Xinjiang protests July 2009

On Sunday 5 July, demonstrations which began in Urumqi, the capital of the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, were violently put down by Chinese police and armed forces, according to international media. Xinhua, the Chinese state news agency, reported that 184 civilians were killed, 137 of whom were Han Chinese. Over 1,000 were injured during the most serious civil unrest since the Spring 2008 protests in Tibet. According to Xinhua, 1,400 were detained. It is unclear if any of those detained have been released or charged with any offense.

On Wednesday 8 July, the Dalai Lama issued the following statement on the situation in Xinjiang:

'I am deeply saddened and concerned with the worsening situation in East Turkestan (Xinjiang), especially with the tragic loss of lives. I earnestly urge the Chinese authorities to exercise restraint in dealing with the situation in a spirit of understanding and far-sightedness. I offer my prayers for those who lost their lives, their families and others affected by this sad turn of events.'
 
The Tibetan spiritual leader's statement follows these comments from the European Union on Tuesday 7 July:

'The EU expresses its strong concern over the unrest... The EU calls for restraint on all sides and for the situation to be resolved peacefully... The EU stresses the importance it attaches to all human rights, including the freedom of expression and the right to peaceful assembly.'

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said "we call on all in Xinjiang to exercise restraint." while UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, speaking about Xinjiang on 7 July, said "Wherever it is happening or has happened the position of the United Nations and the Secretary General has been consistent and clear; that all the differences of opinion, whether domestic or international, must be resolved peacefully and through dialogue." He went on to say that "Governments concerned must also exercise extreme care and take necessary measures to protect the life and safety of the civilina population and their citizens and their properties, and protect freedom of speech, freedom of assembly and freedom of information."

The Chinese Government accused US-based Uighur spokeswoman Rebiya Kadeer of orchestrating the unrest. She said that "The root cause of this tragedy lies with the Chinese Government policy... As a rule of thumb, whatever happens in Tibet, the Chinese authorities are quick to point a finger at the Dalai Lama, His Holiness, as the source or the instigator of the problems there. So it is with me as well."

On Wednesday 8 July, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that he would ask the United Nations Security Council to discuss the Xinjiang situation. On Thursday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang responded, saying "The Chinese Government has taken decisive measures according to the law. This is purely China's internal affair and doesn't demand a UN Security Council discussion."

Recommended articles about unrest in Xinjiang

'Will China implode?' by Isabel Hilton
'Why the economic boom failed to prevent unrest in Xinjiang' by Andrew Fischer
'The Xinjiang Crisis: A test for Beijing' by Willy Lam

Please click on links below for more information