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We've entered into the fourth day of the Xinjiang incident, and it seems that - at least for now - Chinese officials have finally gotten everything under some semblence of control. Wednesday was marked by sporadic violence as Han mobs continued their Tuesday front, arming themselves with meat cleavers, shovels and other makeshift weapons for - depending what side you're on - protection or revenge killings. The body count for the last two days has not yet been released.
But thousands of PLA soldiers and riot police streamed into the area, screaming "protect the people" as they enforced curfews and broke up roving gangs of Urumqi residents (Han or Uyghur). Meanwhile, Urumqi mayor Juerla Isamudin also issued a strict warning: anyone found guilty of murder in connection to the unrest would be executed.
As a result, it seems like the worst is over, with reporters finding that life is returning to normal: "people out walking dogs, doing tai chi, offices reopened for first time."
And so, it's time for hopefully the last news roundup about the situation before we start dealing with the aftermath:
- A press release from the Uyghur American Association casts doubt on Uyghur separatist claims that the "riots just happened" and lends credence to the CCP's insistence that there were "outside forces" at work.
- But, as Sean Roberts, director of the International Development Studies Program at George Washington University, points out - those "outside forces" had a lot to work with thanks to the inadequate addressing of the problems Uyghurs have faced in a Han majority country.
- It doesn't help that nobody really talks about (and therefore addresses) "ethnic tensions," a taboo topic in this country, which coupled with them just looking different probably lets stereotypes such as "Uyghurs are pick-pockets and violent knife-wielding thieves when they're not selling kebabs (paraphrased)" continue to fester behind closed doors.
- If you want to know even more about Xinjiang, here's a thorough yet concise explanation of the background on Chinese policies in the region.
- China Digital Times' flickr site has compiled a wealth of images of the conflict in Xinjiang. If you want to compare them with more peaceful times, check out this XUAR (Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region) set. Oh. And here are some Chinese photos for good measure - they may be harmonized, but some of them are still really amazing.
- And for a little lighthearted black humor chaser to the event, did you know some of the riot police were sporting crossbows? Looks like the dude holding one up's pretty psyched about it too.
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I agree there is much soul searching. The Uighur problem won't go away, so these are my thoughts.
Yes, Uighurs do have genuine grievances. Some justified some not. Hans and Huis are smart businessmen, they will excel wherever they go and they are very competitive from the education standpoint. Other ethnic minorities like the Koreans, Mongolians, Bai can compete with the Hans because they have educational excellence. The Uighurs can't keep up and are thus left behind. Another factor is that Uighurs suffer a very unsavory reputation in Metro China, for drug dealing, pick pocketing and stealing (I once was threatened by Uigur men when alerting a lady whose bag was beeing disturbed from behind outside Raffles Squre). This is a problem in Chinese cities. Because of this reputation, business owners are very reluctant to employ them.
Now there are things China can do:
1. Mollify the enraged Hans by punishing the Uighur thugs severely. This should be done quickly, fairly and objectively.
2. Secondly, to heal wounds by promoting understanding and reconciliation.
3. Introduce affirmative action in business and hiring where a minimum of 30 percent of government contracts and employment must go to Uighurs. Uighurs already enjoy perks in educational scores etc.
4. Introduce better housing and benefits like food subsidies to the poorest Uighurs.
5. Encourage integration of Han and Uighur in residential areas (of course meanwhile maintaining the cultural uniqueness in Uighur towns like Kashgar and Khotan etc.), to encourage that the 2 communities interact and share a common stake. Singapore uses this strategy successfully.
6. Help rehabilitate Uighurs image in China by dealing with the Uighur delinquency problems in metro China.
7. The language of Mandarin. You gotta teach it still, because that is the best way to progress, but the government can still put efforts to teach and preserve Uighur culture.
8. Relax the religious restrictions to align with those for the Huis.
9. I don't think you can restrict Han immigration, just like America can't restrict non natives from going to Alaska, but if China can address the economic and cultural factors and ensure the UIghurs do not feel threatened, they are already 90 percent there.
Dialogue should start immediately and defuse tensions before they blow up again.
you fucking idiot 50 cent from cpc , are u gonna to fix at here ? you list so a long list , it look likes good , but , why all you listed are so similar with all the others cpc's media organ ? that what you said all bullshit actually , you forgot the most important thing , the criminal is CPC itself . Why you forgot to say ,CPC should appologize and reflect on what it done .
Looks like I am getting you trolls all excited. hahahah! I tried to be constructive here and suddenly the CPC, Wumao shots started flying. Did you ugly fellows ever look in the mirror and see how ugly you are. LOL! Unlike you pathetic losers who can't make a decent living in your countries and have to teach here in this pathetic country of China, I actually live big in Shanghai. Wumao over my derriere.LOL!
OH ,i am loser , you are winner in shanghai , in your motherland ? haha , i knew you are chinese , no , you are dog from cpc , so dont pretend to be a foreigner , just speak chinese . and introduce to us how successful are u ?
hahahaha, a dog yelping shrilly don't scare me. You are obviously owned by CPC, did they put a cattle prod up your arse? Be more interesting than too throw around the wumao, brain washed, blah blah. Have you been to the miror yet? LOL! LOL! LOL!
how about punishing Han thugs, punishing commie Han officials for making Uyghurs marry Han and have kids who are raised as Han, allowing Uyghurs to own financing institutions and have positions of real power?
The han-jobs are the invaders.
lambshaslik, throwing cheap shots with your trolling ain't gonna score brownie points. If a Han thug is guilty of murder, he or she should be also be executed. Yeah, look at your own country, you segregated people by races even as late as the 50s. BTW, look at the roll call of US financiers and industrialists, how many are African Americans or even Asians. Yes Obama got elected, but how many senators and congressman are African Americans as a percentage? Give me a break. LOL!
BBC this week is in the lead for richest troll on Shanghaiist.
BTW, chappie, LOL means "Laugh out loud." It's not the miserable groan you make while trying to fight through the constipation. I doubt you even know how to laugh. And I laugh at you, not with you, when I see that you have still failed to realize that this is a blog about SHANGHAI, not US history or society, not Western culture from other decades.
Just one question, can you explain why protecting this miniscule corner of turf is SO DAMN IMPORTANT? If you answer that acceptably, I'll never rip you another newer one again.
El Jefe, of course I know this is a blog about Shanghai. I live in Shanghai. LOL! I have also lived in America, France, Hong Kong for extended periods. I know what it takes to get on your nerves.LOL!
El Jefe, are you insinuating I am CPC wumao again? I live in Shanghai too, and its fun annoying folks like you. Of course I check out Shanghaiist to see what's on in my city and I thought it will be fun playing with folks nerves here. LOL!!! Did you realise I got the lamb shashlik to reply to my posts. He hardly does that unless he's rattled! LOL!
Don't forget that commie han-jobs are literally tearing down all of Kashgar to "whoremoanize" it.