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Muslim nations told to help Uighurs
Ary Hermawan , The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Fri, 07/10/2009 1:43 PM | Headlines
The Indonesian Chinese Muslim Association (PITI) has criticized China's brutality against the Uighur Muslim minority, and regretted the silence of Muslim nations ignore the group's decades of suffering discrimination and persecution.
"The Chinese Muslims are on the periphery *of the Muslim world*. They have long been persecuted, but they are neglected," PITI spokesman Steven Indra Wijaya told The Jakarta Post over the phone.
"We are calling on all Muslims to cast aside their *ethnic* identities and help the Uighurs."
More than 150 people were killed in the recent rioting and ethnic clashes involving Han Chinese and Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang province. The riots broke out after thousands of Uighurs rallied to protest the killing of two fellow Uighurs at a factory in Guangdong.
Tifatul Sembiring, chairman of the Muslim-based Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), condemned the killing of Xinjiang Muslims. "As part of an international community, China has to stop all actions that lead to rights violations.," he said.
"China can no longer act arbitrarily against its people who happen to embrace different faiths . *We* demand the Chinese government take action against those responsible for the killing."
The PKS also urged international human rights bodies to investigate the case.
The Chinese government has blamed exiled separatists for the unrest. President Hu Jintao said Thursday the incident was planned and organized by "three forces at home and abroad", referring to religious extremists, separatists and terrorists.
The rising ethnic tension in Xinjiang was apparently also triggered by the influx of Han Chinese into the traditionally Muslim and resource-rich region, which the Uighurs said had led to the dilution of their culture and also high unemployment.
They also claimed to have been discriminated against by the communist government, claiming their plight was on a par with that of the Tibetans. The difference, they say, is they do not have a Dalai Lama to call the world's attention.
The Chinese government quelled the riots and on Thursday began calling for ethnic unity in the province. Media reports, however, said both sides doubted they could ever live side by side again.
"It is possible for the Uighurs to coexist with the Han people after the riot, although the challenge is extremely tough," said Amelia Fauzia, director of the State Islamic University's Center for the Study of Religion and Culture (CSRC).
"The main problem is the government's attitude. If they continue their discriminative policies and keep seeing the Uighurs as troublemakers and terrorists, the problem will never end."
In a repressive situation, she went on, coexistence was artificial because the conflict had not been resolved and the wounded would continue to seek justice.
PITI has a close relationship with Muslims from Xinjiang, which Wijaya said was an important center of Islamic civilization in China. Xinjiang Muslims, he added, usually visited the Zheng He cultural center in Central Java whenever they came to Indonesia.
Zheng He was a Chinese Muslim explorer who visited Indonesia in the 15th century. While it remains disputed, a number of historians believe Islam in the archipelago was brought and spread by Chinese Muslims.
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Bernhard (not verified) — Fri, 07/17/2009 - 9:04pm
"Muslim nations told to help Uighurs"
Since months there is a problem with a considerable number of Uighurs being held in Guantanamo.
President Obama has asked numerous countries to accept some of them. Almost all of them have been given shelter now in Christian countries. The response from Muslim nations was practically NIL.
So much about solidarity amongst Muslims ....
Gabriel (not verified) — Fri, 07/17/2009 - 1:10pm
Many countries, Indonesia included has also practiced transmigration movements with exactly the same purpose, that is to melt down the local population with people of a specific ethnicity and religion. So don´t be hypocritical. I vey much defend the right of Uighurs to practice their religion, but this same rule in not practice in most Muslim countries: Algeria, Sudan, Mauritania, etc, etc, etc.
David, Jakarta (not verified) — Thu, 07/16/2009 - 8:08am
Playing devil's advocate here, I wonder how the logic often used by Muslim political parties here in Indonesia can be applied to Xinjiang? We are often told that the fact there is a majority of Muslims in a particular region justifies the imposition of Sharia bylaws, refusal of church building permits and the 'halal city' shennanigans in Bogor.
Wouldn't these same politicians accept that in China the Muslim minority should be forced to bow to the will of the Han majority? I thought not...
John Lay (not verified) — Mon, 07/13/2009 - 3:18pm
Those comments on Xinjiang clearly show those writers know nothing about about the history of Xinjiang. Since time immemorial was and is part of China. Different ethnicities and religions do not mean it is not part of China. Going by the logics of those comments, the whites/ europeans should leave Australia, leaves America, leaves South America, Indonesians leave Papua, southern Thailand be part of Malaysia ..... etc etc. This is nonsensical. These are all have ingrained jaundiced prejudices against a nation you don't like.
Have you all been to Xinjiang? Have you take a look at the history through the archeological finds?
Hk loi (not verified) — Mon, 07/13/2009 - 3:05pm
I am shocked by this biased statement from PITI. PITI should get its facts right first. Clearly, the recent riot and killings were started by the Uighurs and, please note, the majority got murdered are ethnic Hans and not Uighurs. Therefore, ho can PITI claims "brutality against Uighur Muslim minority ..."? Who is brutalising who? I also wonder whether PITI made same or similar statements when hundreds and even thousands indonesian chinese were murdered in indonesia during 1960s and as recent as 1988?
Nairdah (not verified) — Sun, 07/12/2009 - 9:58am
The world can be confusing and tragic if you are an ethnic traditional landowner culture that has been overwhelmed by a more numerous and agressive culture. Since history began dominant agressive societies have tended to invade, colonise and in many cases disregard the colonised who they regard as either inferior or a threat;or both.
