Produced by the Eastern Turkistan Information Center

28 October 1996

28 October 1996, Eastern Turkistan Information Center

28 October 1996, Eastern Turkistan Information Center

28 October 1996, CND-Global

26 October, CND-Global

25 October 1996, Monitor - Vol.II, No.200

24 October 1996, CND-Global

20 October 1996, Eastern Turkistan Information Center.

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(1) THE EASTERN TURKISTAN UNION IN EUROPE ORGANIZED A DEMONSTRATION OF PROTEST IN MUNICH.

28 October 1996, Eastern Turkistan Information Center

On October 28, 1996 in Munich, Germany, the Eastern Turkistan Union in Europe organized a demonstration of protest against the PRC's policies in Eastern Turkistan.--Abduljelil, Munich.

(2) THE MOTHERLAND MESSENGER HEADQUARTER REPORTS ON TREATMENT OF THE ARRESTED UYGHURS IN THE CHINESE PRISONS.

28 October 1996, Eastern Turkistan Information Center

The Motherland Messenger Headquarter obtained the following information:

From April to July 12 the Chinese dictators in their "Strike Hard" political repressions campaign in Aksu, Karasheher, Urumchi, and Gulja cities of Eastern Turkistan had arrested about 20 thousand young Uyghurs, confiscated and destroyed about half a million of religious, cultural and national printed materials, and shut down hundreds of mosques and medreses (Islamic religious schools).

Nevertheless, these vicious actions did not suppress the Uyghur people, on the contrary, they caused rise of the national resistance. Armed revenges happen more and more often.

In the middle of July, the Chinese authorities launched the second stage of the "Strike Hard" campaign. This time they decided to conduct purges, including those with use of military, without much of publicity.

At the end of September, the committee responsible for carrying out "Strike Hard" formed a special commission which, in particular, was to determine the total number of the arrested people during the campaign. By our source, the commission ended up with an estimate of 57 thousand arrested. The source cites the following conclusion of the commission:

1. There is no any reason to organize trials for every arrested person.

2. Put the leaders and organizers of disturbances to prisons together with criminal elements, such as thieves, murderers and hooligans.

3. In order to get rid from the most resistant elements and their offspring, to organize in one selected prison infecting the arrested by the AIDS virus, and after contamination release them for homes.

At the end of September, 9 arrested Uyghur leaders from Kashgar, Khotan, Aksu and Urumchi were relocated to the Lodavan prison for dangerous criminals in Urumchi, and shortly after some murderers brutally killed them. The bodies were dumped and buried in the prison's yard. The murderers were later released from the prison.

(3) EVIDENCE OF 'FIFTH ANCIENT CIVILIZATION' FOUND IN CHINA

28 October 1996, CND-Global

A team of Chinese and Japanese archeologists claim they have discovered in China's southwestern province of Sichuan evidence of the fifth ancient civilization, Japan's Kyodo News reported Monday. The evidence is an earthen stage, unearthed during a joint archaeology project and estimated to date back 4,500 years. It was found among the remains of an ancient castle near the banks of the Yangtze River 56 miles (90 km) southwest of the city of Chengdu. Archeologist involved in the excavation project explain that the earthen stage, pointing to an advanced knowledge of construction techniques by those who built it, reinforces the possibility of a fifth civilization. The world's four oldest civilizations are known as Mesopotamia, Egypt, Indus and China's Yellow River. Carbon isotope analysis on arthenware found at the excavation site was used to help identify the age of the castle and

stage. (Kewen ZHANG, YIN De An)

* Russia is expected to set up a liaison office in Taipei by the end of the year, according to an official with the Russian Foreign Ministry.

* The Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs Commission says the government would welcome a visit by Tibet's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, and denies accusations that the commission is the major obstacle to such a trip.

(4) TIBETAN BORN AMERICAN SCHOLAR ARRESTED FOR SPYING

26 October, CND-Global

Reuters reports Ngawang Choepel, a Tibetan-born student and Fulbright scholar, has been arrested for espionage. The International Campaign for Tibet, a human rights watch group, said that Choepel had been filming traditional Tibetan folk music and dances when he was arrested in mid-September. Following hundreds of letters asking what had become of Mr. Choepel, Chinese Embassy Counsellor SHAO Wenguang finally made a public response to Vermont Congressman Bernard Sanders. Shao said American-funded Choepel had been using entnomusicology research as a cover to spy on behalf of the exiled Dalai Lama. Sanders and Congressman Patrick Leahy asked China for the names of alleged American conspirators and expressed concern about China's human rights record. (Tricia, Ray ZHANG).

