Columns of Troops Pour in China's Restive West

[steven johnson]

Source: NY Times

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: July 8, 2009
Filed at 9:28 a.m. ET

URUMQI, China (AP) -- Hundreds of helmeted troops in riot gear swarmed the central square of the capital of western Xinjiang on Wednesday after ethnic riots left at least 156 dead. The city's Communist Party boss promised those behind the killings would be executed.

Ethnic clashes have paralyzed Urumqi over the past several days -- with minority Uighur and Han Chinese mobs roaming the streets and attacking each other. The violence forced President Hu Jintao to embarrassingly cut short a trip to Italy where he was take part in a Group of Eight summit.

The government further responded Wednesday to the violence by pouring columns of troops into the far-flung province, hundreds of which were stationed in People's Square in the middle of the city.

More than 1,100 people were wounded in the violence, and hundreds of vehicles were damaged or set on fire in the riots on Sunday. It was not known how many Uiqhurs (pronounced WEE-gers) and Han Chinese died or who was behind their deaths.



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/07/08/world/AP-AS-China-Protest.html?_r=1

[Coventina]

1. Russia says China Xinjiang riots internal affair

http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE5671SM20090708

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia on Wednesday put its support firmly behind China, saying violent clashes in China's northwestern region of Xinjiang were a purely internal affair.

Chinese President Hu Jintao has abandoned plans to attend a G8 summit in Italy, returning home early to deal with ethnic violence that has killed at least 156 in Xinjiang.

"Using separatist slogans and provoking ethnic intolerance, the initiators of the disorder attacked citizens and beat them, turned over cars and torched them and looted shops and other buildings," Russia's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

"We would like to confirm that Russia views the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region as an inalienable part of the People's Republic of China and considers that events there are purely the internal affair of China," the foreign ministry said.

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This situation is looking extremely grim.
I am deeply worried that the Uighars will now be systematically eradicated.

[David__77]

2. I do wonder who is behind this incident.

Information is very scant. Is this is plotted rebellion, or a spontaneous one? Probably both. China had better adjust its policies, increase subsidies to the region, and rebuild a social base of support among the indigenous people of the region.