The neocolonialism of the 20th century, little different to the 17-19th century European colonialism, has been disastrous for many traditional cultures, the Uighers being just one such group.
When the more numerous, agressive and monolithic cultures ignore, exploit or vanquish the traditional cultures they have colonised there is guaranteed to be on-going frustration which will periodically explode. Uighers, Tibetans, and closer to home, Papuans have all had to endure the neocolonial takeover of their lands and culture. All three are being overwhelmed but are still trying to assert their right to their land and freedom. Unless and until the dominating colonial cultures and governments give greater recognition to the rights of these people then the struggle will continue. And explosive outbursts of all can be guaranteed as a signal that reconciliation is not being taken seriously by the controlling government.
Branding of people who have recently become a minority in their own land as 'separatists/splittists' is unhelpful and tends to be used as a political case for further opressing these cultures. Far better if the neocolonialist regimes recognise their responsibility in the 21st century and be prepared to show that they are intelligent and compassionate and prepared to accommodate the otherwise doomed cultures. Armed struggle is no longer a viable option for the minorities leaving dialogue and reconciliation as the only realistic option for the oppressed.Nor is charging colonised minorities with treason if they speak out. In the case of China and the clearly oppressed Uighers that will require a quantum leap by the monolithic authoritarian government but with global diplomatic pressure it could be achieved.
But please see the Uigher issue as one which is largely one of a people dispossessed by an invading neocolonial issue. It requires the focus of all people of all faiths to seek a solution and not just see it as a "Muslim" issue.
Liat (not verified) — Sun, 07/12/2009 - 7:04am
China's communist government is paranoid. It does not tolerate any group it deems unstabilzing its hold on power (ex. Falun Gong). It is not alone in this dictatorial attitude (e.g. the former Soviet Union, N. Korea, Cuba, the former East-Germany). But no country, the US included, can afford to wage a war against this giant. Only a revolutionary movement from within China can bring change. Usually these contramovements are spearheaded by the younger generation, e.g. students, academici, young blue collar workers and peasants. It stll could happen in the future. At present, the Chinese government keeps the students happy by providing them with goodies. They have no appetite to repeat a TianAnMen-type uprising. Therefore, we have to be patient and wait. The best that the Uighurs and Tibetans can achieve is to pressure for true autonomy that must include adequate distribution of natural resources. It is in this limited aspect that Western and Eastern democracies must work together. I admire the Chinese-Indonesian Moslim Association for their decision to support the Uighur people.
Scott Andersen (not verified) — Fri, 07/10/2009 - 5:57pm
China is sponsoring state terrorism and countries like Sudan, Iran, North Korea, Mianmar where there are genocides and people are brutally oppressed and killed. China is the sponsor and behind the most oppresive countries in the world and instigating violence in most of the Asian and African countries. They are doing the same thing to its ethnic minorities too. Wake up the rest of the world,
the Chinese already steal all the manufacturing jobs from you and your technology and very few basic manufacturing jobs left in your own country and responsible for the disappearance of middle class and the necessary jobs to support them. They are responsible for causing this depression worldwide! They took your money and use it to genocide Uyghurs, Tibetans, the Darfur genocide, and to sponsor all the state terrorism and intimidating all the neighboring countries and inciting violence in most African and Asian countries! Wake up America, boycott all the Chinese goods and anything from China and support the fight of Uyghurs, Tibetans, Sudanese, Mianmar and other being oppressed and genocided minorities!!!
Mike Murphy (not verified) — Fri, 07/10/2009 - 5:55pm
East Turkistan(so called Xinjiang) is never a part of China and will never be... If you say so, then the entire Russia, Korea and Vietnam will be as they are ruled by the Mongol empire only during which for the first time, the Mongols ruled Turkistan as well as Russia, Korea, Vietnam etc from Beijing. Qing dynasty were involved with East Turkistan because one power hunfery traitor in Uyghur history(appak Hoja) in order to rule East Turkistan asked help from Qing Dynasty which tantamount to leading tiger backyard. Anyway, Qing dynasty also ruled Mongolia, Korea and Vietnam at some point and that doesn't make those countries to be part of China as well. I will say up until 1949, the Chinese connection is very tenous at most and that explains why the Chinese population is less than 2% from official Chinese statistics. You also not forgot from Mongolia all the way to Turkey, they are all Turkic people with almost same language and customs and people do pay attention to what is happening to Uyghurs... China out of East Turkistan where you don't belong now!!! Stop genociding Uyghurs!!! Release the thousands of innocent prisoners!!! Restore the communications to East Turkistan!!!
Andrew Myers (not verified) — Fri, 07/10/2009 - 5:54pm
The Chinese doesn't belong to East Turkistan... China out of East Turkistan now!!! East Turkistan is the ancestral homeland of all Turks, including modern Turks and it is the land which binds the Turkic people from Mongolia all the way to Turkey and we are all have the same language, customs and closely related to each other!!! This is a Turkish land and illegal occupied by CCP for 50 years, but it will be go back to the Turkish people... China out of all the Turkish land now where you don't belong!!! OUT NOW!!! You are not welcome anymore as we know you were just lying from 1949 with the false promise of an independent statehood and proved yourself a total liar and duface!!! We are independent in 1949 too and with the Chinese lies, went for a Soviet Union like federation and instead we are duped... No more!!! China get out of Turkish land on your own or you will be forced too...