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10-10-09, 04:13
China's Urumqi is stable but security remains tight
October 8, 10:28 PMAsia Headlines ExaminerGlen Loveland
http://www.examiner.com/x-15615-Asia-Headlines-Examiner~y2009m10d8-Chinas-Urumqi-is-stable-but-security-remains-tight?#comments
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Urumqi DaBazar Wulumuqi Xinjiang Uyghur China ZhongGuo Muslim Arabic
Da Bazar market in Urumqi. Photo by author.
Wulumuqi, Xinjiang – I just returned from China’s far-west Xinjiang province. In July, a deadly riot broke out in Urumqi, officially killing at least 197 people. Some local residents I spoke with contend that the number is closer to 800.
Urumqi is now safe and calm, but the security presence throughout the region is intense. There continues to be no Internet access and it is impossible to send or receive text messages on cell phones.
One Chinese businessman I spoke with said that he calls a friend in South China to ask him to check his email for client inquiries.
A host of military and police convoys patrol the city at all hours. I was staying at the Urumqi Mansion Hotel and had eight uniformed soldiers stationed outside. Entering the hotel required bag searches. Military convoys roam the streets in open-air trucks that one would expect to see in Iraq. Seemingly around every corner you’ll find a platform of four Chinese soldiers brandishing machine guns. Around the next corner a unit of officers dressed in black, marching in lockstep.
At Heaven Mountain (Tian Shan) and Heaven Lake (Tian Chi) – designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site – the government forbade the use of tram cars to reach the lake area out of security concerns.
Security is especially tight around Da Bazar (The Big Bazaar) and Erdaoqiao (Bridge of Two Roads) market. These are the Islamic market areas and the main Uyghur enclave in Urumqi. Many Chinese tourists who were also visiting Urumqi for the October holiday told me that they had no plans to visit the area because it wasn’t “safe.” Indeed, walking through these areas with a Han Chinese woman garnered more stares from Uyghur residents than I, an obvious Western foreigner, did.
China’s growing military is largely untested, and the Xinjiang situation provides an opportunity for the country to deploy its force to the area and receive on-the-ground training.
Security checkpoints are set up around Xinjiang. At the final toll booth before entering Urumqi from the popular tourist destination of Turpan, police officers search cars and walk on-board tour busses. I was traveling with a group of Han Chinese tourists so our inspection was relatively fast. Shihezi, a city two hours away from Urumqi, also required inspections before entering and leaving the city. Likewise, entering the train station at Urumqi takes considerable time as baggage is closely inspected. I was quizzed about my can of deodorant which was labeled in English. A small puff assured officers that it wasn’t a dangerous substance.
Many local Han Chinese residents I spoke with were sympathetic to the Uyghur community and had a more sophisticated view of the tensions than one would find in other regions of China. One man told me that “of course” the Uyghur’s were feeling trampled upon because of the vast disparity of government policies toward them. “The government places limits on their (Uyghur) children in attending school. They are good people, and I have many Uyghur friends.”
It was noticeable how few Uyghur’s were able to communicate with ease in Mandarin, the country’s official language. Many school-age Uyghur children were only able to respond with “ting bu dong” (“I don’t understand” in Mandarin).
Despite the ongoing tensions, Urumqi is still very much a thriving city. The smell of flatbread, of roasted lamb, and of spices continues to pervade every inch of the most prosperous city in Central Asia.
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Comments
An Uyghur says:
Hey John: check out about Dr. Shoukhrat Mitalipov, ( Ph.D.)
You will realize that how Uyghurs scientists are great. I will give you more example if you like. In fact, if you are not a dam Chinese you can do some research.
The site didn't let me post some URLs/links, but you can do a google search of his name : Dr. Shoukhrat Mitalipov, ( Ph.D.)
"John says:
When was the last time u saw a Uighur scientist, or economist, or doctor? they're spending too much time on jihady stuff than actually trying to excell in society."
October 10, 3:08 AM
An Uyghur says:
If you are really want to find out the truth, go and live there for few weeks and see yourself and you will find out your are very wrong.
"Sir Percy Blakeney(pen name) says:
Can people advance without knowing English in the USA or England? How can Uighurs move ahead without knowing Chinese in China? If they have been treated badly by the Hans, how come Rebiya Kadeer can have 11 children but the ordinary Han can only have one child per family? If they are discriminated against, how come Rebiya Kadeer was one of the richest people in China or in the world (until she allegedly conducted anti-government activities)? What really happened was that a small minority of Uighurs and Tibetans has been spoiled by the Chinese government and has been drinking Kool-Aid’s of racism provided by Hollywood, Dalai Lama and Rebiya Kadeer who are the Rev. Jim Jones of today."
