Riots in Xinjiang

[Guo Xiang]

Apparently this huge riot took place in Xinjiang, leaving about 143 dead and hundreds of injured people. The riot has now spread to a second city there.

It's said that it started out as a peaceful protest, but turned violent after a tough clampdown from the police.

China, as usual, has blocked or severely limited internet access to news articles regarding the riot, especially foreign articles.

What do you think of this event? Will this weaken China's rule on Xinjiang, and several other similar states?

*

Personally I think there will be no waves if there's no wind 无风不起浪 in the first place. I really don't know how China goes about handling places like Tibet and Xinjiang, but I don't think they can blame foreigners or forces like the Dalai Lama and World Uighur Congress forever.

If everything's fine and pretty, the people cannot be instigated to protest or even riot.

If stories of oppression and discrimination are true, then the central government should take a long hard look at the policies. Oppression and discrimination never does any state or country well, and rarely, if not never, succeeds.

[Ren Wo Xing]

It's said that it started out as a peaceful protest, but turned violent after a tough clampdown from the police.

Could you link me? I haven't read any articles yet where it was stated that it started out as a peaceful protest (although in all honesty, I haven't read that much about it yet).

To the best of my understanding, the original spark was a racial brawl between Uighurs and Han at a factory; the Han alleged that there had been ongoing sexual assault and harassment of Han women at the factory, and one particular incident set them off; a group of Han headed into the Uighur dorms to confront the rapist, and got their asses kicked by the entire dorm when the Uighurs pulled out knives on them. They retreated, then summoned a whole shitload of other Han Chinese with makeshift clubs and other weapons, then pretty much stormed the Uighur dorms in mass and kicked their asses. Bottom line is, a big ugly racial brawl which ended up in the Han favor. Apparently, this was the spark which led to the recent Uighur riots in the northwest.

The Uighur issue is a really complicated one, in some ways even more so than the Tibet issue. The main thing is while overall Chinese people tend to have a neutral or even positive view of Tibetans (at least, pre-riots), Chinese people have a very negative view of Uighurs. Because of their minority status, they are legally allowed to carry hidden knives on them wherever they go, which criminal Uighurs use to cut purses or knife people when pursued. When caught by police, many Uighur criminals use those knives to cut themselves and make themselves bleed, then claim they have HIV/AIDS, which results in police being legally required to treat them and let them go, because of the comparatively high AIDS/HIV rate amongst Uighurs in Xinjiang. All of this has given them a reputation amongst Han people in general for being violent thieves and criminals whom are treated with kid gloves by the police; basically, they are viewed as criminals who get away with a lot of stuff due to their minority status. And of course, the Uighur have a great deal of legitimate complaints against Han discrimination as well, which are much more well-documented in western media.

Very nasty, unpleasant situation...

[Guo Xiang]

Hmm I saw it yesterday, most likely on BBC. But now it's so flooded with updating reports I can't seem to locate that particular article. I never knew how to search for articles there anyway. :\

But from a follow up report, it did mention that the Uighurs claimed it was a peaceful demonstration. Hmm, now I'm confused.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8137432.stm

And I certainly didn't know that the Uighurs could carry weapons with them! Doesn't that really encourage violence in a way?

[Ren Wo Xing]

Yeah, it comes down to a he-said, she-said. I'm sure the Uighurs themselves would say that it started as a peaceful protest, but the earliest news articles I recall seeing all stated that the police rushed in after the riots started and people began to be assaulted.

The Uighurs were already the most disliked minority by Han people, because of what I previously posted. This isn't going to help racial reconciliation...ugh.

[Guo Xiang]

Yeah, it comes down to a he-said, she-said. I'm sure the Uighurs themselves would say that it started as a peaceful protest, but the earliest news articles I recall seeing all stated that the police rushed in after the riots started and people began to be assaulted.

The Uighurs were already the most disliked minority by Han people, because of what I previously posted. This isn't going to help racial reconciliation...ugh.

Does the Uighurs have feudal views of women?

[Ren Wo Xing]

No clue, honestly. I don't have a very good grasp of Uighur culture, I'm afraid...

[Guo Xiang]

No clue, honestly. I don't have a very good grasp of Uighur culture, I'm afraid...

Ok, thanks.

I'm just curious about the alleged sexual harrassment and rapist part, and why would the Uighurs defend a 'rapist'.

