Uighurs struggle in a world reshaped by Chinese influx

**Ray** · 29 Apr 08,, 09:43

Uighurs struggle in a world reshaped by Chinese influx

In China's far west, the Muslim ethnic group finds itself relegated to menial jobs. Chinese officials also restrict religious practice and use of their language in schools.
By Peter Ford | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor

from the April 28, 2008 edition

Kucha, China - King Daoud Mehsut of Kucha, 12th in his royal line and the last man still alive in China to have sat on a monarch's throne, is a man of noble bearing and proud visage.

The old man's fate, however, is dispiriting. Once a leader of his Uighur people – the Muslim ethnic group that predominates in this far western province of Xinjiang – King Daoud is now wheeled out by two young Chinese female assistants presenting him as a tourist attraction to visitors prepared to buy a 200 RMB ($28.60) ticket. "I get a cut," he says simply.

King Daoud's humiliation, say some Uighurs (prounced WEE-gur), is a sign of what is in store for their culture as a whole in the face of the Chinese government's relentless drive to settle more and more ethnic Han Chinese in traditionally Uighur territory, rich in oil and minerals.

"We feel like foreigners in our own land," complains one Uighur teacher in the provincial capital of Urumqi, who offers only a nickname, Batur, for fear of angering the authorities. "We are like the Indians in America." Or Tibetans in Tibet. "Most Uighurs sympathize with the Tibetans," says Batur. "We feel we are all under the same sort of rule."

Though Xinjiang's 8 million Uighurs have shown only a few signs of the sort of unrest that shook Tibet recently, the Chinese government is just as nervous about "splittism" here among the country's fifth-largest ethnic minority, afraid that beneath the surface calm, resentment is bubbling.

The authorities claim to have foiled three Uighur terrorist plots in recent months – one aimed at bringing down a passenger plane and the other two at this summer's Olympic Games in Beijing – though they have given scant details to support the reports.

That concern, many Uighurs charge, translates into harsh government control of their lives, restrictions on the use of their language in schools and on their Muslim religious practice, and a colonial-style economy that keeps most local people in menial jobs while Han Chinese immigrants run businesses and the local administration.

Since the Communist government took over Xinjiang in 1949 from a warlord allied with the Nationalist Army, the proportion of Han Chinese (China's dominant ethnic group) in the province has shot up from 6.7 percent to 40.6 percent, according to official figures. The Han population now almost matches the Uighur population, after a six decades-long campaign by Beijing to settle Han in the remote region.

"The government wants the Uighurs to be their slaves, they want our race to vanish," says a clothes trader in the bazaar in Urumqi who calls himself Qutub. "They are destroying the demographic balance by bringing in Chinese people," he adds. "They are drying out our roots."

Though Han and Uighur people share the land, they have little in common, little to do with each other, and little desire to change that state of affairs.

Uighurs are resentful at the way Han Chinese monopolize the best jobs and the top political posts, even though Xinjiang is theoretically an autonomous province. Han residents routinely complain that Uighurs are dirty, lazy, and dishonest.

"I don't have any Uighur friends. I don't deal with them," says Mr. Mi, an old man waiting in line for a therapeutic massage in Urumqi who says he has lived in Xinjiang for 50 years. "They are rude and brutal."

That attitude has marked even Hadji, a wealthy young Uighur entrepreneur who drives a pearl gray Chevrolet and says that he personally has always got on well with his Han neighbors in Urumqi.

"They look down on us," he says of the Han immigrants. "When I take a bus, I hang on to the straps with both hands so nobody even thinks I might be trying to steal their bag."

Often, Chinese people seem insensitive to Uighur fears that their distinctive Muslim culture, derived from their Turkic origins, is being stifled by the flood of Han immigration.

"We all belong to the same country, so the two cultures should assimilate," says one Chinese student as he eats a plate of stir-fried pork and vegetables in the Xinjiang University canteen in Urumqi. "There is a universal law: survival of the fittest."

Others are more sympathetic. "We can understand that they feel their culture is being diluted" says Zhu Lijuan, another student. "But without Han people, how would they have cellphones or computers?"

