[ETIC, 12/23/97] On December 23, 1997, 4 Uyghurs from city Shahyar, 3 Uyghurs from city Kucha and an Uyghur from Toksu county were sentenced to death and shot shortly after by the Chinese government. They all were accused in involvement in the separatist activities in Eastern Turkistan.
It is reported that, on December 19, an Uyghur man from Eastern Turkistan visiting Beijing on a business trip was roughly stopped and searched by the Chinese police. Having emptied the man's bags on the ground, the police found nothing illegal, and had to release him. On the man's question "Why do you treat us, the people from Xinjiang, this way?", the policeman insolently answered "Because you are the Han people's enemies".
In the beginning of November, the Chinese armed police arrested 45 people in Kucha accusing them in the illegal activities by being involved in the anti-government organization called "The party of Allah". At present, the police is actively searching for the other members of the party.
It is reported that nowadays, in the southern Eastern Turkistan, the Uyghur children suspected in praying Namaz are immediately suspended or even expelled from the schools.
The demonstration of the Uyghur youths on February 5 in Ghulja was quickly denounced by the Chinese government as anti-government and counter-revolutionary. After brutal suppression of the demonstrators, several special political campaigns against separatism and "illegal" religious activities have been launched in Eastern Turkistan targeting the Uyghurs only. In particular, the government ordered to include questions on the Ili events in the exams for middle and high school students that require resolutely denounce those who participated in the demonstration. [Kiyan]
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