October 10, 2:51 AM
An Uyghur says:
I am glad that you were able to find out more truth about the dead.I am sure that the most of the 800 died are Uyghurs.
I hope next time someone like you will be able to find out that how the July 5th night the Chinese soldiers killed few thousand Uyghurs with machine guns under the dark (electricity were turned off at around 9pm on July 5th), and than they gathered them, burned and buried them around the "Hong Yan Chi" area, south of "Ar Dow chaw".
I am sure that people are keeping their cell phone and camcorder videos and photos of that tragic night. They will come out when the Internet and phone systems are become normal.
By the way, did you have a chance to ask any officials or Han Chinese and or Uyghurs there why the government doesn't want to reopen the Internet and the International phone system?
Do you think the government have something to hide?
Thanks for the article!
.................................................. ...........
"I just returned from C
October 10, 2:47 AM
John says:
When was the last time u saw a Uighur scientist, or economist, or doctor? they're spending too much time on jihady stuff than actually trying to excell in society.
October 10, 1:02 AM
Tursun says:
A lot of Uyghurs attend Chinese schools and speak perfect Chinese, but they could not find job all the same. Because over 90% of the businesses are owned by government or Chinese and they openly "no Uyghurs need to apply". It is not about language, it is about your nationality. East Turkistan is a colony where in colonized and colonizers have their own world. Unfortunately, not much of our world is left any more because the chinese keep squeezing in. I do not believe the colonizers are sympathatic to Uyghurs. I beliver some one lied to the writer to project a false image. A American style civil rights moverment do not have a chance in china, because people could not speak freely, any peaceful movement ends in violence as government uses brurality, and above all, the chinese immigrants to our land behaves as thieves who have no conscience
October 9, 11:31 PM
Tursun says:
Rebiya Kadir had 11 children before the birth control was introduced. She got rich doing border trade with central asian states before the government established normal trade relations with those states and monopolized the trade squeezing out Uyghurs who started the trade first. Did you live in China in 80's when private business was allowed first? Uyghurs were a big scene in all major cities, moving stuff from factory to city and from city to city. They started all types of trade before the chinese people caught up the concept. A lot of people got rich like Rebiya. But, government knows best. It did not take it long clean up those Uyghurs.
October 9, 11:22 PM
Tursun says:
China is not US, which is an immigrant country where we all came volunteerily to be part of this melting pot culture. But, we, Uyghurs have not moved into China, but China has moved into ourland along with millions of Chinese. Let's do not dig back into history, just talk about what we both side aknowledge: there were less than 5% Chinese in East Turkistan, which you may prefer to call Xinjiang (new territory), before 1949, but today more than 50% of the population is Chinese. You and I moved to US and adopted the language of the land--English, we have not forced our language on the people living here, have we? Why can not the Chinese immigrants moved or our land do the same? We have a written language with a long history, and we had a dictionary published in 1072, long before the Chinese did. Our language Uyghur is not much different from Turkish used in Turkey today, but as the first Turk language to adopt a writing system, it has a longer history literature.It is no less than Chines
October 9, 11:14 PM
Sir Percy Blakeney(pen name) says:
Can people advance without knowing English in the USA or England? How can Uighurs move ahead without knowing Chinese in China? If they have been treated badly by the Hans, how come Rebiya Kadeer can have 11 children but the ordinary Han can only have one child per family? If they are discriminated against, how come Rebiya Kadeer was one of the richest people in China or in the world (until she allegedly conducted anti-government activities)? What really happened was that a small minority of Uighurs and Tibetans has been spoiled by the Chinese government and has been drinking Kool-Aid’s of racism provided by Hollywood, Dalai Lama and Rebiya Kadeer who are the Rev. Jim Jones of today.
The Hans and Uighurs must be forgiving to each other and to help each other like brothers and sisters.
The Chinese government needs to encourage and provide opportunities to the Uighurs, Tibetans to learn Chinese and to receive higher education and better job opportunities.
