| An electronic newsletter
Produced by the Eastern Turkistan Information Center No: 17 28 January 1997 In this issue: (1) UYGHUR CONGRESS HELD IN KYRGYZSTAN.
(2) THE THIRD CONGRESS OF "ITTIPAK
(3) UNOFFICIAL RADIO STATION BROADCASTS IN GHULJA CITY,
(4) DECISIONS OF XUAR GOVERNMENT
(5) THE TOUR OF UYGHUR MUSIC AND DANCE PERFORMERS FROM ALMATY, KAZAKSTAN
(6) STRUGGLE IN EASTERN TURKISTAN
(7) SUMMARY OF EVENTS IN THE MOTHERLAND FOR THE LAST TWO MONTHS
(8) RECENT PUBLICATIONS ON UYGHURS AND EASTERN TURKSITAN
(9) BIRTH CONTROL POLICIES IN EASTERN TURKISTAN
(10) UNOFFICIAL MOBILE RADIO STATION
(11) BOOKS CONFISCATION
(12) NATIONAL FREEDOM STRUGGLE IN THE MODERN UYGHUR LITERATURE
(13) NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS
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A congress of the Uyghur Association of Kyrgyzstan was held in Bishkek on 26 January, RFE/RL reported. The session replaced the association's president, Nurmuhamed Kenjiev, with Nigmat-Agi Baizakov. It also elected a 47-member council and five-member inspection committee. The congress approved plans for creating a special fund which would provide Uyghur students studying in Kyrgyzstan with a 3,000 som ($180) monthly stipend. Also, the association plans to open book stores in Bishkek, which will specialize in Uyghur literature. There are now about 50,000 Uyghurs living in Kyrgyzstan. The Uyghur Association was founded in 1990, the first ethnic minority organization registered in the country. -- Bruce Pannier and Naryn Idinov (2) THE THIRD CONGRESS OF "ITTIPAK
The third congress of "Ittipak", an Uyghur organization in Kyzgyzstan, was held on January 26 in Bishkek. About 480 delegates participated at the congress. In elections of the head of "Ittipak", Mr. Nigmat Bosakov was elected from 4 candidates. Rabiyem Yakub, Bishkek (3) UNOFFICIAL RADIO STATION BROADCASTS IN GHULJA CITY,
At the beginning of this year, an unofficial radio station had been broadcasting its programs in neighborhood of Ghulja city, the center of Ili Kazak Autonomous District. Government authorities managed to take bearings of the radio station, and, shortly after, seized a bus, which the mobile satellite radio station was located on. By Abdullah Pamir (4) DECISIONS OF XUAR GOVERNMENT
The government of XUAR decided to extend holiday celebrations of the Chinese Chagan pring festival, and give workers three days off, thus, adding two additional days. In contrast, the government announced that Musim workers will be given only one day, instead of previous three days, off for celebrating Muslim holiday Ramadan Eid. (5) THE TOUR OF UYGHUR MUSIC AND DANCE PERFORMERS FROM ALMATY, KAZAKSTAN
Recently, the Uyghur music and dance performers from Almaty, Kazakstan, toured Eastern Turkistan's cities Urumchi and Turfan. Their plans to give concerts in Kashgar region were cut short by an order of the province government. (6) STRUGGLE IN EASTERN TURKISTAN
On July 15, 1996, 12 national freedom fighters imprisoned by the Chinese communist dictators for reeducation through labor escaped from a prison in Shahyar county. While being transferred to a labor cite, they killed with sickles 4 prison guards and took their guns. Then, they executed several traitors among themselves. They went to Shahyar and disrupted operation of the post office and, then, burst into the police department building. A fierce fight broke out in the building with the police officers resulting in two freedom fighters and several policemen killed. The rest 10 rebels run to the ammunition depot and shot all police guards there. The rebels then decided to release all imprisoned, but a severe fight broke out with the Chinese soldiers. Eight of the rebels and almost 300 Chinese soldiers were killed in the fight. The other two rebels managed to successfully escape form the battle scene. They crossed the Taklimakan desert and came to Cherchen, but shortly after arrival they were caught by the Chinese police.--Abdullah Pamir (7) SUMMARY OF EVENTS IN THE MOTHERLAND FOR THE LAST TWO MONTHS
In Kumul Wilayet (District) a bomb exploded derailing a train going to China proper and carrying oil tanks. 50 ton train tanks exploded resulting in a huge fire disrupting railroad communication for almost 32 hours. The explosion happened at noon 200 kilometers east from Kumul and 170 kilometers north from Shingshisha at a place called Yamansu. The Chinese government immediately sent about 2 thousand people to restore the railroad. For security purposes, the government put armed military guards in every 100 meters along the railroad from Kumul to Shingshisha and from Kumul to Urumchi. Shortly after, the Chinese police arrested 124 people from Yamansu village of Kumul Wilayet. Extremely disturbed Chinese provincial government leaders Jang Yumu and Ablet Abdurashid arrived to the cite personally observe the investigation. Nowadays, bomb explosions and assassinations of motherland traitors are happening all over Eastern Turkistan. Recently, a fire suddenly broke out in an oil refinery plant in Kokyar of Kargilik county killing 25 Chinese workers. The government officials conducted investigations on the case and, in result, arrested 13 Uyghur plant workers and Mr. Ahmet Yimit, who had been actively working during the last 36 years in the local government. The investigators charged the arrested in connections with the criminals hiding in the Taklimakan desert and in setting up the fire. After this event, several Uyghur workers holding important positions at the oil refinery plants at Karamay and Maytag were moved to another less important positions. (8) RECENT PUBLICATIONS ON UYGHURS AND EASTERN TURKSITAN
