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Produced by the Eastern Turkistan Information Center No: 60 9 October 1997 In this issue: (1) XINJIANG, INNER MONGOLIA 'REBELLIONS'; 9 OFFICIALS DEAD 10/03/97, Hong Kong Tung Fang Jih Pao (2) KAZAKHSTAN SUPPORTS MUSLIM CRACKDOWN 10/07/97, Agencies, South China Morning Post (3) BEIJING SOUNDS WARNING ON US RADIO FUNDING 10/03/97, Agence France-Presse (4) UN HUMAN RIGHTS INVESTIGATORS GO TO CHINA 10/03/97, Voice of America (5) TOMUR DAWAMAT VIEWS STABILITY IN XINJIANG Urumqi Xinjiang Ribao, 09/04/97 (6) XINJIANG ELEMENTS PLOTTING 1 OCT BOMBINGS Hong Kong Tung Fang Jih Pao, 10/04/97 (7) BEIJING POLICE ON ALERT FOR XINJIANG SEPARATISTS Hong Kong AFP, 10/04/97 *=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*= (1) XINJIANG, INNER MONGOLIA 'REBELLIONS'; 9 OFFICIALS DEAD Hong Kong Tung Fang Jih Pao, 10/03/97 Armed Rebellions Reportedly Occur in Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia, Killing Nine Officials and People's Congress Deputies Reliable well-informed sources reveal: Just before National Day, comparatively large-scale armed rebellions occurred in Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Regions, killing nine government officials and people's congress deputies.The authorities called out troops and police to put down the rebellions, and a number of participants were arrested. Several leaders who had plotted the rebellions succeeded in escaping. They are trying to flee China. Due to the fact that the authorities suspect that those leaders of the Xinjiang and Inner Mongolian rebellions have gone south to try to leave the country through Shenzhen port, administrative organs of several ports in Guangdong have issued internal circulars to all working personnel, urging them to be on full alert and double their efforts to carry out a close search to prevent those instigators of rebellion from fleeing the country. Relevant precautions taken have not yet been lifted. Anti-government rebellions in Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia occurred after the convocation of the 15th Party Congress, and the date was very close to National Day on 1 October. The rebellions were engineered by Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia independence elements who sneaked into China from foreign countries. The specific places where the rebellions occurred and numbers of participants are unknown. It has been learned that the rebels used firearms to attack local township and town government organs, killing government officials and people's congress deputies. It has been learned that a total of nine officials and people's congress deputies in the two regions were killed. Some officials and civilians were injured, and a number of shops were damaged or burned. THE AUTHORITIES PUT DOWN THE REBELLIONS IMMEDIATELY Shortly after the occurrence of the rebellions, the authorities called out large numbers of troops and police to suppress them, and the situation was under control within a very short time. After the suppression of the rebellions, a number of participants were arrested. It has been learned that the main instigators succeeded in escaping. They are attempting to leave China via the borders in Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia or Guangdong. In view of the fact that Guangdong could possibly be one of the places from which rebellion leaders try to flee the country, and that quite a large number of Xinjiang residents are living in Guangzhou and Shenzhen, frontier personnel in the two cities and Zhuhai have received urgent orders from the central government on casting an escape-proof net. Last week, responsible persons of several port management departments in the above-mentioned three cities gathered together to attend an emergency meeting. An order proclaiming a state of emergency has been issued to all working personnel. It has been learned that at the emergency meeting, the central authorities reiterated that duty officers must heighten their vigilance to keep close watch over persons leaving the country, especially those who came to the south from Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia, or those who had the appearance of minority nationalities coming from the north. If they spot any doubtful person, they must report the case to the higher authorities, and carry out a close search in order to arrest and bring to justice those rebellion leaders who try to escape via the south. It has been learned that the above-mentioned escape-proof net has been cast in airports, railway stations, and ferries, involving such departments as border defense, frontier inspection, public security, state security, and customs. Port management personnel have also been advised "not to go onto the streets unless it is necessary," because those Xinjiang and Inner Mongolian rebellion leaders might be carrying antipersonnel weapons with them. They might even have received military training. They are extremely dangerous people. In a telephone interview, although a border inspection officer in Shenzhen refused to confirm the report, he admitted that it was true port inspection work had been strengthened recently. He added that it was normal to strengthen exit and entry control around National Day. He stressed: Some people in foreign countries, who do not want China to be do well, might come to carry out sabotage and make trouble. There is nothing new in it. If they come, we will definitely arrest them. [Description of Source: Hong Kong Tung Fang Jih Pao in Chinese--non-PRC-owned daily newspaper ("Oriental Daily News"); targets a mass readership with emphasis on local and south China news but takes no strong political stands] (2) KAZAKHSTAN SUPPORTS MUSLIM CRACKDOWN AGENCIES, South China Morning Post, 10/07/97 AGENCIES Kazakh Defence Minister Muhtar Alteinbaev has pledged his Government's support for China's efforts to combat Muslim unrest. Meeting Prime Minister Li Peng in Beijing, Mr Alteinbaev said his Government