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One Sentenced to Death in Killing of Uighur Leader in
Kyrgyzstan
January 2, 2001
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (AP) _ One man was sentenced to
death and three others to lengthy prison terms
Wednesday for the killing of a leader of the Uighur
ethnic group in Kyrgyzstan.
Negmat Bazakov, leader of the Uighur organization
Ittipak, was shot to death on March 28, 2000, outside
his home in the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek.
Although Ittipak supports rights for the minority
ethnic group, Bazakov did not support the extremist
views of some Uighurs. Many Uighurs hold separatist
sentiments, calling for the formation of an
independent East Turkestan Republic encompassing
territory in China's Xinjiang region, where Uighurs
are the dominant group.
The prosecution in the trial said his killing was
organized by people connected with the Uighur
separatist group Shark Azatlyk Taskhilaty. The court
sentenced Kasardzhi Dzhamal Makhmud to 35 years in
priosn for organizing the attack; two other alleged
organizers are being sought.
Otabek Akhadov was sentenced to death for firing the
shots that killed Bazakov. Accomplices Ablemit Kerim
and Mukhammad Toktoniyaz were sentenced to 16 and 17
years imprionment respectively.
The Uighurs declared a short-lived East Turkestan
Republic in the Xinjiang region in the late 1940s but
have been under firm Chinese control since the
communists seized power in 1949.
China has tried to counter the Uighurs by improving
relations with Kyrgyzstan, Kazakstan and Tajikistan _
all former Soviet republics that border China _ and
getting them to pledge not to support anti-Chinese
separatists.
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ETIC REPORT 2000 