The Chinese government has indeed brought economic development to Xinjiang, acknowledges Qutub, picking at a rice pilaf studded with raisins and pieces of lamb in a bazaar restaurant. But he is not impressed. "They give us bread," he says. "But they take away our hearts."

"The Uighurs are in a very difficult position," says Nicholas Bequelin, a researcher with Human Rights Watch. "They can modernize but at the expense of their culture, or they can refuse to do so and end up marginalized economically."

Of special concern to many Uighurs is their Muslim religion, which local people say is attracting increasing numbers as an expression of their identity, and which the authorities see as a potential breeding ground for separatism.

On the wall of the 16th-century ochre brick mosque here in Kucha, a predominantly Uighur town of 200,000, a red banner proclaims – in Chinese and Uighur script: "Fight Against Illegal Religious Activity: Create a Harmonious Society."

Inside the prayer hall, a notice board explains "illegal religious activity." Near the top of the list is a warning that indicates the government's worries: "It is forbidden to praise jihad, pan-Turkism, or pan-Islamism."

Young men under the age of 18 are not allowed to pray in the mosque, the guardian says. Recently introduced regulations forbid local government employees from going to the mosque and ban teachers from wearing beards and students from bringing the Koran to university, human rights activists say.

"If you get too religious, the government gets worried," says one cotton farmer in a village 50 miles south of Kucha, where, he says, 50 young men have been arrested in recent months for studying at private religious schools, accused of belonging to the outlawed Hizb ut-Tahrir, the Islamic Party.

"There is no religious freedom here," the farmer says bluntly.

The Chinese government "conflates … any religious activities outside the official framework with terrorism and separatism," argues Mr. Bequelin, leading ordinary Uighur believers to fear they could be charged with aiding the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), an armed separatist organization on the US government list of terrorist groups.

ETIM, a shadowy group that advocates an independent Islamic state for Uighurs, is seen by the Chinese authorities as the principal security danger in the region. Accused of a failed bomb plot on a Chinese airliner last month, the organization "is the preeminent threat to the Beijing Olympics," says Rohan Gunaratna, head of the International Center for Political Violence and Terrorism Research in Singapore.

That threat, however, says Mr. Gunaratna, comes not from "ETIM's support network in Xinjiang, but from an operational network" based abroad, along the Pakistan-Afghan border, comprising about 40 men who have linked up with Al Qaeda allies there.

Of more concern to the cotton farmer, who asked that neither his name nor his village be identified for fear of official retribution for talking to a foreign journalist, is the fact that the government has ordered him, like everyone else in the district, to tear down his home and build a new one more resistant to earthquakes.

The authorities are offering 4,000 RMB ($571) towards the cost of this work, the farmer says, "but rebuilding the house I live in would cost me 30,000 RMB." Instead he plans to build a smaller home, which will still cost him the price of a year's cotton harvest. "What can we do?" he asks. "That's just the way it is."

Some Uighurs have broken the silence of acquiescence recently, such as the several thousand demonstrators in the southern town of Khotan who spilled onto the streets in protest a month ago at the death, at age 38, of an imprisoned local philanthropist. The official reason was a heart attack.

But fear of being branded a separatist hangs heavily over most Uighurs. Asked if he is happy with the way the government treats him, one man says that answering that question would make him choose between "committing a political sin or a sin against my conscience." He chooses the latter, and is silent.

A local government employee in the small city of Korla, where the discovery of oil has drawn hundreds of thousands of Han Chinese workers, is a little more forthcoming.

Since last term, he complains, key school subjects such as math have been taught only in Mandarin, starting in the second grade. To preserve his people's culture, he insists, "education is central. If education is in Mandarin, what do you think will happen?"

Meanwhile, back in his government-refurbished palace that has been transformed into a "Triple- A Tourist Spot," according to a plaque by the gate, King Daoud seems resigned to his role as a folkloric money spinner for Xinjiang's real rulers, with whom he long ago made his peace.

His "kingdom has disappeared" since the Communists deposed him in 1949, he acknowledges. "I am the last vestige of the feudal system."

Soon, fears Batur, his people will go the same way if the Chinese government maintains its current policies.