October 8, 10:28 PMAsia Headlines ExaminerGlen Loveland
http://www.examiner.com/x-15615-Asia-Headlines-Examiner~y2009m10d8-Chinas-Urumqi-is-stable-but-security-remains-tight?#comments
Previous
8 comments Print Email RSS Subscribe
Subscribe
Get alerts when there is a new article from the Asia Headlines Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.
Email Address
Include other special offers from Examiner.com
Terms of Use
Urumqi DaBazar Wulumuqi Xinjiang Uyghur China ZhongGuo Muslim Arabic
Da Bazar market in Urumqi. Photo by author.
Wulumuqi, Xinjiang – I just returned from China’s far-west Xinjiang province. In July, a deadly riot broke out in Urumqi, officially killing at least 197 people. Some local residents I spoke with contend that the number is closer to 800.
Urumqi is now safe and calm, but the security presence throughout the region is intense. There continues to be no Internet access and it is impossible to send or receive text messages on cell phones.
One Chinese businessman I spoke with said that he calls a friend in South China to ask him to check his email for client inquiries.
A host of military and police convoys patrol the city at all hours. I was staying at the Urumqi Mansion Hotel and had eight uniformed soldiers stationed outside. Entering the hotel required bag searches. Military convoys roam the streets in open-air trucks that one would expect to see in Iraq. Seemingly around every corner you’ll find a platform of four Chinese soldiers brandishing machine guns. Around the next corner a unit of officers dressed in black, marching in lockstep.
At Heaven Mountain (Tian Shan) and Heaven Lake (Tian Chi) – designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site – the government forbade the use of tram cars to reach the lake area out of security concerns.
Security is especially tight around Da Bazar (The Big Bazaar) and Erdaoqiao (Bridge of Two Roads) market. These are the Islamic market areas and the main Uyghur enclave in Urumqi. Many Chinese tourists who were also visiting Urumqi for the October holiday told me that they had no plans to visit the area because it wasn’t “safe.” Indeed, walking through these areas with a Han Chinese woman garnered more stares from Uyghur residents than I, an obvious Western foreigner, did.
China’s growing military is largely untested, and the Xinjiang situation provides an opportunity for the country to deploy its force to the area and receive on-the-ground training.
Security checkpoints are set up around Xinjiang. At the final toll booth before entering Urumqi from the popular tourist destination of Turpan, police officers search cars and walk on-board tour busses. I was traveling with a group of Han Chinese tourists so our inspection was relatively fast. Shihezi, a city two hours away from Urumqi, also required inspections before entering and leaving the city. Likewise, entering the train station at Urumqi takes considerable time as baggage is closely inspected. I was quizzed about my can of deodorant which was labeled in English. A small puff assured officers that it wasn’t a dangerous substance.
Many local Han Chinese residents I spoke with were sympathetic to the Uyghur community and had a more sophisticated view of the tensions than one would find in other regions of China. One man told me that “of course” the Uyghur’s were feeling trampled upon because of the vast disparity of government policies toward them. “The government places limits on their (Uyghur) children in attending school. They are good people, and I have many Uyghur friends.”
It was noticeable how few Uyghur’s were able to communicate with ease in Mandarin, the country’s official language. Many school-age Uyghur children were only able to respond with “ting bu dong” (“I don’t understand” in Mandarin).
Despite the ongoing tensions, Urumqi is still very much a thriving city. The smell of flatbread, of roasted lamb, and of spices continues to pervade every inch of the most prosperous city in Central Asia.
ShareThis
Related Articles:
Local soldier honored at Leesburg Airport
Mixed world reactions to Obama's Nobel Peace Prize award
Underwater earthquake
Putting parents in the classroom: Grace Art
Lots going on today in Alexandria
Comments
An Uyghur says:
Hey John: check out about Dr. Shoukhrat Mitalipov, ( Ph.D.)
You will realize that how Uyghurs scientists are great. I will give you more example if you like. In fact, if you are not a dam Chinese you can do some research.
The site didn't let me post some URLs/links, but you can do a google search of his name : Dr. Shoukhrat Mitalipov, ( Ph.D.)
"John says:
When was the last time u saw a Uighur scientist, or economist, or doctor? they're spending too much time on jihady stuff than actually trying to excell in society."
October 10, 3:08 AM
An Uyghur says:
If you are really want to find out the truth, go and live there for few weeks and see yourself and you will find out your are very wrong.
