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Our correspondent Boghda
reports from Urumchi:
With the beginning of April the number of Chinese
migrants coming to Eastern Turkistan from inner parts of
China is increasing rapidly. The rail stations in
Urumchi turned into sea of people. According to
statistics, everyday around 10 thousand Chinese arrive
to Urumchi. Some of them settle in Urumchi, some move
further to the northern and southern parts of Eastern
Turkistan, to every big city and regional centers.
There are several reasons for the mass migration of
ethnic Chinese settlers from inner China to Eastern
Turkistan. Partly this is a practical result of the
‘exploration of the West” policy. Under this project the
ethnic Chinese came in great numbers to Eastern
Turkistan, built up plants, factories, set up trade
companies and firms, launched construction projects on
the purchased land sites. The settlers have always
employed their ethnic kinsmen instead of hiring the
locals. Also, they encourage more ethnic Chinese to come
to this region in order to fill in the shortage in labor
power.
Another reason was outlined by the government official
Wang Lechen a month ago at the special statement when
more ethnic Chinese were urged to come and settle in
Eastern Turkistan.
The mass migration of the Chinese settlers to Eastern
Turkistan inevitably results in greater unemployment of
the local population, in higher crime records, and
eventually in growing tension between the Uyghurs and
migrant Chinese settlers, thus aggravating already
serious problems in this part of the world.
2002.4.4 |