"The government thinks Uighurs are a threat to Xinjiang's stability," he says. "If they can assimilate us as soon as possible, there will be no threat. Xinjiang will be Chinese, and there will be nothing for them to worry about."

Uighurs struggle in a world reshaped by Chinese influx | csmonitor.com

On China's frontier: Uighurs

Uighurs (pronounced WEE-gurs) are the largest Turkic ethnic group in China's vast far-western Xinjiang region.

The Red Army first moved into Xinjiang in the late 1940s, and China began occupying the region in 1955.

Uighurs speak a Turkic dialect and write in Arabic script. Uighurs, who have Caucasian features, once made up 90 percent of the region's population, but Han Chinese immigration has seriously eroded that.

Sporadic protests have broken out in the region, with violent separatist attacks throughout the 1980s and in 1997.

Ethnic nationalism and religious solidarity have renewed ties among Muslims across the former Soviet Union and Middle East, prompting Beijing's sensitivity to separatist influences from central Asia.

Chinese authorities recently blamed Uighur separatists for a series of terrorist conspiracies, which they denied.
Source: Associated Press, The Christian Science Monitor, Reuters. Compiled by Peter Smith

We have heard about the great work done by the Chinese from the suddenly discovered Tibetan by Fiona.

Here is an article on Uighurs and the wonders done by the Chinese to make them modern and progressive.

Religion indeed is the opium of the masses and so the wonder inspiring Chinese Peoples' Govt has ensured that the young minds are not poisoned and so they do not allow the Mullahs to pollute the mind till maturity arrives at 19 years of age!

To ensure that they are not polluted by the crude Uighur language, children are taught in Mandarin, the language of a great civilisation!

Indeed the Chinese argument is illuminating and so perfect - what is language and culture, when the Chinese are opening them up to the ninth wonder of the world - cellphone and computers!

Of course, it is another matter when it comes to anyone questioning the Han civilisation and culture, the Chinese languages and the wise ideas of the CCP! The mass protest of the Chinese around the world for hurt Chinese pride is fine, but not that of others, since that becomes Spliitist!!

To imagine that the Uighurs are complaining about the great Chinese effort to make Uighurs safe against nature's wrath in the form of earthquake by giving RMB 4000! These lazy bounders want the poor Chinese govt to cough up the whole RMB 30,000!!

They can't afford to pay only RMB 26,000 from their own pockets? Nasty fellows!

Of course, the demographic pattern of Tibet, Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang has to be changed, We can't let them not have the equal opportunity as Mainland China. They are lazy and dirty and so the industrious hard working Hans have to come and help them and they call that changing the demography!!

There is nothing like a free lunch. The Chinese never said this. The Americans say this. So, why blame the Chinese if the take a little bit of oil and minerals for the wonderful path to progress they are opening up to these lazy louts?

So, what does our little Tibetan Red Hat has to say to this?

**Ray** · 29 Apr 08,, 09:44

The plight of Uighurs. Tibetans and Mongols remind me of this:

Memorable quotes for

To Be or Not to Be (1983)

Announcer: Ladies and Gentlemen: In the interest of clarity and sanity, the rest of this movie will not be in Polish.

Frederick Bronski: If it wasn't for Jews, fags, and gypsies, there would be no theater.

Anna Bronski: All these flowers on a Lieutenant's pay, you shouldn't have.
Lieutenant Andre Sobinski: That's OK. My father is a florist.

[Frederick, Andre, and Dobish are disguised as Hitler and two Nazi offiers]
Lieutenant Andre Sobinski: Heil Hitler!

Dobish: Heil Hitler!

Frederick Bronski: Heil myself!

[of Bronski's performance]

Colonel Erhardt: What he did to Hamlet, we are now doing to Poland.
Lieutenant Andre Sobinski: I loved that picture of you on the farm. You behind the plow. By the way, where was that?

Anna Bronski: In the "Chronicle".

Lieutenant Andre Sobinski: No, I mean where's the farm?

Anna Bronski: Oh, the farm. The farm. Well, that's out of town somewhere... You know, that's where they keep them.

Anna Bronski: Oh, but that's enough talk about me. Let's talk about you. How'd you like me in the first act?