"Sir Percy Blakeney(pen name) says:
Can people advance without knowing English in the USA or England? How can Uighurs move ahead without knowing Chinese in China? If they have been treated badly by the Hans, how come Rebiya Kadeer can have 11 children but the ordinary Han can only have one child per family? If they are discriminated against, how come Rebiya Kadeer was one of the richest people in China or in the world (until she allegedly conducted anti-government activities)? What really happened was that a small minority of Uighurs and Tibetans has been spoiled by the Chinese government and has been drinking Kool-Aid’s of racism provided by Hollywood, Dalai Lama and Rebiya Kadeer who are the Rev. Jim Jones of today."
October 10, 2:51 AM
An Uyghur says:
I am glad that you were able to find out more truth about the dead.I am sure that the most of the 800 died are Uyghurs.
I hope next time someone like you will be able to find out that how the July 5th night the Chinese soldiers killed few thousand Uyghurs with machine guns under the dark (electricity were turned off at around 9pm on July 5th), and than they gathered them, burned and buried them around the "Hong Yan Chi" area, south of "Ar Dow chaw".
I am sure that people are keeping their cell phone and camcorder videos and photos of that tragic night. They will come out when the Internet and phone systems are become normal.
By the way, did you have a chance to ask any officials or Han Chinese and or Uyghurs there why the government doesn't want to reopen the Internet and the International phone system?
Do you think the government have something to hide?
Thanks for the article!
.................................................. ...........
"I just returned from C
October 10, 2:47 AM
John says:
When was the last time u saw a Uighur scientist, or economist, or doctor? they're spending too much time on jihady stuff than actually trying to excell in society.
October 10, 1:02 AM
Tursun says:
A lot of Uyghurs attend Chinese schools and speak perfect Chinese, but they could not find job all the same. Because over 90% of the businesses are owned by government or Chinese and they openly "no Uyghurs need to apply". It is not about language, it is about your nationality. East Turkistan is a colony where in colonized and colonizers have their own world. Unfortunately, not much of our world is left any more because the chinese keep squeezing in. I do not believe the colonizers are sympathatic to Uyghurs. I beliver some one lied to the writer to project a false image. A American style civil rights moverment do not have a chance in china, because people could not speak freely, any peaceful movement ends in violence as government uses brurality, and above all, the chinese immigrants to our land behaves as thieves who have no conscience
October 9, 11:31 PM
Tursun says:
Rebiya Kadir had 11 children before the birth control was introduced. She got rich doing border trade with central asian states before the government established normal trade relations with those states and monopolized the trade squeezing out Uyghurs who started the trade first. Did you live in China in 80's when private business was allowed first? Uyghurs were a big scene in all major cities, moving stuff from factory to city and from city to city. They started all types of trade before the chinese people caught up the concept. A lot of people got rich like Rebiya. But, government knows best. It did not take it long clean up those Uyghurs.
October 9, 11:22 PM
Tursun says:
China is not US, which is an immigrant country where we all came volunteerily to be part of this melting pot culture. But, we, Uyghurs have not moved into China, but China has moved into ourland along with millions of Chinese. Let's do not dig back into history, just talk about what we both side aknowledge: there were less than 5% Chinese in East Turkistan, which you may prefer to call Xinjiang (new territory), before 1949, but today more than 50% of the population is Chinese. You and I moved to US and adopted the language of the land--English, we have not forced our language on the people living here, have we? Why can not the Chinese immigrants moved or our land do the same? We have a written language with a long history, and we had a dictionary published in 1072, long before the Chinese did. Our language Uyghur is not much different from Turkish used in Turkey today, but as the first Turk language to adopt a writing system, it has a longer history literature.It is no less than Chines
October 9, 11:14 PM
Sir Percy Blakeney(pen name) says:
Can people advance without knowing English in the USA or England? How can Uighurs move ahead without knowing Chinese in China? If they have been treated badly by the Hans, how come Rebiya Kadeer can have 11 children but the ordinary Han can only have one child per family? If they are discriminated against, how come Rebiya Kadeer was one of the richest people in China or in the world (until she allegedly conducted anti-government activities)? What really happened was that a small minority of Uighurs and Tibetans has been spoiled by the Chinese government and has been drinking Kool-Aid’s of racism provided by Hollywood, Dalai Lama and Rebiya Kadeer who are the Rev. Jim Jones of today.
The Hans and Uighurs must be forgiving to each other and to help each other like brothers and sisters.
The Chinese government needs to encourage and provide opportunities to the Uighurs, Tibetans to learn Chinese and to receive higher education and better job opportunities.