So many questions about, yet I don't see any particularly reliable sources. China's media will focus the attention on the Uighurs while the Western media will most likely focus the attention on the Han people and the Chinese government.

[Ren Wo Xing]

I don't think it was so much as defending a rapist, as getting pissed off at a half-dozen Han Chinese (whom they dislike as much as the Han dislike them) charging into THEIR turf and causing trouble (in their eyes)...

[Ren Wo Xing]

Brief update; a few news sources I've seen indicate that the rape rumor may have been a false rumor. Chinese news reports now state that a Chinese man who had been laid off at that toy factory spread the rape rumor because he was angry, perhaps because he thought the Uighurs cost him his job? If so, that would be the obvious reason why the Uighurs would (obviously) take exception to a group of Han charging into their dorms and causing trouble over a 'rapist'...the final toll that guy may have caused was two Uighur deaths and over 80 injured by some accounts, with over 60 critical injuries. And, of course, the riots in Urumqi...

Sigh...so much ugliness and hate in the world.

[Ren Wo Xing]

Another update...I just saw in AP that there has been another riot, this time by the Han Chinese, in Urumqi. Apparently in retaliation for the Uighur riots, a couple hundred Han Chinese armed themselves with clubs and have been wrecking Muslim food stalls and are making their way to a mosque. Chinese riot police appear to be trying to make them disperse with the use of tear gas....ugh...

[Crazy8]

wow this situation is getting out of hand the government need to come in and do something

[Guo Xiang]

Another update...I just saw in AP that there has been another riot, this time by the Han Chinese, in Urumqi. Apparently in retaliation for the Uighur riots, a couple hundred Han Chinese armed themselves with clubs and have been wrecking Muslim food stalls and are making their way to a mosque. Chinese riot police appear to be trying to make them disperse with the use of tear gas....ugh...

Wow... so it's getting worse. It's not going to help racial harmony there at all.

wow this situation is getting out of hand the government need to come in and do something

There's reports around that claimed the government has sent in tanks already.

[Ren Wo Xing]

The group of 300 or so Han Chinese were joined by two more groups, but apparently the police formed a blockade and blocked them from charging into the mosque/main Muslim centers. Some minor bit of good news at least.

I haven't seen any news reports on tanks. Link please.

[Guo Xiang]

The group of 300 or so Han Chinese were joined by two more groups, but apparently the police formed a blockade and blocked them from charging into the mosque/main Muslim centers. Some minor bit of good news at least.

I haven't seen any news reports on tanks. Link please.

Hold on. I've been floating around too many news today. Will retrieve the link and edit it in.

Edited:
Ok, I'm seriously blushing now.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8136400.stm

I ask that you don't throw rocks at me.

[Ren Wo Xing]

No rocks, but yeah, that's the only report I've seen of any tanks...

[Guo Xiang]

Chinese embassies in the Netherlands and Germany were attacked.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2...nt_8390417.htm

[Trien Chieu]

Could you link me? I haven't read any articles yet where it was stated that it started out as a peaceful protest (although in all honesty, I haven't read that much about it yet).

To the best of my understanding, the original spark was a racial brawl between Uighurs and Han at a factory; the Han alleged that there had been ongoing sexual assault and harassment of Han women at the factory, and one particular incident set them off; a group of Han headed into the Uighur dorms to confront the rapist, and got their asses kicked by the entire dorm when the Uighurs pulled out knives on them. They retreated, then summoned a whole shitload of other Han Chinese with makeshift clubs and other weapons, then pretty much stormed the Uighur dorms in mass and kicked their asses. Bottom line is, a big ugly racial brawl which ended up in the Han favor. Apparently, this was the spark which led to the recent Uighur riots in the northwest.

The Uighur issue is a really complicated one, in some ways even more so than the Tibet issue. The main thing is while overall Chinese people tend to have a neutral or even positive view of Tibetans (at least, pre-riots), Chinese people have a very negative view of Uighurs. Because of their minority status, they are legally allowed to carry hidden knives on them wherever they go, which criminal Uighurs use to cut purses or knife people when pursued. When caught by police, many Uighur criminals use those knives to cut themselves and make themselves bleed, then claim they have HIV/AIDS, which results in police being legally required to treat them and let them go, because of the comparatively high AIDS/HIV rate amongst Uighurs in Xinjiang. All of this has given them a reputation amongst Han people in general for being violent thieves and criminals whom are treated with kid gloves by the police; basically, they are viewed as criminals who get away with a lot of stuff due to their minority status. And of course, the Uighur have a great deal of legitimate complaints against Han discrimination as well, which are much more well-documented in western media.

