Uyghur News
19-06-08, 09:48
TOM WATKINS: China's minority "problem" is a world problem
With the recent earthquake and uprising in Tibet, China seems chiseled into the consciousness of most Americans. Yet, few in the West realize there are 55 nationality groups of people that China officially recognizes as distinct minority groups.
There are the Miao Bai, Dai, Xibe, Jingpo, Usbek, Hui, Mongolian, Yao, Li Wau, Manchu, Dong and Uighurs to name a few. Minorities make up a small percentage of the 1.3 billion Chinese but constitute a large portion of the internal tension. Through the more-than 5,000 years of Chinese civilization there have been numerous minority uprisings against majority rule.
Yet I suspect it's the Uighurs (also spelled Uygur or Uigur and pronounced "we-gar") the world will be hearing more about in the future. I hope for the sake of the Chinese, Uighurs and all of humanity we do not hear of the Uighurs around conflict, terror and bloodshed — yet, I further suspect we will in one fashion or another.
The Uighurs are a Turkish people and were a major empire in centuries past. The Uighurs converted to Islam several centuries ago. The Uighur population is disputed and ranges from 8 to 15 million strong. They are found throughout China but are concentrated in the Xinjiang (meaning "New Territory" or "New Frontier") Autonomous Region in Northwest China. Xinjiang is bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Mongolia to the northeast, and Kirghizstan and Tajikistan to the northwest and west. To the west and southwest lie Afghanistan and Pakistan; to the south are Tibet and India. To the east, 1,500 miles away, lies Beijing, China. Xinjiang is so remote that it is obscure or nonexistent to most in the West.
The Uighurs refer to this area by its historical name, East Turkistan or Uyghuristan.
The faces of the Uighurs share few similarities with what is viewed as the typical Chinese, or Han people. They are proud to be distinct. I remember meeting a Uighur man once in Xian, the ancient capitol of China, and the end-point of the historic Silk Road. I asked him his nationality and he said, "Chinese." Then, with a full-mouth grin and looking around the market so not to be overheard, he uttered, "I am a Uighur — not Chinese!"
Many call the Uighurs the Tibetans' Muslims. The Uighurs, like the Buddhist Tibetans, are asking for more accommodations for their disparate culture and beliefs. The Chinese will respond that many Uighurs are a terrorist faction in bed with al-Qaeda and bent on violent separatist activities. There is fear that Uighurs are planning on disrupting the Beijing Olympics to begin on ba-ba-ling ba, or 8-8-08, to gain notoriety for "their cause."
There have been historical crackdowns on the Uighurs that have been stepped up since 9-11. Many believe the Chinese have used the "international war on terror" as justification to tighten the grip on the Uighur people. Human rights groups contend the Chinese government exaggerates Uighur terrorist threats so it can clamp down on the Uighurs and arrest and torture those they suspect of being dissidents.
Like the Tibetans, the Uighurs believe the Chinese government has instituted cultural genocide against them. The Chinese would respond by claiming that after the 1949 liberation, old feudal religious habits and privileges were abolished and they have removed the control of the "reactionary ruling class" while today the Uighur people enjoy a higher standard of living and more economic opportunities. The Chinese Government sees some Uighurs as terrorists espousing separatist ideology linked with the larger Islamic Jihadist goal to overthrow existing governments and install a religious theocracy. They claim it is for these reasons China must clamp down.
Given these extreme views between the ethnic minority Uighurs and the Chinese government it is just a matter of time before the scab will be removed and the internal Chinese festering sore will come into full view. When the scab is removed, it is likely to be ugly and difficult for the world to ignore. Will the cause be seen as oppression, cultural genocide, employment and economic deprivation as charged by the Uighurs; terrorist attacks of a people longing for independence; or linked to al-Qaeda or Muslim extremists as an act of civil war against the Chinese government?
China's history has been plagued by foreign invaders and internal divisions. Perhaps the greatest fear the Chinese Ruler has is losing control that would splinter China like their old ally, the Soviet Union. The months leading up to the 2008 summer Olympics in Beijing will continue to put the spotlight of the world on China. Forces internal to China and from without are jockeying to share that limelight. China's desire to have a "harmonious rise" will be profoundly tested with the world watching over the next several months.
The Chinese have vowed to never again be splintered by external or internal forces. These realities dictate that we will be hearing more about the Tibetans and Uighurs in the future.
Let's be clear, unlike Las Vagas - what happens in China- does not stay in China. Unrest in China will impact us all.
Tom Watkins is and education and business consultant. He has a lifelong interest in China and has traveled there many times since his first trip in 1989. He served as Michigan's State Superintendent of Schools, 2001-2005 and President and CEO of the Economic Council of Palm Beach County, FL, 1996-2001. He can be reached at: tdwatkins@aol.com.
http://hometownlife.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080619/OPINION01/806190625/1202/NEWS12
With the recent earthquake and uprising in Tibet, China seems chiseled into the consciousness of most Americans. Yet, few in the West realize there are 55 nationality groups of people that China officially recognizes as distinct minority groups.
