Translated Opinion
Conflict Of Integration Between Uighur-Han Ethnic
Mohd Khuzairi Ismail (Malaysian Courier)
[email protected]
Compared to Tibet which had grabbed World attention, the ethnic conflict in Xinjiang didn't get any wide coverage from International media. Although the crisis had happened since long ago, the Uighurs welfare is still neglected by Beijing.
However, Beijing herself seems not serious in solving the real problem in the region. The ethnic riot between Uighur and Han that broke last week which had took 180 souls in Urumqi, Xinjiang had opened the eyes of many parties.
It is very interesting that Beijing had made a decision to open the door wide for foreign media coverage over the conflict. This is totally different to the policy of China who had strictly restricting the region from foreign media from entering the region for news coverage before.
Many speculated that Beijing is trying to gain tenderness from International community. China is seen as trying to avoid being viewed as a failed in dealing with her own internal problem while the country is in the track of reaching the position of a New World Economic Power.
Beijing too is seen as cautiously trying to solve the crisis in Xinjiang as it is worried to be a conflict involving religious sentiment as the Uighurs are Muslims.
The region will be exposed to the threats of separatists and militant groups if the religious sentiment being in the stage.
Xinjiang which is bordering with Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Pakistan, and India in the south can't be lower estimated and could easily being exposed to militant groups.
Thus, Beijing hopes to give International community the real view about what had actually happened in Xinjiang through open the door policy. However, it doesn't mean that China is accepting the World's request for the crisis to be discussed in the council of UN.
Turkey is among the countries who is loudly and openly criticizing China and urging China to wisely solving the conflict according to International Law.
Among the countries bordering Xinjiang, the ethnic riot had also affected Turkey. Since the crisis broke, many native Uighurs have to seek refuge at the border of Turkey. China again rebukes and emphasizing that the problem is internal problem and they should will solve it themselves.
China is seen as delayed in solving the problem between ethnic in Xinjiang when the dissatisfaction among two majority ethnics was figured out in the alleys.
During Mao Chairman's era around 1949, Uighurs are the only majority ethnic there which comprised about 79% of the population while the Han was only 6% of the population. Other minority ethnics comprised 1% of the whole population.
But the "Go West" policy of China's Communist government at that time had brought in a mass entrance of Han population into the region. After that, the population of Han and Uighur was equalized and the population increased to 21 million people. Although the real natives in Xinjiang, Uighurs are treated as the second class citizen. The government is giving priority to the Hans.
The Uighurs are forbidden from using Turkish dialects, forbidden from performing their responsibilities as Muslims, forbidden from practicing their own customs and culture, and marginalized from the development policy of China.
Beijing too is shadowed with the fear that Uighurs as they are accused as involved in Terrorism activities and supporting Separatist movements. The fear crisis had made Beijing refused to locate the profits from Xinjiang's rich natural resources in the hand of Uighurs. The region which is located 4000 km from Beijing is reported as rich with minerals, gold, and tin iron, founded especially in the Valley of Tarim River.
The bias attitude toward the Uighurs had made Xinjiang being strictly monitered by Beijing. The communication in the region is restricted due to the fear that dangerous information is believed to be spread.
The strict policies of China imposed on Xinjiang is related to the strategic location of Xinjiang and being the door for China to enter Middle East.
The vast barren desert lands in Xinjiang is used to be the site for Nuclear Test Site and Armies Training. Xinjiang is used by China to be a defending site region in the West when China facing the expansion of Power from Soviet Union 40 years ago.
All of those heavy policies had oppressed the Uighurs. In the mean time, the insecurity feeling arise in both Uighur and Han ethnic. The sentiment doesn't need a big reason to bring a horrible ethnic riot.
The riots that recently killed 180 people in Urumqi is an example from a quarrel that happened in a factory in Southern China where the workers of Uighur ethnic was hurt.
Although the situation is growing a bit better with the presence of security forces in Xinjiang, but the events will still bringing a long term implication.
The same thing too grabbed the attention of a lecturer in History Department of Malaya University (UM), Dr. Suffian Mansor. According to him, the issues that arise in Urumqi are more than that when it involves economic and national integration. It also involves the future of the Uighurs and their rights being returned because they are marginalized by China.
The "Go West: policy of Beijing had raised the fear among Uighurs as they are worried about what will happen to them and their region in the future. The issue is not only restricted in Urumqi but also in the whole Xinjiang.
In economy perspective, Uighurs are marginalized far behind compared to the Hans who are placed in Xinjiang form outside the region. The poverty rate among the Uighurs is still high. Majority of them are poor and have no ability to pay the fee enrolling their children in the school.
Uighurs too have to suddenly compete with Han Chinese in order to get job. Those who are intelligent among the Uighurs had not been given opportunity to get reasonable places in the social position in Xinjiang.
The development policy in Xinjiang gradually witnessing the opening of lands for industries and oil plantations. It involves agricultural lands and grass lands of Uighurs who are in majority the farmers and shephards. This is what had been feared by the Uighurs and they are not certain about their position in their own homeland anymore. The "Go West" policy by Beijing had been viewed as benefiting Hans themselves and oppressing the Uighurs.
Suffian also suggested that in order to solve the problem, Beijing should taking a serious approach in giving autonomy status to the region in the real meaning like what had been given to other regions in China. Xinjiang however, had already being granted with autonomy status, and it is a special land with Uighur natives. But the autonomy status seems not so clear as the region is still in tight control by Beijing.
The Uighurs never put any high hope on the Governor of Xinjiang although he was choosen by Uighurs. The real power is in the hand of Wang Lequan, the Secretary of China Communist Party and he is a Han. The autonomy status given to Xinjiang before was not really benefiting Uighur or protecting Uighurs. If the real autonomy status being granted to Xinjiang, the natives there could together developing their region and deciding the direction of their region like other regions in China had enjoyed now. In the mean time, the government of China should be more just in planning the economic development of the region so that all of the ethnics there could equally enjoy the benefits gained from the region itself.
The rights for Uighur in language spoken, and the acts of worship should be guaranteed by Beijing to all Uighurs. Beijing too should be serious in cleaning the terrorist image imposed on the Uighur natives beside appointing Uighur leaders to make sure they are not left behind in the development of the nation.
The Xinjiang issue is related to the trust, justice, human rights, and the future of native Muslim Uighurs. As long as the issue is not wisely solved, it will continue haunting Beijing forever.
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