UAA urges Obama administration to raise Uyghur issues at US-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue
For immediate Release
July 10, 2013, 4:50 pm EST
Contact: Uyghur American Association +1 (202) 478 1920
In the aftermath of fresh unrest in East Turkestan and the commencement of the US-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue, the Uyghur American Association (UAA) calls on the Obama administration to caution Chinese officials regarding the destructive effects of Chinese state polices towards Uyghurs.
“The US-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue is an opportunity to show China that the United States is not ready to stand down on Uyghur human rights issues,” said UAA President Alim Seytoff in a statement. “As the response to recent incidents in Lukchun and Hanerik illustrate, Chinese officials have done little to calm tensions in the region. More security forces, more guns and more tanks seem to be the only answer the Chinese government has when its policies are called into question in East Turkestan.” Mr. Seytoff added: “The Obama administration should state the obvious to the Chinese delegation; that is, the path to stability in East Turkestan is genuine reform of failed policies that are precipitating the cultural genocide of the Uyghur people.”
UAA calls upon the Obama administration to ask Chinese counterparts at the July 10-11 dialogue to:
Cease fiery rhetoric by Chinese officials targeted at Uyghurs referring to a “people’s war” and a struggle in which “you die, I live.”
Remove tanks, armored vehicles, patrol vehicles and Chinese security forces from streets in East Turkestan.
Reveal and identify the total number of deaths and arrests during and after the Lukchun and Hanerik incidents.
Stop implementing “Strike hard” campaigns in East Turkestan.
Change policies aimed at eliminating Uyghur cultural identity, particularly those regarding language, forced relocations and mass Han Chinese settlement, as well as economic discrimination against Uyghurs.
Allow Uyghurs to practice their religion without fear of state reprisal and to freely observe Ramadan.
End the practice that forces Uyghurs to shave beards and lift veils before entering government buildings.
According to a number of overseas media reports citing an English language Xinhua article, 27 people were killed after a series of attacks on police stations, government offices and construction sites in Lukchun, near Turpan, on June 26, 2013. State media later reported that 35 people had been killed; however, a local imam interviewed by Radio Free Asia, who had conducted some of the burial services of those killed, claimed the number was much higher.
On June 28, 2013, reports emerged of a second incident in Hanerik township near the southern city of Hotan. An article published by Radio Free Asia on June 28 citing local residents reported that at least two people were killed. A second article on the incident from Radio Free Asia dated June 30, 2013 detailed how local officials confirmed firing on Uyghur protestors.
In the wake of the Lukchun and Hanerik incidents, Chinese authorities began a massive build up of security forces in East Turkestan. AFP reported on a large military exercise that took place in the regional capital of Urumchi in which: “Tanks, army vehicles, and armed personnel blocked access to streets.”
A number of senior Chinese officials, including member of the Politburo Standing Committee, Yu Zhengsheng and Meng Jianzhu, secretary of the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee have called for tightened security. Yu vowed to “strike hard on violent terrorist attacks,” while Meng echoed his counterpart with a vow to “strike hard on violent terrorist crimes.” Meng, China’s chief law enforcement official, also initiated 24-hour security patrols across the region. Furthermore, While Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) party chief Zhang Chunxian called for a “people’s war” against “extremism,” XUAR chairman, Nur Bekri called the fight against terrorism a political struggle in which “You die, I live.”
In a recent report, UHRP documented widespread violations of Uyghur religious freedom, including extensive regulation on mosque attendance, participating in the Hajj pilgrimage, “Islamic” dress and observance of Ramadan. UAA believes state curbs on religious belief and practice form part of a number of measures aimed at Uyghur cultural identity. The Chinese government has eliminated the use of the Uyghur language in schools and universities across East Turkestan, as well as conducted extensive forced relocations of Uyghurs across the region, especially traditional Uyghur cultural strongholds such as the Old City of Kashgar. In the face of increasing Han Chinese migration to East Turkestan under state initiated development campaigns, Uyghurs often face discrimination in the job market.