Very nasty, unpleasant situation...

I think china should stop giving special privilege to all ethnic minorities. The law of the land should be applied to all, no double standard. Regarding the violent protest, china should crush them with the iron fist and should never backdown due to international pressure.

[Chloe]

I am Han Chinese and I was born in Urumqi Xinjiang, the exact place where this riot occurred. Growing up, I saw no tension between the Uighur and Han population. There were many Uighur children in my classes and we all got along quite nicely. Even though the majority of my school was Han, we celebrate and respect the Uighur culture by hosting Uighur dances and teaching Uighur language as a second language. To tell you the truth, I thought being a Uighur was cool because the girls all look so pretty with their curly hair and big bright eyes, and trust me, I wasn't the only one.

I think it's really unfair for people to say that government is the one to blame and they should give Uighurs their land and let them separate. People get along well there and most people tolerate the issues already in existence! Don't say that the Chinese government bully the Uighurs either. The Chinese government give Uighurs special treatment that's denied to other people. Did you know that for college entrance exams, the passing line for Uighur students is about 300-400 points lower than Han students? And that's out of a 750 scale. If you have a Han boy with 500 and an Uighur boy with 150, the Uighur boy would go to college and the Han boy would not. How is that for treating the Uighur unfairly?

As for the Chinese OH SO FORCEFULLY took over their land. Please learn the history. Xinjiang was first made into a part of China in 618, and annexed again in the 1700's. It was populated by tribes and herders so China did not take their country because there was no country to begin with. Xinjiang would not survived the years and be prosperous if it wasn't for China. It's no coincidence that Xinjiang is doing better than let's say Kazakhstan(a country with significant number of Uighur). The Han Chinese has been living in Xinjiang for generations. If Xinjiang separates, what about the 7.5 million Hans already made their lives there? What would happen to them? They've got no home other than Xinjiang. China's not kicking out the Uighurs so why should they kick out the Hans? Also, I hate how ABC and CNN make the Uighus look like victims. Okay? China gives Uighur special treatments, yet the Americans kill off most of the Native Americans and stashed them into reservations. Awesome job America!

Some pictures of Xinjian when I was younger. I really love that place so much! I don't see why anyone wants to destroy the peace.
This is Urumqi in 1996, see the Islamic pavilion and the Uighur inside?
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This was pre school graduation. Look at how happy we all were! There were about 4 Uighur kids in my class
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This is Tianchi, not far from Urumqi. Xinjiang is a beautiful place.
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The Uighur dance performance by my dance troupe, notice how the girls are all Han Chinese? Although you can't see it, the boys are actually all Uighur boys because my teacher specifically invited them.
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[Guo Xiang]

Thanks for the insightful view, Chloe.

I've also read about how minorities get additional marks in school entry exams, leading to some Han families lying about their ethnicity, though the consequences when caught isn't very rewarding indeed.

[Chloe]

Thanks for the insightful view, Chloe.

I've also read about how minorities get additional marks in school entry exams, leading to some Han families lying about their ethnicity, though the consequences when caught isn't very rewarding indeed.

Thanks, I'm just frustrated at both parties. I came to America when I was 10 so I'm able to look at the bigger picture. I do think sometimes people assume that Uighur are violent and bad because they're notorious for their misdeeds, but that doesn't categorize everyone. I also think that the Chinese are misunderstood as well. Grrrr that's why I hate politics.

That's true about the faking of ethnicity, it does happen quite a lot because my dad told me when he took his college entrance exam, Uighurs that score above 100 can go to college. That's nothing!!!! Out of like 7-8 subjects, a combined score of 100 is ridiculously easy. Also, Uighurs get extra vacation because of their Islamic holiday, I used to wish I was an Uighur (only when their vacation time came around though)

I think because of these special treatments, the Uighur know that the Chinese Government can't do much about them because they're minorities with these protections. It's like what my friend does all the time. She's African American and whenever the teacher yells at her, she goes "it's because i'm black isn't it? you're so racist!"