The ripples of unrest in Xinjiang have come days before the fourth anniversary of widespread bloodshed in Urumqi, the regional capital of Xinjiang, on July 5, 2009. In that case, the police broke up a protest by Uighurs, and then Uighur rioters attacked Han Chinese residents on streets and buses. At least 197 people were killed. Han Chinese protesters later used cleavers and rocks to attack Uighur neighborhoods. Members of the Uighur minority in Xinjiang complain that their Muslim beliefs, Turkic culture and economic prospects are threatened by intrusive Chinese controls and an inflow of workers from China’s Han majority. And proponents of Uighur self-determination and many human rights advocates say that China’s accusations of orchestrated terrorism are greatly exaggerated and ignore the local roots of Uighur discontent, especially poor job prospects and harsh policing.
Posted on: Sun, 30 Jun 2013 03:18:27 +0000
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