Brutal crackdown in Xinjiang

Brutal crackdown in Xinjiang
July 25, 2009
The Rafto Foundation strongly condemns the violent suppression of recent demonstrations in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China, and expresses its strong concern for the fate of those who have fallen victim to the ensuing mass arrests.

The Rafto Foundation strongly urges Norwegian authorities and the international society to put stronger pressure on Chinese authorities to ensure that those arrested will receive fair treatment. There is a strong reason to fear that the arrested face mass executions, and the international society must demand from Chinese authorities that they abide by international human rights.

Brutal crackdown
On 5 July 2009 in Urumqi a peaceful protest against the authorities’ handling of the recent killings of Uyghur workers in a factory in Shaoguan was met with brute force by Chinese police. While it is impossible to obtain accurate numbers of killed and arrested, the Rafto Foundation have a strong reason to believe that the number of detainees is far higher than the 1 434 people mentioned by Urumqi Communist Party secretary, Li Zhi, on 7 July. International media report of more than 4 000 Uyghurs detained in overfilled makeshift prisons.

Ethnic tension
The Rafto Foundation expresses its concern for the heightened level of ethnic tension between Uyghurs and Han Chinese, and deplores all injuries and deaths in this conflict, irrespective of ethnicity.

While the unrest has been portrayed by Chinese official media as consisting of Uyghur provocateurs and Han Chinese victims, there is a strong reason for believing that only a fraction of the number of Uyghur victims has been reported. Reports from Xinjiang tell of frightened Uyghurs fleeing their homes in fear of the general lynching sentiment spreading in the cities, fuelled by the nationalistically charged reporting of the unrest in Chinese official media. However, the most urgent issue at this point is the arrested citizens’ imminent risk of express trials with no respect for due process, and the strong likelihood of mass executions.

No fair trial
Urumqi’s Communist Party secretary, Li Zhi’s statement on 8 July that "brutal criminals will be sentenced to death" raises strong concerns for swift executions with no fair trial for the unknown numbers that were arrested in the aftermath of 5 July. In addition, reports of Chinese human rights lawyers receiving intimidations and strong warnings of taking on any cases related to the unrests in Xinjiang highlights the willingness of Chinese authorities to deprive the arrested of their right to free counsel and a due legal process.
The Rafto Foundation urges Norwegian authorities to issue stronger condemnations of the violent crackdowns, and to raise its strong concern by the apparent wish of the Chinese authorities to take swift action, regardless of their human rights commitments guaranteeing the right to fair trial.

Marginalised minorities
The Rafto Foundation has since awarding the 2004 Rafto Prize to the Uyghur leader Rebiya Kadeer, at the time still imprisoned in Xinjiang, voiced its strong concern for the increasing oppression and marginalisation of Uyghurs in China.

The recent events come as a grim déjà vu 12 years after similar peaceful Uyghur protests were brutally struck down in the Xinjiang city of Ghulja, a massacre which also was followed by mass arrests, and which still has seen no independent inquiry. Many of the arrested are still imprisoned. The violent 5 July crackdown adds to the list of brutal oppression of Uyghurs, and adds to the hopelessness felt by Uyghurs in Xinjiang as well as in exile.

Norwegian authorities must apply stronger pressure
The Rafto Foundation reiterates its urgent call for the Norwegian authorities to immediately raise their concerns for the rights of those arrested after the 5 July unrest.

The Rafto Foundation also urges the international community to apply more pressure on Chinese authorities with regards to the marginalisation and suppression of their minorities’ rights.

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