What’s happening with the Uyghur population in China? By Ridzwan Abdul Rahman

Whats happening with the Uyghur population in China?

By Ridzwan Abdul Rahman

A group of Uyghurs from Xinjiang set up the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) some time back. On 11 September 2002, the United Nations classified ETIM as a terror organisation and an associate of Al Qaeda.

(see EASTERN TURKISTAN ISLAMIC MOVEMENT)

ETIM has been active in China for many years, notably in Xinjiang, home of the Uyghurs. They have killed hundreds of people, mostly in Xinjiang.

Then, in 2016, the Chinese government acted strongly on the ETIM members, arresting almost 13,000 of them and putting them in rehabilitation centers. At the same time, the Chinese government took other steps, such as increasing surveillance of Xinjiang in order to stop any further terror strikes by ETIM. Southern Xinjiang is now full of surveillance cameras and road blocks. but there has been no more terror attacks since 2016 and the people there are safe and happy now.

Most people in Southern Xinjiang only have a primary school education plus some religious (Islam) education. As a result of their low level of education, many of them cannot get jobs.

This is a dangerous situation because with their low level of education, little knowledge of Islam and hardly any income, they can easily be misled into joining ETIM.

To overcome this, since 2017, China has made secondary education compulsory (and free) to the youngsters in Southern Xinjiang. In addition to that, young adults are given vocational training so that they have enough skills to secure a job and an income. China even helps them to find a job upon completion of their vocational training.

The US is not happy with what China has done. The US fears China’s economic rise, and will do anything possible to stop China from being the no 1 economy in the world.

China overtook the US in GDP PPP since 2014. According to the IMF, World Bank, PWC and others, China's GDP (nominal) will exceed the US within 10 years.

By 2050, China would have exceeded the US in many fields, to become the dominant superpower in the world, replacing the US.

China currently has 8 STEM graduates to every STEM graduate that the US has. In 10 years time, the ratio is expected to be 15:1. With more money and more capable researchers, China will overtake the US in many fields, including weapon systems. By 2050, China will be the dominant superpower of the world.

President Xi has said that the US will harrass China until 2049, when China would have overtaken the US in many areas.

The US will do whatever it takes to stop China, including turning Xinjiang into another Syria, if possible.

The US would like to see Xinjiang in turmoil. The US is home to an Uyghur separatist group. There is even an East Turkestan Government-in-exile in the US, located in Virginia.

The US would be happy if these separatist groups could take over Xinjiang and turn it into an independent country that is under US control. This would enable the US to cut off China’s access to Central Asia, Russia and Europe and considerably slow down China’s economic growth.

For this reason, it is not surprising that the US has created all sorts of fake accusations against China. It is an attempt to turn the world opinion against China. If this objective is achieved, then it may be possible to get the WTO to expel China on the grounds of human rights violation. This will put a stop to China’s high economic growth rate.

It is not true that the surveillance system in Xinjiang is aimed against the public.

It is not true that 1 million (now increased to 2 million, it seems) Uyghurs are in concentration camps (or whatever camps).

It is not true that China is harvesting organs from the Uyghurs

It is not true that there are Chinese officers or police or whatever in Uyghur homes.

It is not true that Uyghurs are prevented from praying or fasting.

and there are many more fake accusations.

Believing the fake US accusations, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), with 56 Islamic member countries, wrote a very negative report of China’s human rights actions against the Muslim Uyghurs, in December 2018. Then, in March 2019, after a visit to Xinjiang, the OIC wrote the following:

“The Council welcomes the outcomes of the visit conducted by the General Secretariat’s delegation upon invitation from the People’s Republic of China; commends the efforts of the People’s Republic of China in providing care to its Muslim citizens; and looks forward to further cooperation between the OIC and the People’s Republic of China.”

(Read item 20 in the following report:

https://www.oic-oci.org/docdown/?docID=4447&refID=1250)

In October this year, 23 countries, made up of the US, the 14 eyes countries (who would always agree with the US), some NATO countries and a few other friends of the US, none of which are Muslim countries, wrote to the United Nations supposedly reporting China’s poor human rights practices in Xinjiang.

The next day, a group of 54 countries made the following statement to the United Nations:

Mr. President,

I have the honor to make the following joint statement on behalf of 54 countries including Pakistan, the Russian Federation, Egypt, Bolivia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Serbia.

We reiterate that the work of Human Rights in the United Nations should be conducted in an objective, transparent, non-selective, constructive, non-confrontational and non-politicized manner. We express our firm opposition to relevant countries' practice of politicizing human rights issues, by naming and shaming, and publicly exerting pressures on other countries.

We commend China's remarkable achievements in the field of human rights by adhering to the people-centered development philosophy and protecting and promoting human rights through development. We also appreciate China's contributions to the international human rights cause.

We take note that terrorism, separatism and religious extremism has caused enormous damage to people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang, which has seriously infringed upon human rights, including right to life, health and development. Faced with the grave challenge of terrorism and extremism, China has undertaken a series of counter-terrorism and deradicalization measures in Xinjiang, including setting up vocational education and training centers. Now safety and security has returned to Xinjiang and the fundamental human rights of people of all ethnic groups there are safeguarded. The past three consecutive years has seen not a single terrorist attack in Xinjiang and people there enjoy a stronger sense of happiness, fulfillment and security. We note with appreciation that human rights are respected and protected in China in the process of counter-terrorism and deradicalization.

We appreciate China's commitment to openness and transparency. China has invited a number of diplomats, international organizations officials and journalist to Xinjiang to witness the progress of the human rights cause and the outcomes of counter-terrorism and deradicalization there. What they saw and heard in Xinjiang completely contradicted what was reported in the media. We call on relevant countries to refrain from employing unfounded charges against China based on unconfirmed information before they visit Xinjiang. We urge the OHCHR, Treaty Bodies and relevant Special Procedures mandate holders to conduct their work in an objective and impartial manner according to their mandate and with true and genuinely credible information, and value the communication with member states.

Thank you, Mr. President.

(see  Joint Statement on Xinjiang at Third Committee Made by Belarus on Behalf of 54 Countries)

If you would like to know more about what has happened in Xinjiang, please spend 50 minutes to view the video in the following web page:

Fighting terrorism in Xinjiang