(5) EFFECTS OF NUCLEAR TEST FELT 40 YEARS LATER.

25 October 1996, Monitor - Vol.II, No.200

On September 14, 1954, the Soviet Union conducted its 8th nuclear explosion, an atmospheric burst over the southern foothills of the Urals at the Totsk test site midway between what are now again called Orenburg and Samara. The Soviets made no announcement at the time, either to their own people or abroad, and it was the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission that in late October of that year made public the blast and the series that followed it.

Two days ago, a conference on the impact of that explosion on the region ended in Orenburg. The conferees found that the affect on the health of the population was "lingering and severe." The mortality rate was found to be nearly twice as high as in other areas, and an abnormal number of children were said to suffer from genetic physical impairments. Conferees said that radioactive isotopes in the soil were up to five times the normal levels. The region was compared with Bryansk -- downwind from Chernobyl -- in the incidence and nature of genetic disorders in children and adults. (Itar-Tass, October 23)

(6) GOVERNMENT SHUTS DOWN 50,000 POLLUTING FACTORIES

24 October 1996, CND-Global

The government has closed about 50,000 companies and factories since August which were found severely polluting the environment, Reuters reports from Beijing. These enterprises were engaged in gold mining, coking, tanning, paper making, oil refining, electric coating, lead and zinc mining or sulphur extraction, the report says. More than 20,000 environmental officials were sent out to check on polluting factories after the government issued an edict in August to enforce its environment protection measures.

(7) ETHNIC, RELIGIOUS AND ECONOMIC DISCONTENT GROWS IN ILI WILLAYET.

20 October 1996, Eastern Turkistan Information Center.

The Motherland Messenger reported on October 20, 1996: About one thousand young Uyghurs were arrested during the "Strike Hard" political repressions campaign in Ili Willayet (District). On August 9, the government put 240 arrested into trials, dozens of them were distroyed. These events added to the overall discontent of the Ili Uyghurs over the land confiscation issue from one and half thousand Karajilga village Uyghur dwellers in favor of the Chinese Construction Army.

Nevertheless, this does not stop the Chinese authorities. In October, the Uyghur market in Gulja city was taken away by the City government and given to the Chinese traders.

Earlier in August, another serious event on the religious basis happened in Gulja . The prominent Uyghur living in Mecca of Saudi Arabia called Abdughopur came to Gulja, and asked permission from the Chinese authorities to invest half a million dollars for reconstruction of the Beytulla refuge for the homeless. The city officials told to Mr. Abdughopur to trust the money to the city government and safely go back to Saudi Arabia. The city government promised to spend every cent of the donation for reconstruction of the shelter, nevertheless, it did not agree to the donation be made directly to the shelter.

Mr. Abdughopur did not agree on this condition and took the money back to Saudi Arabia. This action of the Chinese authorities caused big contempt from the Gulja muslim community. In the result, the Beytulla refuge was shut down by the communist authorities,

which fueled even more to the discontent of the Uyghurs. People took to the streets organizing a spontaneous demonstration.

About 300 homeless Uyghurs took all there effects and lay down in front of the city government building. The authorities tried to disperse the homeless several times, but they keep coming back. The Uyghur community of the Gulja city is seriously concerned over the

future development of this event.

Shortly after returning home, Mr. Abdughopur passed away. There are rumors among the people in Gulja that he was secretly poisoned by the hired Chinese killers.

Prepared by:

Abdulrakhim Aitbayev (rakhim@lochbrandy.mines.edu)

WUNN newsletter index

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The World Uyghur Network News electronic newsletter is produced by the Eastern Turkistan Information Center (ETIC) in cooperation with the Taklamakan Uighur Human Rights Association (USA), and is devoted to the current political, cultural and economic developments in Eastern Turkistan and to the Uyghur people related issues.

Eastern Turkistan (Sherqiy Turkistan in Uyghur) is a name used by the indigenous people of the region for their motherland located in what is at present the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of the People's Republic China.

The World Uyghur Network News brings information on situation in Eastern Turkistan from the Uyghur and other sources to the attention of the international community.

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EASTERN TURKISTAN INFORMATION CENTER

Director: Abduljelil Karkash

Lindwurmstr 99, 80337 Munich, Germany

http://www.uygur.com

Fax: 49-89-54 45 63 30 Phone: 49-89-54 40 47 72

E-mail: etic@uygur.com