Turdi Ghoja
21-03-05, 06:39
Needless to say, like millions of my countrymen around the world I am thrilled by her unexpected early release. But, I do not feel any sense of gratitude towards the Chinese authorities. I still have not forgotten that they imprisoned her for 6 long years without justification nor do I have reason to believe that the human rights situation in East Turkistan or China has improved.
The motive and timing of her early release has been a subject of discussion in the press and website forums in the past couple of days. International human rights groups and most people who follow China closely think justifiably that it is a public-relations maneuver rather than a sign of real improvement in human rights in China. After all, she was released just before the Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's visit to Beijing and as the annual session of the United Nations Human Rights Commission starts, and China is well known for the art of playing political-prisoner diplomacy.
Some Uyghurs expressed on Internet forums their concerns that the Chinese Government might be up to something more sinister than what meets eyes. Their concern or fear is linked to the Uyghur detainees at the Guantanamo. They may have their reasons to be suspicious, especially after reports re-emerged last week suggested that sending them back to China is still on the table as an option should the effort to find a host nation for them fails. China's imprisonment of Rebiya Kadir is seen by many Uyghurs including myself as not just a punishment for her and her family but also a veiled threat to Uyghurs in general and Uyghurs in abroad in particular. Its message for the Uyghurs at home was that if they can imprison a person with such a stature for such flimsy reasons, the rest of them better keep their eyes open while sleeping. The message we got as activists outside of China is that we may be outside of their border but we are not outside of their reach since our relatives still live at their mercy back home. If her arrest was about intimidating Uyghurs, it is only fair to suspect that her release is not about pleasing Uyghurs and locking that message in a box and throwing the key away in front of the world.
However, I have my own theories about China's motivation. We learned last month that Rebiya Kadir is among the candidates for this year's Nobel peace price. Imagine she wins the Nobel price and its impact on the Uyghur cause, remembering that it is the Nobel price that made Dalai Lama the worldwide celebrity and gave the Tibetan cause an unprecedented exposure that they enjoy today. It is not a pretty thought to the Chinese. A Nobel price is the ultimate recognition, attention grabber or advertisement, whichever you want. It could also be a ticket to Hollywood. After all, her eventful life sounds more like a Hollywood movie than a real life story. After the prestigious Rafto award, she may have a real shot at the Nobel. Now what would the Chinese do if they think a sympathy vote may increase her chance?
If that is their motive or a part of it, I hope they will be proven wrong. With right kind of PR, she still could keep the momentum going and take a good shot at the Nobel. If she wins, it would be a vindication for all Uyghurs around the world. I pray for that day to come!
Turdi
The motive and timing of her early release has been a subject of discussion in the press and website forums in the past couple of days. International human rights groups and most people who follow China closely think justifiably that it is a public-relations maneuver rather than a sign of real improvement in human rights in China. After all, she was released just before the Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's visit to Beijing and as the annual session of the United Nations Human Rights Commission starts, and China is well known for the art of playing political-prisoner diplomacy.
Some Uyghurs expressed on Internet forums their concerns that the Chinese Government might be up to something more sinister than what meets eyes. Their concern or fear is linked to the Uyghur detainees at the Guantanamo. They may have their reasons to be suspicious, especially after reports re-emerged last week suggested that sending them back to China is still on the table as an option should the effort to find a host nation for them fails. China's imprisonment of Rebiya Kadir is seen by many Uyghurs including myself as not just a punishment for her and her family but also a veiled threat to Uyghurs in general and Uyghurs in abroad in particular. Its message for the Uyghurs at home was that if they can imprison a person with such a stature for such flimsy reasons, the rest of them better keep their eyes open while sleeping. The message we got as activists outside of China is that we may be outside of their border but we are not outside of their reach since our relatives still live at their mercy back home. If her arrest was about intimidating Uyghurs, it is only fair to suspect that her release is not about pleasing Uyghurs and locking that message in a box and throwing the key away in front of the world.
However, I have my own theories about China's motivation. We learned last month that Rebiya Kadir is among the candidates for this year's Nobel peace price. Imagine she wins the Nobel price and its impact on the Uyghur cause, remembering that it is the Nobel price that made Dalai Lama the worldwide celebrity and gave the Tibetan cause an unprecedented exposure that they enjoy today. It is not a pretty thought to the Chinese. A Nobel price is the ultimate recognition, attention grabber or advertisement, whichever you want. It could also be a ticket to Hollywood. After all, her eventful life sounds more like a Hollywood movie than a real life story. After the prestigious Rafto award, she may have a real shot at the Nobel. Now what would the Chinese do if they think a sympathy vote may increase her chance?
If that is their motive or a part of it, I hope they will be proven wrong. With right kind of PR, she still could keep the momentum going and take a good shot at the Nobel. If she wins, it would be a vindication for all Uyghurs around the world. I pray for that day to come!
Turdi