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THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT CALLS ME A
TERRORIST...
 Ahmet
Igamberdi is a dissident writer and prominent
representative of the Uyghur people in Australia. He
spent 10 years in a Chinese prison in the 1970s under
suspicion of being part of an underground Uyghur
resistance. He has published a number of books in
Turkey and Kazakhstan, including a book of poems
written during his time in prison. He is now an
official with the East Turkestani Government in Exile,
based in Exile, based in Washington D. C. Shourov
Bhattacharya talks to Ahmet Igamberdi on resistence
and Chinese minority politics. Excerpts from the
interview:.
Your
culture is very different from the Han majority. How
are relations now between the Uyghur people and the
Han people?
The Uyghur people regard the Chinese government as
our first enemy, (our) old enemy. Every Han Chinese
who comes to East Turkestan regards (himself) as lord
of this country, master of this country. Our
relationship with the Chinese government and the Han
Chinese is not friendly. (They are) our enemy,
occupiers. In East Turkestan hundreds of thousands of
people are in jail now. China has tried to paint its
actions in East Turkestan as part of the “War On
Terror”. They’ve even persuaded the US and UN to
declare the East Turkestan Islamic Movement as a
terrorist organization.
How much do you think the “War On Terror” has hurt
your cause?
Too much. I live in a free country, a country which
regards me as a good citizen of Australia. But the
Chinese government calls me a terrorist. We have some
organizations in Germany, in Turkey, in the U.S.-the
Chinese call them terrorist organizations too.
Are there some people in the East Turkestan
movement willing to use violence?
Even the Chinese people sometimes use violent action
against the Chinese government. Our people are really
non-violent people, but sometimes a few use (violence)
like the Chinese … But Chinese government uses this
pretext to kill our people.
East Timor, the world paid much attention, even the
Australian people helped them to gain independence.
Why don’t Western governments, American governments
pay attention to our problem?
Do you have any friends or allies on the world
stage?
Yes … we are pro-American, because we are thinking
about the world – and on the world stage, only America
can go against China. For this reason, our people have
thought getting help from America.
‘We cannot use our mother
tongue in our country. We cannot use our religion in
our country’
American pressure led to the release of Rebiya
Kadeer. Do you see her release as any change in
China’s policy or was it a political act?
China cannot be changed. Chinese government’s mind and
the Chinese people’s mind is the same as stone. It
can’t change.
Particularly the policy towards minority peoples. We
cannot use our mother tongue in our country. How can
you say it has changed?
The Dalai Lama has admitted for the first time that
he doesn’t think that independence for Tibet is now
possible. Is your struggle still for independence, or
have the goals changed?
No. We are independent. Our government is exiled,
striving for independence. But we need to (be)
non-violent. The world sees East Timor independent,
but why (should) independence not apply (for East
Turkestan)?
Do you see religion as playing a big part of your
movement, or is it more of a nationalist movement?
Of course. In Poland the Polish people used the
worker’s union and the Catholic religion. They changed
their communist government. You know, this religion is
our people’s root. It has a really close relatioinship
with our culture, language, customs everything. For
this reason, the Chinese communist government, from
1949, they are against our religion.
Are you getting any support from the other Central
Asian republics?
No. Because we wish to take help from the Western
countries. I know, our religion, culture, everything
is the same as Central Asia, But whoever is against
the Chinese government and escapes to Central Asia,
they are sent back to China.
What about the Australia government – have they
been sympathetic to refugee claims from the Uyghurs?
I will utilize this opportunity to thank the
Australian government. Whoever has come to Australia
from the Uyghur people and wanted (to be) refugee in
Australia, (the government) don’t refuse (even) one.
We have more than more than 1000 people in Australia.
Also, the Australian Government twice sent a human
rights delegation (to East Turkestan). Then last year
(they) sent some material help to fight AIDS in our
country.
But the government, if they are to stand for human
rights – not “dollar” rights – they should help us. (They
should) send delegates to document for human rights in
our country. But there is the economic relationship
between Australian government and Chinese government…
for this reason, sometimes (the government) doesn’t
want to say anything about the human rights problem.
This is a shame. Australia is one of the democratic
countries. It should do the right thing.
Where do you see the East Turkestan movement in
five or ten years? How can you make any change?
Our problem is very difficult. China is a really big
country. We haven’t any weapons, we haven’t any money.
Now I think over one million Uyghur people live
overseas. We have just small organizations. I cannot
say that in the future our problem (will be) solved or
not. I cannot say in five or ten years maybe something
will happen.
But – George Bush says (there is) a world democratic
revolution. In Ukraine a revolution has taken place.
Just our neighbouring country, Kyrgystan, the old
communist government has collapsed. In Uzbekistan,
something is happening. So the world is changing. In
Iraq the war is almost over, I think. The Palestinian
problem, inshallah, will be finished. Only in Asia
there are still countries like North Korea, Iran and
China.
I think one day, not long, the American government
will do something against the Chinese government.
Because if the Chinese government continues developing,
it is very dangerous. From Mao Zedong to Hu Jintao,
they the same mind: I think internally and externally
some problems are now slowly growing. I think China
(will be) finished once internal and external forces
come together. Inside, the people are very against the
Chinese government. So we are not pessimistic. We are
optimistic.
"Ingus Age" June 2995
Australia Sndny
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