Colonel Erhardt: Mrs. Bronski, Mrs. Bronski, Mrs. Bronski.

Anna Bronski: We're all here.

Sasha: Are you all right?

Anna Bronski: I'm fine.

Sasha: Then why are you on the floor?

Anna Bronski: The Floor? I'm on the floor? I'm on the FLOOR. Well get me up.

Sasha: Enter, Andre Sobinski.

Anna Bronski: Exit, Sasha Kinski.

Anna Bronski: [to her pet dog] Mootkie, we are living in a rat hole.

Frederick Bronski: It's a, it's a, it's a RAT hole.

Nazi officer: You are sitting in Col. Erhardt's chair.

Anna Bronksi: Oh, how silly of me. Ten minutes ago it was my chair.

Colonel Earhardt: Vat do you mean you haven't got proof? Dat is no excuse! Arrezt zem! Vat? Vere? Vy? VEN? From now on, ven in doubt, arrezt zem! Arrezt zem! Arrezt zem! Arrezt zem! Zen shoot zem and interrogate zem! Oh, you are right, just shoot zem!

Ratkowski: Ravitch, we're doing "Naughty Nazis", not "Naughty Marietta".

Anna Bronski: They say its going to be a really cold winter.

Capt. Schultz, of Erhardt's Staff: I don't know anyzing about zat!

Anna Bronski: Oh look, a piano! With KEYS! And it WORKS!

Anna Bronski: He's world-famous in Poland!

Frederick Bronski: [as Hitler] All I want is peace. Peace! Peace!
[singing]

Frederick Bronski: A little piece of Poland, a little piece of France.

Frederick Bronski: [disguised as Prof. Siletski] Remember, Erhardt, I'm going to see the Fuhrer tonight. Who knows *what* we'll talk about!

[Anne has revealed another group of refugees to Frederick]

Frederick Bronski: More! What are they, Jews or rabbits?

Anna Bronski: [as the Nazis are searching for Sasha] First you invade Poland, then you invade Warsaw, then you invade my dressing room... you people are compulsive invaders!

Anna Bronski: [Anna has just turned down Erhardt's invitation for supper] I never sup after I've dined.

[Sasha puts on his coat to go out]

Anna Bronski: What's that on your coat?

Sasha: Oh, it's the newest fashion in occupied Warsaw. Jews wear yellow stars, homosexuals wear pink triangles.

Anna Bronski: Sasha! How awful for you!

Sasha: [quietly] I hate it.

Anna Bronski: Now listen, they're rounding up Jews. Are they rounding up...?
Sasha: No, no, so far, so good. Now, don't wait up for me. I've got a hot date with another triangle.

[Frederick, disguised as Hitler, bursts in on Erhardt trying to assault Anna]
Colonel Erhardt: [weakly] Heil Hit... Hit... Hit...

Anna Bronski: Hitler.

Colonel Erhardt: Hitler.

Frederick Bronski: Heil.

Anna Bronski: I tried to tell him somebody big was coming.

Colonel Erhardt: Big! But...

Frederick Bronski: Come schatze, ve're late.

[Anna exits, but Frederick turns back to Erhardt]
Frederick Bronski: Vat's your name?

Colonel Erhardt: Colonel Er... Er... Er...
[sticking her head back in]

Anna Bronski: Erhardt.

Colonel Erhardt: Thank you.

Frederick Bronski: Erhardt? Erhardt? Aren't you the one who makes that joke about my becoming... A PICKLE?

[He leaves, slamming the door. Erhardt moans]

[Frederick, disguised as Professor Siletski, has to go to Gestapo Headquarters]
Frederick Bronski: Listen, sweetheart, if I don't come back, then I forgive you for anything that happened between you and Lt. Sobinski.

[He opens the door to leave, but turns back]

Frederick Bronski: But if I do come back, you're in a lot of trouble!

[Frederick has to stall Prof. Siletski while the others rush back to his hotel room to search it]

Frederick Bronski: Just don't keep me hanging much longer, I stink without a script!

Lupinsky: [under his breath] He stinks with a script.

Frederick Bronski: I heard that!

