An assault on a police station in the northwestern
region of Xinjiang has left eleven dead, according to the local government, in
the latest of a series of attacks pointing to growing unrest in the area.
region of Xinjiang has left eleven dead, according to the local government, in
the latest of a series of attacks pointing to growing unrest in the area.
Two auxiliary police officers and nine attackers
were killed in the incident on Saturday afternoon, the Xinjiang regional
government said in a statement posted on its microblog on Sunday.
were killed in the incident on Saturday afternoon, the Xinjiang regional
government said in a statement posted on its microblog on Sunday.
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I again call on international society to take
emergency measures to stop the Chinese government from directly opening fire to suppress Uighur protesters.
Dilxat Raxit, World Uigher Congress
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It said the assailants used axes and knives in the
attack in Bachu county’s Serikbuya township, near the historic city of Kashgar,
adding that two police officers were injured in the clash.
attack in Bachu county’s Serikbuya township, near the historic city of Kashgar,
adding that two police officers were injured in the clash.
No further information was given about the attack.
The Chinese government has been blaming recent attacks on
“terrorists” from the Xinjiang Uighurs ethnic group.
The Chinese government has been blaming recent attacks on
“terrorists” from the Xinjiang Uighurs ethnic group.
But Dilxat Raxit, a spokesman for the World
Uighur Congress, a Munich-based advocacy group, said the Uighurs were
protesting on Sunday and that armed Chinese personnel were to blame for the
violence.
Uighur Congress, a Munich-based advocacy group, said the Uighurs were
protesting on Sunday and that armed Chinese personnel were to blame for the
violence.
He said in an email that besides the deaths,
“several tens” of Uighur demonstrators were arrested.
“several tens” of Uighur demonstrators were arrested.
“I again call on international society to take
emergency measures to stop the Chinese government from directly opening fire to
suppress Uighur protesters and depriving them of using legal appeals and
defending their rights,” he added.
emergency measures to stop the Chinese government from directly opening fire to
suppress Uighur protesters and depriving them of using legal appeals and
defending their rights,” he added.
Activists say despair over economic and social
discrimination as well as cultural and religious restrictions are fueling anger
among Uighurs.
discrimination as well as cultural and religious restrictions are fueling anger
among Uighurs.
Heightened tensions
The latest reported incident comes at a time of
heightened tensions within Xinjiang following a fiery attack in Beijing’s
Tiananmen Square last month that the government blamed on
“terrorists” from the province backed by some international Islamic
groups.
heightened tensions within Xinjiang following a fiery attack in Beijing’s
Tiananmen Square last month that the government blamed on
“terrorists” from the province backed by some international Islamic
groups.
Three Xinjiang Uighurs drove their car loaded with
petrol canisters into the gate of the Forbidden City on October 28. The attack
left two dead besides the three people in the car, and 40 injured, according to
Chinese police.
petrol canisters into the gate of the Forbidden City on October 28. The attack
left two dead besides the three people in the car, and 40 injured, according to
Chinese police.
Beijing blamed Uighur separatists backed by armed Islamic groups, but the
authorities have not provided any evidence to support this assertion, which has
raised doubts among experts, given the amateurish nature of the attack and the
lack of an established Islamic extremist foothold in China.
