60 Years of Frustration / pent-up resentment of Uighurs under Chinese occupation

The ethnic identity of Uighurs in western China is being systematically eroded. Government policies, including those that limit use of the Uighur language, severe restrictions on freedom of religion, and a sustained influx of Han Chinese migrants into the region, are destroying customs and, together with employment discrimination, fuelling discontent and ethnic tensions. The government has mounted an aggressive campaign that has led to the arrest and arbitrary detention of thousands of Uighurs on charges of 'terrorism, separatism and religious extremism' for peacefully exercising their human rights.

Uighurs are a Turkic speaking, mainly Sunni Islamic ethnic group with a long history at the heart of central Asia. In China, they are concentrated in the western region of the country, an area historically claimed by competing empires, warlords and ethnic groups. In 1949, the region was integrated into the People's Republic of China. In 1955, the People's Republic of China established the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region (XUAR), in recognition of the Uighurs' predominance in the region, a status which according to the Chinese Constitution entitles ethnic minorities to organs of self-government in order to exercise autonomy.

According to the latest Chinese census in 2000, there are more than 18 million people living in the XUAR, of whom 47 per cent are Uighurs, 40 per cent are Han Chinese and 12 per cent are other ethnic groups, including Kazakhs, Kyrgyzs, Tatars, Uzbeks and Tajiks. The Han Chinese population has increased significantly from an estimated 6 per cent in 1949 due to central government policies that include providing financial incentives to Han Chinese who migrate to the region.

Fuel For Discontent - discrimination and forced labour
The Chinese state has failed to protect Uighurs from employment discrimination which has resulted in extremely high rates of unemployment among Uighurs in the XUAR and fuelled discontent. Many Uighurs report seeing 'Uighurs need not apply' signs posted by employers at job fairs demonstrating the state's inaction in enforcing anti-discrimination laws. Even university graduates who speak fluent Chinese have difficulty finding employment.

The XUAR is the only area of China where the general population (non-prisoners) is systematically subject to a government policy of forced labour. Under a system referred to as 'hashar', farming families are fined if they fail to send a family member, sometimes several times each year, to labour on agricultural, infrastructural and other public works for up to two to three weeks at a time. The individuals are given no compensation for their labour, no room or board, and are expected to pay their own transportation costs. Many describe sleeping out in the open and eating nothing but instant noodles for days while doing hard labour. Families that do not have an able-bodied young man to send are not
exempt - men and women as old as 70, and children as young as 12, are reported by Uighurs to have participated.

The systematic erosion of Uighur ethnic identity by the Chinese authorities is characterised by repression and human rights abuses. The Chinese authorities must immediately reverse policies that limit use of the Uighur language and severely restrict freedom of religion and Uighurs' ability to enjoy and replicate their culture.

http://www.amnesty.org.uk/news_details.asp?NewsID=18300

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Uighur
• Uyghur
• are
• in
• same
• situation
• as
• the
• Tibetans
• are.
• Their
• homeland
• Occupied
• by
• Chinese
• and
• faced
• with
• discrimination
• for
• 60
• years
• their
• own
• homeland.

[lOxygenI]

alchemist22 can you first apologize for your ignorance and to the people who are correct. East Turkistan belonged to the people of Uighurs. When their empire collapsed, swarms of Chinese people immigrated to East Turkistan and called it Xinjiang. And the irony is, "I pity you stupid american" as you elegantly put it should be: "i pity you ignorant chinese" due to your information being based on Chinese propoganda. Dont call East Turkistan your homeland. Ever. It never was, and never will be.

[xulangsha]

i don't need your pity. i am fine.

[alchemist22]

Uyghurs feel oppressed because they cannot support their cause for a seperate nation? When was this land ever the Uyghurs? They are the immigrants, they can go back to Turkey or Turkmenistan. Get out of China. Co-exist in peace or face the consequences. All those responsible for these riots will disappear soon.

[alchemist22]

It's a peaceful protest when you destroy property and kill innocent men, women and children? You attack innocent Han majority and spin the story and claim Chinese brutality? Such bullshit you people make me sick.

[alchemist22]

The uyghurs can leave our homeland. Get out of China. You know nothing of our history so please shut up you ignorant fool.

[alchemist22]

I pity you stupid american

You have no idea of the propaganda in western media yet you claim that we are brainwashed? Shut up idiot mind your own business you know nothing about our culture or history. I pity you and I resent your govt as well.

[andamanonge]

Unsinn

[drbuddha]

Burma WAS a part of China until the French came

[eightincher8]

We need more land, we must expand and get rid of the inferior races.

[eightincher8]

totally wrong, we support our government to expand in any way we can,,,we are all proud of this. a powerless race must be dominated by a powerful one,, thats hows it works in this world. grow up.