Capt. Schultz, of Erhardt's Staff: [SPOILER] Colonel, Professor Siletski's on the phone!

Colonel Erhardt: Professor Siletski? You didn't tell him he was dead?

Frederick Bronski: Sondheim! Send in the clowns!

Colonel Erhardt: [Referring to Bronski in the next room] Relax, Schultz! Zis iz ze intellectual approach...

Capt. Schultz, of Erhardt's Staff: And what if he's not an intellectual?

Colonel Erhardt: [referring to the two SS officers nearby] Zen zey'll break every bone in his body!

Colonel Erhardt: [referring to Capt. Schultz] I've always suspected zumzing wrong vit a man who does not drink or shmoke...

Frederick Bronski: You mean like our FUHRER?

Colonel Erhardt: Yes... NO!

[Frederick returns home, having succesfully impersonated Siletski at Gestapo headquarters]

Frederick Bronski: I did it! I did it! I gave the greatest performance of my life...
[sinks into a chair and peels off his fake beard]

Frederick Bronski: And nobody saw it.

To Be or Not to Be (1983) - Memorable quotes

**Deltacamelately** · 29 Apr 08,, 11:17

What is perturbing is, a single Commie State has held so many nation states as hostage.

**Ray** · 29 Apr 08,, 11:23

I wonder if they are hostages.

At least that is not what the Chinese think.

There is no doubt that there is effort made to emancipate these serfs and lazy and dirty bones, but one wonders if the PRC is succeeding.

One wonders how far it is true that external forces are out to do down the great Republic of the Workers and Peasants!

**Deltacamelately** · 29 Apr 08,, 12:52

Originally Posted by Ray

I wonder if they are hostages.

At least that is not what the Chinese think.

There is no doubt that there is effort made to emancipate these serfs and lazy and dirty bones, but one wonders if the PRC is succeeding.

One wonders how far it is true that external forces are out to do down the great Republic of the Workers and Peasants!

There is a great Shakespearean concept called Purgation.
One wonders when is the PRC going to get purged of all its illegal and inhuman misgivings, manifested in a truely evil establishment.

**bolo121** · 29 Apr 08,, 14:13

Deplorable conduct by the CCP, and my sympathy to the Uighurs.
However on the cold blooded side of things, excellent tactics by the CCP, just flood the place with Han and ta-da! no more seperatist problem because there are no people left.

**Blademaster** · 29 Apr 08,, 16:03

Which will happen to some parts of India if India loses her guard.

**Ray** · 29 Apr 08,, 18:04

I wonder why the Chinese posters are not giving their considered views on the Uighur issue.

Maybe the are considering and checking back the party line!

**Officer of Engineers** · 29 Apr 08,, 19:17

There are several major differences between the Tibetans and the Uyghurs. The Uyghurs and the CCP are actually talking to each other. Unlike the Dali Lama, Uyghur leaders did not run away. They stayed and confronted the CCP. In turn, the CCP held them accountable for for the peace of the region.

I've listed this article before but it does describe the situation in detail

Five Lessons from China’s War on Terror

**Ray** · 29 Apr 08,, 19:55

Beijing's harsher Uighur policy a shot in two feet
By Hooman Peimani

For about three decades, China's Xinjiang province has been the scene of ethnic conflict and anti-government activities. Being ethnically non-Chinese, the Uighurs, who form its dominant ethnic group, have resorted to a variety of political activities to achieve their objectives, ie, independence from China. The Chinese government has resorted to a zero-tolerance policy toward them and has harshly suppressed any form of Uighur political dissent.

Such a policy has provoked worldwide condemnation, damaging the Chinese government's international reputation. Against this background, the American "war on terrorism" has provided an excuse for the Chinese to continue and expand their harsh treatment of Uighur anti-government groups and individuals under the more convincing pretext of "fighting terrorism". This opportunistic use of the global support for anti-terrorist campaigns will not only lead to further radicalization of the Uighurs and the expansion of instability in their province, it will also damage the legitimacy of the anti-terrorist campaigns in Afghanistan and elsewhere.