In Uyghur: 1. 6 and 7 issues of "Tamcha" ("The Drop") are published. "Tamcha" covers political, religious, social and economic issues related to the Uyghurs and Eastern Turkistan. You are welcome to submit your articles to LINDWURMSTR. 99 80337 MUENCHEN GERMANY TEL: 49/89/543-8898 FAX: 49/89/904-6155 2. The Eastern Turkistan Union in Europe published a first issue of its quarterly "Birlik" (Unity) journal. The address of the editorial office is OSTTURKISTANISCHER UNION IN EUROPA E.V. GOETESTR. 47 80336 MUENCHEN GERMANY TEL: 49/89/930-6685 OR 315-4909 3. A book "UYGHURLARNING ORE-ADETLIRI" (The customs of the Uyghurs) is recently published in XUAR. In Turkish: The Society for cultural assistance to Eastern Turkistan "Kok Bayrak" (The Blue Banner) publishes a bi-monthly journal "Fikir we Kultur" ("Opinion and Culture"). Their address: HOCA AHMET YESEVI MAH: TURKISTAN EVLERI 44.SOK. NO:28/A (38090) KOCASINAN / KAYSERI TURKIYE (9) BIRTH CONTROL POLICIES IN EASTERN TURKISTAN
On December 24, 1996, the Urumchi radio station reported in its Uyghur language broadcast that about 1100 women had been sterilized complying with the government's birth control policy in towns and villages of Khotan Wilayet. On December 26, the station reported that the birth control policy had been successfully implemented in Bortala exceeding the government's plans on 15%. On December 27 and 29, it was reported that birth control policy was fulfilled on 97% in Yengisar County of Kashgar Wilayet. It was said that the government decided to enforce implementation of the birth control policy in XUAR in 1997 by increasing spendings on 20% in comparison with 1996. Earlier last year, the Urumchi radio announced that 270 thousand women were sterilized in Kashgar Wilayet. The Communist Chinese government began its birth control policies in Eastern Turkistan in 1982. According to these policies, Uyghur families are allowed to have no more than two children in cities and three in villages. For exceeding these quotas, the government imposes on violators strict penalties such as large withholdings from salaries (50 RMB from each spouse), and denying promotions and employment. "Out of quota" children are not accepted in day care centers, denied equal health care and education opportunities. The same penalties are imposed on families for refusal from sterilization. By Yufuf Muhlisi, forwarded to ETIC by Rabiyem Yakub (10) UNOFFICIAL MOBILE RADIO STATION
On January 10, 1997, the Urumchi radio reported that, in Ili Wilayet, several unidentified people installed in a bus an unofficial mobile radio station and began broadcasting. Shortly after, the police arrested them and confiscated all devices and the bus. (11) BOOKS CONFISCATION
On January 9, 1997, the Urumchi radio reported that more than 1600 "yellow" books and other harmful literature were confiscated in Kucha City in wake of continuing "Strike hard" campaign to fight crime. The Chinese government uses this campaign in Eastern Turkistan and other autonomous regions to curb separatism and religious activities. (12) NATIONAL FREEDOM STRUGGLE IN THE MODERN UYGHUR LITERATURE
A literary workshop under title "National Freedom Struggle in the Modern Uyghur Literature" evoted to the first death anniversary of the famous Uyghur poet Abdurehim Otkur took place on December 28, 1996, in Ankara, Turkey. The Head of Mr. Muammer Nalbanit and the Head of the Eastern Turkistan Executive Office, General Muhammed Riza Bekin gave opening speeches. Then, Hulya Qassap Ogli, Haci Yaqup, Gulzade Tengri Tagliri, Sadiq Kamal Turan, Sema Barutci Oz Onder, Alimjan Anayet, Erkin Emet presented their articles. The Head of the Language Studies Institute, Professor Ahmetbijan Erjilasun, made a conclusive report. About 500 Uyghurs from Istanbul, Ankara and Kaysar participated in the meeting.--Erkin Emet (13) NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS
On January 1, 1997, the Urumchi radio reported that about 10 thousand Uyghur workers and students were organized to take part in the government sponsored new year celebrations on the People's Square in Urumchi. In particular, celebrations included a ceremony of raising the China's state flag over the XUAR government building. The participants cited poems praising the Communist Party, and expressed their devotion to its policies. The remarkable part of this event is that Han workers or students were not organized to participate. Prepared by: Abdulrakhim Aitbayev (rakhim@lochbrandy.mines.edu) WUNN newsletter index*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*= The World Uyghur Network News electronic newsletter is produced by the Eastern Turkistan Information Center (ETIC) in cooperation with the Taklamakan Uighur Human Rights Association (USA), and is devoted to the current political, cultural and economic developments in Eastern Turkistan and to the Uyghur people related issues. Eastern Turkistan (Sherqiy Turkistan in Uyghur) is a name used by the indigenous people of the region for their motherland located in what is at present the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of the People's Republic China. The World Uyghur Network News brings information on situation in Eastern Turkistan from the Uyghur and other sources to the attention of the international community. *=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*= EASTERN TURKISTAN INFORMATION CENTER |