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China Orders Xinjiang 'Terrorists and Religious
Extremists' to Surrender
BEIJING, Dec 21 (AFP) - China has issued a notice in
its tense Muslim-majority Xinjiang region ordering "terrorists,
separatists and religious extremists" to surrender to
police, local officials said Friday.
The notice, posted earlier this month, also threatens
the families and friends of such people that they face
criminal charges for harboring them if they do not
provide information to police on their whereabouts.
"For those people who reveal others, they ... will be
given a high reward. For those who do not report, they
should be punished on charges of harbouring (criminals),"
the notice warns.
The notice was seen in Korla, the capital of
Bayingolin prefecture in southern Xinjiang. The
Germany-based East Turkestan Information Center, a
group of exiled ethnic Uighur Muslims, said it was
also posted elsewhere.
East Turkestan is the name given to the independent
state sought by Xinjiang separatists. "Up to now, no
one has turned themselves in," an official from the
Bayingolin public prosector's office told AFP.
The notice said those who surrendered between December
10 and February 10 would be treated more leniently,
while those caught later would face harsh punishment.
The East Turkestan group said the notice is the latest
move by Beijing authorities to place pressure on
ethnic Uighur Muslims, a group the government views
with deep suspicion because many openly resent harsh
Chinese rule and some express pro-independence
opinions.
"It's typical discrimination against the Uighurs. Even
for those who don't participate in any such activities,
they feel psychological pressure because every time
they walk down the street, they see these notices
accusing their people of being separatists," said
Dilixat Raxit, a spokesman for the group.
He said a majority of Uighurs just wanted to be
granted real decision-making powers in a region they
historically dominated, and did not advocate full
independence.
It is not uncommon for China to post publicity on
criminal suspects, but normally such notices are
routine "wanted" lists giving names and photographs.
The latest notice identified a broad range of
activities as illegal, including certain teaching,
learning and discussions of religious books, the
printing of some religious leaflets and the spreading
of religious propaganda.
Beijing insists it faces a serious terrorism threat
from Uighur separatists, and that they should be dealt
with under the post-September 11 global war against
terror.
In recent years the region has seen a sporadic and
limited campaign of violence by separatists, mainly
bombings and riots.
However, the US has said it does not consider Xinjiang
separatists to be terrorists.
UN Human Rights Commissioner Mary Robinson warned
Chinese leaders during a visit to Beijing last month
that they should not use the war on terror as an
excuse for widespread repression in Xinjiang.
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ETIC REPORT 2000 
