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Produced by the Eastern Turkistan Information Center No: 66 31 October 1997 In this issue: (1) OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON
(2) STATEMENT BY AN UYGHUR WOMAN AT THE US CONGRESS HEARINGS
(3) PRC REGIONS ISSUE CIRCULARS ON REBELLIONS
*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*= (1) OPEN LETTER To Mr. Bill Clinton President of the United States of America October 30, 1997 Dear Mr. President, The World Uighur Youth Congress, encouraged by news dispatches that you will raise the issue of human rights, freedom and democracy during your meeting with the President of the People's Republic of China, wants to bring the plight of the Uighur people to your attention. Uighurs, the indigenous people of Eastern Turkestan, mostly known in the West as the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China, has become a target of systematic human rights abuses since the occupation of their country by the Chinese Communists in 1949. The Uighurs, who contributed to the enrichment of Central Asian civilization for more than thousand years, are faced today with the political oppression, cultural assimilation, economic exploitation, cultural destruction and racial discrimination. The population transfer, coercive birth control policy, sinification of the literary language are threatening the very existence of the Uighurs. The continued treatment of the Uighurs as "dirty", "primitive"and "backward" by the great majority of the common Chinese people have deepened the hostilities between the Uighurs and Chinese. As a result, fierce anti-Chinese demonstrations broke out throughout Eastern Turkestan in recent years, months and weeks. The latest example is the anti-Chinese demonstration in the city of Guldja ( the Chinese renamed the city as Yining ) in early February 1997. In order todisperse the demonstrators, the Chinese armed police have killed 200 Uighurs, wounded several hundred and arrested almost 2000. Instead of defusing the rising tension in Eastern Turkestan, the Chinese Communist leaders have turned to ruthless and repressive measures aimed at silencing Uighur demands for democracy, respect for human rights and self-determination. At present, Uighurs seeking only to live with dignity are being imprisoned, tortured and executed on political grounds. There are thousands of political prisoners in Eastern Turkestan. Many are reported to have been severely ill-treated. The death penalty is extensively used in Eastern Turkestan. According to Amnesty International, the number of death sentences imposed in Eastern Turkestan is proportionately much higher than the rest of China. Security forces in the cities, townships and counties have been doubled. We, the members of the World Uighur Youth Congress and Uighurs living in exile, are in the belief that if the present ruthless repression to silence the just demands of the Uighurs is to be continued it will gradually lead to the intensification of the present tense situation thereby destabilizing the peace and stability in Central Asia as a whole. It is not in the interest of the USA and international community to see another major conflict erupt in that part of the world after Afghanistan, Kashmir and Tajikistan. Thus, we, the members of the World Uighurs Youth Congress, kindly urge you, as the President of the World's remaining super power and the only nation which has the ability to influence China, to raise the issue of Uighurs and Chinese human rights violations against these people in your meetings with the President of the People's Republic of China. Sincerely, Omer Kanat Chairman of the World Uighur Youth Congress (2) STATEMENT BY AN UYGHUR WOMAN AT THE US CONGRESS HEARINGS 10/28/97, Eastern Turkistan Information Center My name is Rizvangul Uighur, I am an Uighur from East Turkistan which Chinese call Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. I am grateful for the opportunity to testify on the Chinese Human Rights Abuses in my motherland. As you can see from my appearance, I am not a Chinese, my mothertouge is not Chinese, my culture is Turkic culture, the Uighur history has no connection what so ever to Chinese. My motherland was taken over by Chinese communist in 1950. It is obvious to everyone, Chinese government's policy, especially after implementing the so called No. 7 Act of PRC Central Standing Committee hosted by Mr. Jiang Zemin, clearly stated the discriminatory policy towards Uighur and other indigenous population of East Turkistan. I regret that I don't have time to list all abuses caused by PRC. However, I would like to take this chance to give you what I know about the February 5-6 incident which Chinese government shamelessly labeled as "riot organized by a small number of separatist". The reality is nowhere close to Chinese official description of the event. Ghulja is a city with Uighurs majority. In Uighur cultural tradition, there are a cultural gatherings called 'Mashrap', county level unofficial soccer competition organized by Uighurs and some other religious gatherings. All these normal activities are considered "counter revolutionary activities" by Chinese official and banned completely. The purpose is obvious, they want to systematically destroy our culture, religion, history and traditional activities and finally to genocide Uighur as a whole. Uighurs are born Muslim, it is our religious tradition to gather together to pray during the holy Ramazan. On the eve of Ramazan on February 5 in Ghulja, ordinary believers were offended by the arrests of 30 prestigious religious leaders by Chinese government. They were shocked by the arrests, especially the young folks could no longer tolerate. 