[Editorial] Uyghur situation caused by discrimination and exlusion

Posted on : 2009-07-08 11:18 KST Modified on : 2009-07-08 11:18 KST

Demonstrations that took place two days ago in Urumqi, the capital of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, led to major clashes that killed over 150 and wounded an estimated 800. The situation on the ground remains serious, with demonstrators regathering despite tight guard by military and police. Chinese authorities say they are detecting moves to protest in other regions, as well.

Above all, one cannot help but be alarmed at the number of casualties in one day. It is hard to get a precise read on the clash with information being monitored, but it is clear that a dramatically violent situation occurred. Both sides must regain their reason and prevent further bloodshed. Most of the victims of the bloodshed were innocent victims.

Uyghur separatists who are pursuing sedition by stroking ethnic nationalism share in the blame for the recurring bloodshed in the region, but the Chinese authorities, who blame the separatists for the government’s severe crackdown, are also at fault. It is being reported that this incident started with a fight between Han Chinese and Uyghur workers at a toy factory in Guangdong province last month. Xinhua reported that two Uyghur workers were killed and about 60 injured when Han Chinese workers were provoked by rumors that a Uyghur worker had raped a Han woman. Photos of the scene, with people standing next to the bodies, circulated on the Internet, flaming anger from the Uyghur community. Uyghurs are saying the government lowballed the casualty figure and demanded it reveal the truth. These actions provided the backdrop for the latest bloodshed.

It is being said that Uyghurs are rioting due to strong feelings of being victimized by discrimination. The Turkic and Muslim Uyghurs have a different ethnicity, culture and language from the Han Chinese. In 1944, they briefly declared independence as the East Turkestan Republic, but the region, which fell within China’s sphere of influence in the 19th century, was annexed by China in 1949. Since then, China has pursued a major colonization policy, and the Han Chinese population has grown from 6 percent in 1949 to 41 percent as a result, inciting Uyghur complaints that the Han Chinese have been trampling on their identity and stripping them of their place to live and their economic rights.

Ultimately, the Uyghur incident originates with China’s policies towards ethnic minorities. Without active efforts to respect the ethnic identity of minorities and reduce economic discrimination, the unrest in Xinjiang and Tibet cannot help but repeat itself. China must now re-examine its ethnic minority policies at its source.

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