strongly opposed Muslim separatist activities in China and had banned its citizens from getting involved, Xinhua reported. Alarmed by an upsurge in bombings, assassinations and other violence among Muslims living in remote northwestern Xinjiang, which borders Kazakhstan, China has sought to boost its ties with all neighbouring Central Asian nations. Mr Li, who recently visited Kazakhstan, hailed closer co-operation with the nation in oil development and other areas during his meeting at the weekend with Mr Alteinbaev, Xinhua said. Chinese Defence Minister General Chi Haotian, in talks with Mr Alteinbaev, called for boosting military ties across the 1,700-kilometre border. China has also sought to increase trade and other economic ties with Central Asia, hoping to boost the relatively backward economy of ist far west. At the weekend, Mr Li also met General Mongkon Ampornpisit, the supreme commander of Thailand's armed forces, Xinhua said. During the meeting in Beijing, the military chief presented Mr Li with a letter from Thai Prime Minister General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh expressing appreciation for Chinese support during Thailand's financial and economic crisis. Mr Li cited "fruitful exchanges" between the two countries' defence forces since the normalisation of diplomatic ties 22 years ago, the report said. (3) BEIJING SOUNDS WARNING ON US RADIO FUNDING Agence France-Presse, 10/03/97 Beijing has accused the US of harbouring ''dangerous ambitions'' by approving funds for Radio Free Asia and denying visas to Chinese officials involved in religious control. ''The United States is attempting to impose its values and so-called democracy on people in Asia,'' China Daily said in an editorial yesterday. It said two bills approved by a House of Representatives panel were aimed at the ''compulsive sale of American values to China''. The committee approved spending US$52 million (HK$402 million) for general operations for Radio Free Asia during over the next two years and US$17 million to beef up Voice of America broadcasting in China. It also called for the two radio stations to develop a 24-hour service in Mandarin, Cantonese and Tibetan and to increase broadcasts in dialects spoken in Xinjiang and other regions. ''The dangerous ambitions of the United States to create troubles and instability in the countries it does not favour can be seen in the languages and regions selected by Radio Free Asia. ''The obsession with imposing Western human rights and democracy on China is nnot helpful for a healthy relationship between the countries,'' the paper said. The second bill approved by the panel banned Chinese government officials involved in implementing policies persecuting religious minorities and officials of Chinese Government-sanctioned religious groups from visiting the US. US government officials have warned the two bills, which still have to go through Congress, could hamper Sino-US ties ahead of this month's US state visit by President Jiang Zemin. (4) UN HUMAN RIGHTS INVESTIGATORS GO TO CHINA Voice of America, 10/3/97, by Lisa Schlein This is the first time China has allowed members of what is called the "UN working group on arbitrary detention" to conduct an investigation in that country. UN human rights organization spokesman, John Mills: "During the visit, the team will meet authorities, various authorities, judges, prosecutors, lawyers and will look at the implementation of the (China's) revised criminal procedure.It will visit tribunals, police stations and places of detention. It will have the opportunity to interview in private people it chooses, who are in detention." Western countries and some human rights organizations allege that China has imprisoned hundreds of people because of their political beliefs. China rejects these charges as groundless and has accused the West of interfering in its internal affairs. This visit by the two human rights experts is only the third time China has given any UN investigators permission to enter the country. Observers here in geneva speculate this might indicate a willingness on the part of China for closer cooperation with the UN. however, Mr. Mills says the investigators will not be allowed to roam about freely. "It's normal in these situations that there would be perhaps an official accompanying them. The key issue here is whether or not the interviews it undertakes can be in private. And, I understand the interviews will be in private. If I am to be very specific about this, we are taking with us, the team is taking with them two united nations interpreters." UN spokesman John Mills says the investigation team's itinerary, which has been approved by chinese authorities, is the result of negotiations. The team will submit a report on its findings to the UN human rights commission next year. (5) TOMUR DAWAMAT VIEWS STABILITY IN XINJIANG Urumqi Xinjiang Ribao, 09/04/97, by Zhu Tong On the afternoon of 3 September, the autonomous regional CPC committee held a meeting at the Yingbin Guesthouse attended by cadres at or above department level. Tomur Dawamat, vice chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, delivered an important speech on issues such as the current situation and stability and development in Xinjiang. Wang Lequan, secretary of the autonomous regional CPC committee, presided over the meeting. Leaders of the autonomous regional CPC committee, autonomous regional people's congress, the autonomous regional committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the autonomous regional commission for discipline inspection, and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, including Abdulahat Abdurixit, Janabil, Zhou Shengtao, Aisihaiti Kelimubai, Wang Chuanyou, Zhang Yunchuan, Chen Demin, Wu Dunfu, and Hu Jiayan attended the meeting. In his speech, Tomur Dawamat said: China has achieved tremendous results in its reform, opening, and modernization drive since the 14 th Party Congress by holding high