn the local culture of Xinjiang.
Posted by: mahmutjan at March 5, 2008 11:54 AM