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After the
September 11th, Chinese government intensified its
efforts to portray Uighurs as “terrorists” in
international media and, on the other hand, increased
its oppression of Uighurs under the pretext of the fight
against “terrorism” in East Turkistan.
For example, according to the information obtained from
reliable sources in East Turkistan by “East Turkistan
Informational Center”, not long after the September
11th, on September 20th in Urumchi during the meeting of
the XUAR security and party high ranking officials, it
was stated that the latest events are the best
opportunity to fight with “terrorism” and “eliminate
national separatism in Xinjiang”. Since the beginning of
the “Strike Hard” campaign, the emphasis was made on
routines such as “first arrest then interrogate” as the
guidance to the security service and police personnel.
In the result in areas heavily populated by Uighurs, the
arrests and convictions increased dramatically. Within
two months following the September 11th, Chinese police
detained more than 3,000 Uighurs on political grounds.
In East Turkistan cities of Ghulja, Aqsu, Qashqar, Hotan
and the regions of Shayar, Uchturpan and Unsu, nine open
trials were held and 13 Uighurs were convicted to death
and executed the same day. More that 131 Uighurs were
sentenced to the different imprisonment time. They were
all convicted in “involving in the illegal religious
activities” and “splittism”.
The Chinese government not only intensified its
crackdown politically but military as well. For example,
after the September events, “to secure border with
Afghanistan and search for Uighurs fleeing from there”,
the Chinese military transferred its seven divisions and
special marine troops from Lan Zhou into the region of
Qashgar neighboring with Afghanistan. Moreover, in
November, a special delegation consisting of 15 members
were sent from Beijing to Urumchi to “strengthen
political unity in the region”. It is obvious that their
arrival will further deteriorate the pitiful condition
of Uighurs in the region since they and their puppet
local representatives will intensify the oppression on
the local population. |
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