The original inhabitants of Xinjiang province are different Turkic ethnic groups. The Uighurs account for the majority of the province's population, while the Kazakhs and the Kyrgyz form large communities. Being dissatisfied with their treatment by the ethnic Chinese for a long time, the Uighurs have expressed their dissatisfaction in a variety of ways, including efforts toward independence from China and the creation of an Uighur state called Uighuristan. Concerned about its impact on China's political stability and territorial integrity, the Chinese government has resorted to different means to eliminate the separatist threat. Thus, it has encouraged the migration of ethnic Chinese from other Chinese provinces to Xinjiang in a bid to change the latter's ethnic balance in favor of ethnic Chinese. As well, it has resorted to the forcible assimilation of the Uighurs into ethnic Chinese. These policies have created resentment among the Uighurs, who feel threatened culturally and ethnically.

Contrary to the intention of the Chinese government over the past two decades, its policies toward Uighurs have worsened the situation in their province. Instead of removing the threat of instability and separatism, they have actually provoked the reverse. There has been a surge in anti-government activities among the Uighurs, which have taken both peaceful and violent forms. The disintegration of the Soviet Union, which led to the emergence the of independent states of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan along the Xinjiang border, has further encouraged such activities.

Having large Uighur communities, the rise of these "Turkic" states dominated by Turkic ethnic groups (the Kazakhs and the Kyrgyz, respectively), has increased the feasibility of independence as a political objective among the Uighurs. The result has been the growth of their independence movement since 1991.

The Chinese government has implemented a zero-tolerance policy toward any forms of dissent in Xinjiang province since the 1970s. Its harsh suppression of any type of political activity, regardless of its aim or form, has included the arrest and imprisonment of thousands of dissidents and activists as well as the execution of many others accused of armed struggle and/or advocating independence from China. Despite its systematic suppression of dissent, the Chinese government has failed to uproot opposition in Xinjiang province. The indiscriminate suppression of all forms of unauthorized political activities, peaceful and violent alike, has increased the popularity and the legitimacy of the pro-independence movement among the alienated and dissatisfied Uighurs.

The American "war on terrorism" in Afghanistan, and the efforts by many governments in different parts of the world to deal with terrorist organizations, have granted China a "golden" opportunity. Since September 11, the Chinese government has actually expanded its suppressive policy toward the Uighurs this time under a more acceptable pretext: suppressing terrorists. China now claims that the Uighur activists have been inspired, encouraged and supplied by terrorist organizations, particularly by al-Qaeda and the Taliban stationed in neighboring Afghanistan. This is notwithstanding the fact that the Afghan territory along the Chinese border was under the Northern Alliance's control in the Taliban era, a restricting factor for any type of relationship between the Uighurs and the Afghanistan-based terrorists.

The pro-independence movement in Xinjiang is neither homogenous nor cohesive. It consists of various large and small groups as well as many political activists subscribing to different ideologies and methods of struggle against the Chinese government. Thus, it is possible that some of them have had some sort of contact with radical or terrorist organizations in their proximity, including al-Qaeda and the Taliban. However, it is quite certain that the pro-independence movement in Xinjiang is not a creation of such organizations. Certain social realities gave birth to the movement decades before the rise of the Taliban and al-Qaeda in Afghanistan. Therefore, it cannot be branded as a terrorist creature, although foreign actors (eg, governments, radical groups or terrorist organizations) may have tried to use it for their own ends.

The Uighur independence movement has its roots in the social and historical realities of Xinjiang province. The persistence of such realities, including the dissatisfaction of the Uighurs with the status quo, has kept the movement alive despite three decades of systematic suppression. Undoubtedly, it will continue in one form or another so long as those realities remain in place.

Like any other government, the Chinese government has the right to defend the territorial integrity of its country and to deal with those who resort to violent activities, including terrorists. Yet, its policy towards the Uighur independence movement has gone far beyond those legitimate objectives to take the form of suppression of any type of dissent. Over the past three decades, that approach has failed to achieve the desired goal of ending anti-government and pro-independence sentiment and activities.

There is no ground to suggest that it will have a different result in the future. Unless the Chinese government addresses the root causes of instability in Xinjiang, the continuation of its harsh policy under the pretext of "fighting terrorism" will only worsen the situation there, while damaging the legitimacy of worldwide efforts to uproot terrorism.