the great banner of Deng Xiaoping Theory of building socialism with Chinese characteristics under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Jiang Zemin at the core. Xinjiang, like any other place in the country, has also witnessed a good situation. At present, Xinjiang enjoys political stability, economic growth, ethnic unity, and strong border defenses, and an invigorating and prosperous situation everywhere. Such a promising situation results from the great job done by the broad masses of cadres of the party committees and government at all levels, by people of all nationalities, by peasants and workers under the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, by officers and soldiers of the People's Liberation Army and armed police, and by public security cadres and police in the region. We also owe our achievements to the great support and assistance provided by the state and other provinces and cities. Tomur Dawamat said: Safeguarding social stability and maintaining a political situation characteristic of stability and unity are a basic prerequisite for the smooth progress of reform, opening, economic development, and various other undertakings. Xinjiang -- a region located on the western border with one sixth of the area of the country -- is a very important place strategically. Stability in Xinjiang bears on the whole situation because it is of particular importance to the overall stability of the country. Over the past years, the autonomous regional CPC Committee and people's government have persisted in the principle of "promoting both material and spiritual civilizations." They have always focused on the maintenance of the unification of the motherland and the social and political stability of the whole region. They have carried out continuous struggles against separatist and illegal religious activities by unifying and relying on cadres and people of all nationalities. As a result, they have maintained a stable situation in Xinjiang. Particularly since last year when the central authorities issued an important order to maintain Xinjiang's stability and the subsequent campaign to improve social order which was launched this year, the autonomous regional CPC Committee and people's government have followed the central authorities' decision by adopting resolute measures to crack down on key separatist elements, violent and terrorist criminal elements, and major religious extremists. As a result, they have maintained overall stability in Xinjiang, thus making contributions to the state. He said: Hostile elements at home and abroad are not willing to see a unified and strong socialist China; neither are they willing to see a Xinjiang that enjoys unity, stability, prosperity, and economic development. They have never stopped for a moment their infiltration, subversion, separatist, and sabotage activities in Xinjiang. Thanks to our resolute and effective efforts at crackdown, the enemy have failed in their evil attempt. But our struggle against separatist elements has never stopped because it is a long-term effort. Many facts have proved that our struggle against separatist and religious extremist elements is not a religious issue, nor a national issue. Our struggle aims at safeguarding the unification of the motherland and unity among all nationalities. It is a struggle against an attempt to disrupt the unification of the motherland and sabotage unity among all nationalities, a struggle that allows no compromise, concession, or reconciliation. Tomur Dawamat stated emphatically: The party committees and governments at all levels, particularly major leading comrades of the party committees and governments, should see things from a strategic viewpoint and try their best to promote reform, development, and stability in Xinjiang. They should make resolute efforts to overcome their lack of vigilance. We should firmly foster a guiding thinking that the major danger affecting Xinjiang's stability comes from separatist and illegal religious activities. They should adopt a firm political position, maintain a high degree of vigilance, and have a clear-cut stand in fighting against separatist and religious extremist elements in a bid to ensure an overall stable social and political situation in Xinjiang. More efforts should be made to mobilize the people, strengthen propaganda education, and fully trust and rely on the cadres and people of all nationalities so as to involve the masses in the prevention and treatment of the situation. In this way, we can isolate and crack down on a small number of separatist elements to the greatest extent. Facts have proved that the cadres and people of all nationalities in Xinjiang are a major force for safeguarding the unification of the motherland and fighting against the separatism. We must firmly trust and rely on the great masses of cadres and people and try our best to unite all that can be united to form the most extensive united front for safeguarding the unification of the motherland and fighting against the separatism. He said: We must raise high the great banner of national unity in our effort to safeguard social stability. We must unswervingly carry out a propaganda education campaign to promote the Marxist theory on nationality and the party's policy concerning nationality and religion. More efforts should be made to consolidate and develop a socialist ethnic relationship, which is based on equality, unity, and mutual assistance, in a bid continuously to push forward the cause of national unity and progress. Secretary Wang Lequan urged all units conscientiously to convey the spirit of Comrade Tomur Dawamat's speech. He also urged them to usher in the 15th Party Congress by doing a good job in promoting economy and social stability. (6) XINJIANG ELEMENTS PLOTTING 1 OCT BOMBINGS Hong Kong Tung Fang Jih Pao, 10/04/97 "Xinjiang Independence Elements Secretly Plotted Terrorist Bomb Attacks; Beijing Was in High Alert on National Day" An informed source in