600 young people took to the street walking towards city government demanding release of those religious figures. On their way, they were brutally stopped by police and paramilitary forces. Police violently dispersed crowd using electrical clubs, water cannon and tear gas in the freezing day. The second day, even bigger demonstration was held after Uighurs all over town heard about the incident. Chinese police and paramilitary forces were ordered to shoot to the crowd and killed 167 people and succeeded in suppressing the rally. Afterwards, the Chinese policemen arrested over 5,000 demonstrators including elder, young, women and children in a single day on the charge of "intending to split motherland", "conducting criminal activity" "fundamental religious activity" and "counter revolutionary element". One of my friend was among the arrested. She is only 20 years old. She described to me what happened to her that day as follows. Chinese policemen forced all the arrested Uighurs to take off shoes and stand barefoot on snow for hours, they also released police dogs to bite them. One by one, the arrested individual were called in for questioning. My friend is a devote Muslim, when she was called in. She was asked: "Are you a Muslim?" My friend replied: "Yes, of course I am.". "Where is your God?" the policeman asked. The girl replied: "God is in my heart." Then, you would not believe what the policeman did to her. He tore off her cloth and pressed a burning cigarette on her bare breast and crudely yelled: "If your God is in your heart, then let him rescue you right now!" Afterwards, all the girls from the age 14 up were locked into Han Chinese male prison cells. The Han prisoners took full advantage of these innocent souls, destroyed their spiritual purity. After the demonstration, we were little surprised about the patience of Chinese government in making open executions. Everything was clear, they were waiting for U.S. to offer Most Favored Nation Status to China. Right after MFN was approved by the congress, the Chinese government made the first open execution of 7 Uighurs and sentence of 23 demonstrators ranging from 5 to life time. In order to "kill the chicken to scare the monkeys", Chinese military forces load them on the open truck guarded with heavily armed soldiers humiliatedly drove slowly through the busy Uighur bazaar and neighborhoods. During that time, crying crowd including relatives, family members and friends of so called 'criminals' followed the tucks to say good buy. Guess what Chinese soldiers did? Would you believe such cruelty could ever happen in a civilized society? They opened fire to the ordinary crowd! Killed 9 Uighurs in the spot and injured over 25. Chinese media could not hide the incident and officially admitted the soldiers opened fire to the 'mobs who wanted to rescue the criminals'- a biggest lie one can ever create! I heard Chinese made large scale secret execution to the demonstrators, religious figures who refuse to comply with government. One of my friend's brother was among the secret executed Uighurs. His brother was arrested one night in April after the Ghulja incident, at 3pm next day, his father and spouse were informed to pay final visit for five minutes. The young man was executed afterwards without any judicial trial. Nobody knows where is his dead body. As I told you in the beginning, I was born an Uighur, I didn't see any Chinese and couldn't speak Chinese when I was young. But now I saw millions Chinese migrated in my country. All of them are transferred by Chinese government. We have already became a minority in our own motherland. Let me give you some more examples of the human rights violation of government that every single Uighur is experiencing nowadays in their own motherland. 1. Because of the Nuclear testing, there are many deformed children, unknown diseases and all kinds of untreatable skin diseases. Chinese government claims that Nuclear test is safe and no harm to the Uighurs who live surrounding test site. I want to ask Jiang Zeming that why doesn't he let Chinese test their Nuclear bombs in their own land if it is safe and harmless to the human. We Uighurs don't need bombs of any kind. 2. The birth control policy toward Uighurs is unbearable. Babies are being killed in delivery room without seeing the mother's face and world. Those pure souls died without knowing what is wrong and who is their mother. The mothers lost their children even had no chance to say good bye to their newborns, whom they had for ten months of pregnancy, to whom they have many wishes and the new life they were dreamed to have with. The reason for those innocent souls death is that their mothers have no birth permission. For those who gave birth to such a child would encounter maltreatment and ignorant in hospital for their violation of government birth control policy, many of them die after given birth from the infection and other decease caused by such treatment. After all, their family would face a financial punishment for their violation of government birth control policy. 