East Turkestan: Beijing Continues to Display Troops as Counter-Terrorism Measures
Photo by The Guardian
This week the Chinese Government have poured a large number of troops into East Turkestan’ capital Urumqi, under the usual pretext to combat Islamic terrorism. The adoption of the law on counter-terrorism in January last year (2016), which was also covered UNPO’s recent event at the European Parliament, might lead to even harsher consequences for the Uyghur. UNPO expresses once again its concern for the current events in the region and the endless repression affecting the community in East Turkestan.
Below is an article published by The Washington Post:
BEIJING — China has staged a fresh display of military might in its western Xinjiang region, sending more than 10,000 armed police, columns of armored vehicles and helicopters rumbling through the regional capital.
A government news website published reports and photos of Monday’s exercise in the city of Urumqi, where the region’s recently installed Communist Party secretary exhorted soldiers to “bury the corpses of terrorists” in a new people’s war.
Xinjiang, home to the predominantly Muslim Uighur ethnic minority, has seen hundreds killed in recent years in attacks. Beijing has blamed the violence on Islamic militants and separatists and officials in recent weeks have ratcheted up public demonstrations and tightened security.
Local police in one part of Xinjiang announced earlier this month that every vehicle will be tracked using satellite technology as part of an anti-terror initiative.
Activists say repressive government policies have exacerbated tensions and radicalized local youth.