Dr Hooman Peimani works as an independent consultant with international organizations in Geneva and does research in international relations.

((c)2002 Asia Times Online Co, Ltd. All rights reserved. Please contact ads@atimes.com for information on our sales and syndication policies.)

Asia Times: Beijing's harsher Uighur policy a shot in two feet

Check this:

http://w3.cyu.edu.tw/centralasia/chi...0-%20mso4F.pdf

With the suppression, who can claim to be the leader?

sa Yusuf Alptekin (1901-1995) was a Uyghur political leader, exiled from China in 1949. He was born at 1901 in Yengisar County of Kashgar vilayet in Eastern Turkestan. He headed the First East Turkestan Republic in Kashgar (November 12, 1933 - February 6, 1934) as the General Secretary of the National Assembly of the Republic, alongside Prime Minister Sabit Damulla, and titular President Hoja-Niyaz. He also represented Eastern Turkestan in Nanking from 1932 to 1934. Initially the Republic was named the "Turkish Islamic Republic of East Turkestan" (TIRET), representing the multi-national staff of its Government, which included Uyghurs as well as Kazakhs and Kyrgyz; its anti-Hui, anti-Han, and anti-communist policies, declared in its Declaration of Independence; and basic Islamic principles, declared in its Constitution. Later, however, some leaders attempted to rename it as the Republic of Uyghurstan, which resulted in the issuing of national currency in the form of minted copper (pul), silver (tanga), and gold (tilla) coins under the name Uyghurstan Jumhuriyeti.

Isa Yusuf Alptekin was the father of Erkin Alptekin. He died at the age of 94, in Istanbul, in 1995, and around 1,000,000 Turkish people, from top government officials to ordinary citizens, participated in his farewell mourning procession. Isa was buried in a grave next to the graves of two former Turkish presidents, and a memorial park, named after him, was erected in Istanbul with the Eastern Turkestan national flag, "Kok Bayraq", flying on its grounds.
Isa Alptekin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It was wise to exile.

**ameer** · 29 Apr 08,, 20:29

There's some double standards here. I mean you'll see Americans protest against the actions of China in Tibet and Xianjing but won't agree that it wasn't fair what we did to our own native population. Or how about all the immigrants coming in to Europe? Are all those skinhead white nationalists legitimate now with their concerns?

Sorry, it's not fair, but it's what humans do.

**Ray** · 29 Apr 08,, 20:50

Originally Posted by ameer

There's some double standards here. I mean you'll see Americans protest against the actions of China in Tibet and Xianjing but won't agree that it wasn't fair what we did to our own native population. Or how about all the immigrants coming in to Europe? Are all those skinhead white nationalists legitimate now with their concerns?

Sorry, it's not fair, but it's what humans do.

You are a trifle off key.

Initial immigrants were the Europeans.

And for obvious reasons, which you would know if you read history.

What was done to the native population should be seen with the social mindset of those times.

Only the ones with grouse read history in contemporary times.

Take Islam. it was perfect for those times, but to apply everything to contemporary times, would lead to incongruity!

I allude to Islam since it appears you know it well.

**ameer** · 29 Apr 08,, 21:11

Originally Posted by Ray

You are a trifle off key.

Initial immigrants were the Europeans.

And for obvious reasons, which you would know if you read history.

What was done to the native population should be seen with the social mindset of those times.

Only the ones with grouse read history in contemporary times.

Take Islam. it was perfect for those times, but to apply everything to contemporary times, would lead to incongruity!

I allude to Islam since it appears you know it well.

Okay, the cowboys and Indians example wasn't the best but I still think if you really were for preserving culture, you would have no problem with white nationalists across the globe who say immigrants are destroying their culture and should go home.

**Ray** · 29 Apr 08,, 21:18

I haven't heard them say so.

But if they did, yes, I would take them on.

Are you manufacturing?

Or are you serious psychological case?

I observe that you are flying a US Flag.

If they are all that bad, why hang around?

Go home!

**ameer** · 29 Apr 08,, 21:27

Okay, you clearly have a reading comprehension issue.

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