3. On a train from Urumqi to Beijing, there were only two Uighurs including me. Suddenly, we saw two policemen walked directly to us bypassing all the Chinese in the train. They rudely yelled to us: "Show us your identification!" and searched over all our belongings. We were so offended and felt deeply humiliated. But, both of us didn't say anything, since we know from our experience we would got into big trouble if we show any resentment. This is what every Uighur experiencing everyday, everywhere in the People's Republic of China. 4. We were deprived off our religious rights. The government employee and workers are not allowed to pray, to attend religious school or to go to Mosques openly. I was once warned by a Chinese official that I had to took off my veil, otherwise, I could not keep my job. I was forced to pray secretly at home as a consequence. Thank you very much for your attention. I sincerely hope you could help my people by stopping Chinese inhumane treatment of Uighurs. (3) PRC REGIONS ISSUE CIRCULARS ON REBELLIONS 10/22/97, Hong Kong Tung Hsiang, PTS Translated Text for FBIS Article by Cheng Ming Reporter Li Tzu-Ching: "More Than 3,000 People Launch Anti-Communist Rebellions in Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang. Armed Suppression Leaves Over 300 Dead or Wounded" HEARSAY AND OFFICIAL DENIAL In early October, overseas media reported that some large-scale armed rebellions simultaneously broke out in Xinjiang and Inner-Mongolia on the eve of the PRC National Day. However, they gave no details regarding the exact sites and number of people involved in the incidents... On the same day, the Xinjiang and Inner Mongolian authorities solemnly denied the foreign reports. The regional officials maintained that Urumqi and Huhhot remained quiet and stable during the national day period, and dismissed the foreign reports as groundless. They said that they "had heard nothing about" the incidents. Is it true that the foreign reports were fabricated and the regional officials spoke the truth? What was the real situation in the two regions? Xinjiang Authorities Admitted a Six-Day Armed Rebellion [subhead] The Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region People's Government and Xinjiang Military District issued a circular on 30 September, stating: >From 22-27 September, the Xinjang Uygur Autonomous Region witnessed a rebellion and riots in Tuokexun, Shawan, Shanshan, Hutubi, Hejing, Heshuo, and other areas for six consecutive days. More than 3,200 people took part in the rebellion and riots. Some separatist organizations and hostile forces armed with sub-machine guns automatic rifles, grenades, incendiary bombs, and other weapons looted local party and government organs and state warehouses and destroyed local railroads, highways, and communications facilities. On the afternoon of 24 September, deceived, lured, instigated, and intimidated by some hostile organizations, some 800 people in Xinjiang's Hejing and Heshuo surrounded and indiscriminately opened fire at local party and government headquarters; called for the establishment of "Xinjiangstan"; shouted slogans like "CPC Get out," "People's Liberation Army [PLA] Get out," and so on; and used weapons to block local PLA troops from maintaining order. When local PLA troops issued a final warning to the members of the mob, armed separatists opened fire at them. The incident left more than 30 PLA officers and soldiers dead or wounded. The local PLA troops launched a counterattack, dealing a telling blow to the arrogant separatist elements and quelling the armed rebellion in the end. The Central Military Commission immediately ordered the Lanzhou Military Region to dispatch some rapid response troops to areas concerned to help quell the rebellion. They quickly imposed martial law and curfews in the areas. On 25 September, Qian Shugen, deputy chief of the PLA General Staff, and Lanzhou Military Region Commander Liu Jingsong arrived in areas concerned to personally direct the suppression. The circular admitted that the incident has left more than 270 people dead or wounded, including more than 90 local party and government cadres, public security officers, and armed police officers. Some 17 cadres and officers were killed in the incident. The Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region People's Government revealed that nearly 80 people were killed and over 820 armed separatists and members of the mob were arrested. THE INNER MONGOLIAN AUTHORITIES