Beijing disclosed that the police of Beijing received information before National Day on 1 October that separatists from Xinjiang would conduct terrorist explosion activities during the National Day period. The police were on high alert, but up to the present, no suspicious character was discovered. It was disclosed that the police of Beijing received information saying that ethnic separatists from Xinjiang were ready to conduct terrorist explosion activities in the capital during the National Day period in an attempt to damage the auspicious atmosphere there during that period. Even a disco called "Jackson" had been chosen for the explosion, a disco in the neighborhood of the Beijing Foreign Languages Institute where foreigners lived in relatively compact community and where less strict security measures were taken. It was said that among the customers of the disco, many were foreign students studying Chinese in the Beijing Foreign Languages Institute. After receiving the information, the police of Beijing mobilized all the policemen of the city to be on high alert. Special precautionary measures were taken in areas around the Beijing Foreign Languages Institute. Every day, several hundred plain-clothes officers patrolled those areas and kept a close watch on pedestrians. Public security departments also asked, through local residents committees and other organizations, residents to report suspicious strangers to the police at any time. NO SUSPICIOUS CHARACTER APPEARS FOR THE TIME BEING The informed source said that the police had been highly keyed up for about a week. As of now, no relevant suspicious character had been discovered in Beijing's urban area. With the end of the National Day holidays, police authorities believed that the degree of danger had decreased and police units taking part in the action had become more relaxed than before National Day. The informed source also said that, since the beginning of this year, the police of Beijing had maintained close contacts with Xinjiang's departments concerned. Information once received said that separatists had received training abroad for terrorist activities and had smuggled in large quantities of plastic explosives, remote-control igniters, and other advanced devices for terrorist activities. However, judging from the separatists arrested up to the present by the police of Beijing and Xinjiang for engaging in terrorist sabotaging activities, most of them were unemployed persons who were poorly educated. There was not tendency of "specialization" in terrorist activities of ethnic separatists. On the other hand, it was reported that turmoil occurred in some places in Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia several weeks ago leading to the death of nine officials and deputies to people's congresses. The Chinese authorities were stepping up work to run down many armed Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia independence elements, of whom some might have gone to Guangzhou and Shenzhen in the south to wait for a chance to flee abroad. Xinjing and Inner Mongolia Say the Regions Are Calm [subhead] Upon inquiry yesterday, local officials in Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia said that the situation there was calm and stable. (7) BEIJING POLICE ON ALERT FOR XINJIANG SEPARATISTS Hong Kong AFP, 10/04/97 Hong Kong, Oct 4 (AFP) -- Police in Beijing have been on high alert for separatists from troubled Xinjiang province who planned a series of terrorist strikes around China's National Day, it was reported here Saturday. Intelligence reports received by the police said the separatists planned a series of explosions in areas where there were several foreign residents, the Chinese-language Oriental Daily News said. Police were on alert throughout the city with several hundred plain-clothes officers patrolling the Beijing Foreign Language Institute, the report said. The alert was in place for a week straddling the National Day on Wednesday before being relaxed, the newspaper said quoting unidentified sources. Xinjiang authorities were reported to have told Beijing police that the separatists had received terrorist training and had smuggled plastic explosives, remote-control devices and items of weaponry into the country. Chinese authorities denied Friday a report in the same newspaper of anti-Beijing unrest in northwestern Xinjiang province and neighboring Inner Mongolia in which nine officials were said to have died. "There has not been any trouble in the past weeks in Xinjiang and the situation is very calm and stable," a regional government official told AFP in a telephone interview from the Xinjiang capital of Urumqi. An official from the Bureau of General Affairs in Huhhot, capital of Inner Mongolia, gave a similar reaction, saying "the region is calm and the information is without basis." The newspaper said several officials and civilians were injured in the violence and many buildings were damaged, with the unrest aimed at local government officials as well as representatives to the National People's Congress, China's parliament. Xinjiang province, which also borders Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, has seen a fresh bout of anti-Chinese sentiment and separatist attacks in the past two years. In early February, violence erupted in Yining, a border village northwest of Xinjiang. The official report said 10 people were killed in the unrest but Uighur sources said about 100 died in the conflict. Moslem separatists also in February exploded bombs in several buses in the Urumqi, killing nine people and injuring 74 others in the first such attack in Xinjiang's capital in years. Prepared by: Abdulrakhim Aitbayev (rakhim@lochbrandy.mines.edu) Bill Mitchell (turpan@ix.netcom.com) WUNN newsletter index*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*= 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. *=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*= EASTERN TURKISTAN INFORMATION CENTER |