There are the Miao Bai, Dai, Xibe, Jingpo, Usbek, Hui, Mongolian, Yao, Li Wau, Manchu, Dong and Uighurs to name a few. Minorities make up a small percentage of the 1.3 billion Chinese but constitute a large portion of the internal tension. Through the more-than 5,000 years of Chinese civilization there have been numerous minority uprisings against majority rule.
Yet I suspect it's the Uighurs (also spelled Uygur or Uigur and pronounced "we-gar") the world will be hearing more about in the future. I hope for the sake of the Chinese, Uighurs and all of humanity we do not hear of the Uighurs around conflict, terror and bloodshed — yet, I further suspect we will in one fashion or another.
The Uighurs are a Turkish people and were a major empire in centuries past. The Uighurs converted to Islam several centuries ago. The Uighur population is disputed and ranges from 8 to 15 million strong. They are found throughout China but are concentrated in the Xinjiang (meaning "New Territory" or "New Frontier") Autonomous Region in Northwest China. Xinjiang is bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Mongolia to the northeast, and Kirghizstan and Tajikistan to the northwest and west. To the west and southwest lie Afghanistan and Pakistan; to the south are Tibet and India. To the east, 1,500 miles away, lies Beijing, China. Xinjiang is so remote that it is obscure or nonexistent to most in the West.
The Uighurs refer to this area by its historical name, East Turkistan or Uyghuristan.
The faces of the Uighurs share few similarities with what is viewed as the typical Chinese, or Han people. They are proud to be distinct. I remember meeting a Uighur man once in Xian, the ancient capitol of China, and the end-point of the historic Silk Road. I asked him his nationality and he said, "Chinese." Then, with a full-mouth grin and looking around the market so not to be overheard, he uttered, "I am a Uighur — not Chinese!"
Many call the Uighurs the Tibetans' Muslims. The Uighurs, like the Buddhist Tibetans, are asking for more accommodations for their disparate culture and beliefs. The Chinese will respond that many Uighurs are a terrorist faction in bed with al-Qaeda and bent on violent separatist activities. There is fear that Uighurs are planning on disrupting the Beijing Olympics to begin on ba-ba-ling ba, or 8-8-08, to gain notoriety for "their cause."
There have been historical crackdowns on the Uighurs that have been stepped up since 9-11. Many believe the Chinese have used the "international war on terror" as justification to tighten the grip on the Uighur people. Human rights groups contend the Chinese government exaggerates Uighur terrorist threats so it can clamp down on the Uighurs and arrest and torture those they suspect of being dissidents.
Like the Tibetans, the Uighurs believe the Chinese government has instituted cultural genocide against them. The Chinese would respond by claiming that after the 1949 liberation, old feudal religious habits and privileges were abolished and they have removed the control of the "reactionary ruling class" while today the Uighur people enjoy a higher standard of living and more economic opportunities. The Chinese Government sees some Uighurs as terrorists espousing separatist ideology linked with the larger Islamic Jihadist goal to overthrow existing governments and install a religious theocracy. They claim it is for these reasons China must clamp down.
Given these extreme views between the ethnic minority Uighurs and the Chinese government it is just a matter of time before the scab will be removed and the internal Chinese festering sore will come into full view. When the scab is removed, it is likely to be ugly and difficult for the world to ignore. Will the cause be seen as oppression, cultural genocide, employment and economic deprivation as charged by the Uighurs; terrorist attacks of a people longing for independence; or linked to al-Qaeda or Muslim extremists as an act of civil war against the Chinese government?
China's history has been plagued by foreign invaders and internal divisions. Perhaps the greatest fear the Chinese Ruler has is losing control that would splinter China like their old ally, the Soviet Union. The months leading up to the 2008 summer Olympics in Beijing will continue to put the spotlight of the world on China. Forces internal to China and from without are jockeying to share that limelight. China's desire to have a "harmonious rise" will be profoundly tested with the world watching over the next several months.
The Chinese have vowed to never again be splintered by external or internal forces. These realities dictate that we will be hearing more about the Tibetans and Uighurs in the future.
Let's be clear, unlike Las Vagas - what happens in China- does not stay in China. Unrest in China will impact us all.
Tom Watkins is and education and business consultant. He has a lifelong interest in China and has traveled there many times since his first trip in 1989. He served as Michigan's State Superintendent of Schools, 2001-2005 and President and CEO of the Economic Council of Palm Beach County, FL, 1996-2001. He can be reached at: tdwatkins@aol.com.
http://hometownlife.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080619/OPINION01/806190625/1202/NEWS12