ADMITTED A THREE-DAY ARMED REBELLION The Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region People's Government and Inner Mongolia Military District issued a circular on 29 September, stating: On 24, 25, and 26 September, Inner Mongolia witnessed a three-day armed rebellion in Suniteyou Banner, Shangdu, Huade, and some other areas. A mob shouted slogans like "Establish a Mongolia Republic," "Wipe out Communist Invaders and Troops," and so on; launched a violent and armed attack on local party and government organs; and held some local party and government cadres hostage. On the evening of 25 September, they refit lorries into armored cars with steel plates and attacked local PLA barracks and local police and armed police headquarters. Despite a warning from local PLA troops, the mob participants continued with the armed attacks, thus leaving over 30 local party and government cadres and armed police officers dead or wounded. As a result, local PLA troops and armed police forces were ordered to launch a counterattack against the separatists. They quickly quelled the armed rebellion and started imposing martial law in Shangdu and Huade as of 18:00 on 26 September. The Beijing Military Region was ordered to transfer a crack regiment from the 82nd Division of the 28th Group Army stationed in Datong and dispatch it to Shangdu and Huade. Zeng Gangchuan, deputy chief of the PLA General Staff; Beijing Military Region Commander Liang Guanglie; and some senior PLA officers arrived in the two areas to personally inspect the situation. They called an on-site meeting in Jining to discuss the ways and means of quelling the separatist and counterrevolutionary rebellion. The circular admitted that some 130 people were killed or wounded and more than 220 separatists were arrested in the latest incident. THE STATE COUNCIL TRANSMITTED A REPORT ON REBELLIONS IN XINJIANG AND INNER MONGOLIA On 29 September, the State Council General Office transmitted a report filed by "Xinhua" and "Jiafangjun Bao" reporters on the recent Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia rebellions. The report stated: In an elaborate plot by some anti-China and anti-Communist foreign hostile forces, a batch of self-exiled hostile and separatist elements armed with a large number of weapons, munitions, propaganda materials, and operational funds slipped back into Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia. They organized local hostile forces and instigated, intimidated, and forced some local people opposed to China's socialist system and unaware of the truth to attack local party and government organs with guns, explosives, incendiary bombs, vehicles, and other arms. They shot dead local party and government cadres; launched armed attacks on local PLA barracks and local police and armed police headquarters; looted state warehouses; conducted beatings, and smashing, looting, and burning activities in some local areas; deliberately sabotaged local communications, telecommunications, water, and electricity facilities; and inflicted huge losses to state property and peoples lives. CPC HIERARCHY ISSUED THREE-POINT INSTRUCTION ON QUELLING REBELLIONS The CPC Central Committee, State Council, and Central Military Commission issued the following three-point instruction after studying reports submitted by the Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia party, government, and military authorities: It is necessary to firmly, resolutely, and thoroughly crack down on violent activities launched by hostile and separatist organizations manipulated and controlled by hostile foreign forces; It is necessary to firmly and resolutely crack down on violent attacks launched by hostile and separatist forces and pursue and capture remaining elements; It is necessary to firmly and thoroughly crack down on and suppress armed and violent attacks launched by hostile and separatist organizations. Rebellions on the Eve of "National Day" Made CPC Lose Face [subhead] During the 15th CPC National Congress, the CPC authorities specially invited principal officials of Tibet, Xinjiang, and Inner Mongolia autonomous regions to attend a press conference. At the press conference, the officials confidently told the Chinese and foreign reporters: China's ethnic minorities regions have enjoyed nationality solidarity, political and social stability, economic prosperity, and rapid development. However, shortly after the 15th CPC National Congress, while these words were still ringing in people's ears, two large-scale armed rebellions broke out in Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia respectively on the eve of the National Day, this being a slap in the face for the CPC authorities. This explains why the Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia officials unanimously denied some foreign reports in the first place, in a vain bid to cover up the recent incidents in order to save face for the CPC... Prepared by: Abdulrakhim Aitbayev (rakhim@lochbrandy.mines.edu) and Bill Mitchell (turpan@ix.netcom.com). 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 |