WorldUyghurCongress May Newsletter:

 

WorldUyghurCongress May Newsletter:

 

China-Pakistan Agree on Establishing China-Pakistan Economic Corridor: China and Pakistan, on April 20, launched an enormous $46bn plan to establish an economic corridor that will eventually link China’s western region with the Indian Ocean. The corridor will consist of a network of roads, railway and pipeline to transport oil and natural gas from the large reserves in East Turkestan. The transportation network also signals greater cooperation between the governments of China and Pakistan in general. Not only will the deal embolden both sides economically, there will also be an inevitable impact on the Uyghur people living in East Turkestan. With the new development project will come renewed calls for increased Chinese migration to the region to help build the infrastructure necessary for the project. Such migration will only continue to exacerbate tensions without a clear plan to combat such hostility. The project will also inevitably boost China’s influence in Pakistan and in neighbouring Central Asian states. Over the past decade, Uyghur refugees fleeing into these neighbouring states have been at high risk of being deported back to China where they have faced severe punishment. With this increased cooperation between the two states comes a much greater likelihood that Uyghurs will suffer further human rights violations at the expense of economic interests.

Canadian Uyghur pressured to spy on Uyghur community at home: Arkin Kurban, a Canadian citizen of 15 years and resident of Montreal, was detained and subjected to hours of interrogation by local police during a visit to East Turkestan to visit family members in April, 2014. Authorities spent upwards of ten hours trying to extract a confession of political subversion from Kurban, who maintained that he had no business other than to visit loved ones. Authorities subsequently demanded that as a condition of his release that he monitor members of the Uyghur community back in Montreal, to which he agreed, only to secure his release. Kurban told press that he received repeated calls from Chinese authorities to divulge information, something that he has adamantly refused to do. Chinese secretive attempts to undermine the Uyghur diaspora around the world represent a clear indication of China`s need to control all aspects of Uyghur life ostensibly for purposes of stability. Kurban is not alone in his complaints. Five other Uyghur-Canadian have also reported similar treatment when travelling to China to visit relatives and friends over the past three years. This treatment is also concerning considering that countless members of the Uyghur diaspora maintain ties to the region and wish to travel there often. Intimidation of family members of those living outside China criticising the regime have also been common.

 

 

Media revisit Ilham Tohti’s warnings prior to arrest and detention: In 2011, Uyghur academic Ilham Tohti was asked by Chinese officials to write his assessment of the most recent troubles in East Turkestan and potential avenues to improve the relationship between the Uyghurs and the Chinese government and Chinese population living there. The essay outlines his assessment of the causes as well as his own thoughts and recommendations on the Chinese policy in the region. As has been clear over the past 4 years, Tohti’s recommendations have not been followed. What has been equally clear has been the antipathy towards ideas pointing towards reconciliation or policies that will serve to depress the chances of further ethnic conflict. Tohti recommends “a broad-based approach” that will require “systematic long-term planning”. He also warns against pouring money from state coffers at the problem and failed policies such as dramatic increases in a security presence and programs built on assimilationist premises. Tohti also wrote an extensive statement to be released if he were to be arrested – something he had justifiable concerns about in the months before his arrest. The statement emphasizes his stance on a number of issues to ensure that false confessions or statements are not attributed to him during his detention. He also highlights his physical condition, including his lack of physical marks or bruises, his desire to retain his own lawyer, as well as his continued expression of the need to look towards a peaceful solution to the conflict.

China reportedly strengthening surveillance and security:

China has reportedly made plans to drastically increase surveillance and security in East Turkestan in particular. The new measures include the creation of a national database that will be linked to ID and credit records. The security controls will also come into effect at hotels and in other industries – measures that will likely build upon previous controls on movement of Uyghurs suspected of involvement in terrorist groups. Although the new plans appear indiscriminate at the outset, it must also be recognized that measures such as these are quite often used to target those deemed suspicious by the state. Uyghurs involved in quotidian practices such as regular prayer and mere communication amongst one another have been regularly and unjustifiably targeted by Chinese authorities. These new regulations will only serve to provide Chinese authorities more extensive surveillance powers with an increase in Uyghur detentions (many on unfounded charges) will be a direct result. Freedom of movement within East Turkestan will also be impacted by the new system. Strict checkpoints and roadblocks have been set up throughout the region as a means to monitor the whereabouts of Uyghurs living there. ID cards are required to move from place to place as well as an additional green card required to purchase train or bus tickets, and to make hotel reservations. Freedom of movement is a much under-reported fact of life in East Turkestan today.

 

 

Upcoming Events

The WUC will attend the 29th Session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland The WUC will send a delegation to the upcoming Human Rights Council session in order to maintain effective ties with other international NGOs as well as state missions. The WUC will also take the opportunity to make an oral statement as well as submit an official written statement in relation to the Uyghur situation in East Turkestan. The session will focus in particular on the independence of lawyers and judges, the right to peaceful assembly and association, and extrajudicial, summary and arbitrary executions. The WUC Convenes Youth Training Seminar in Washington, DC The WUC, in cooperation and support from the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) will convene a youth training seminar that will take place in Washington, DC, beginning on May 6th and lasting for three days. The conference will focus on European-based human rights bodies so as to familiarize the participants with the most relevant and effective means for engagement. The participants will also meet on Capitol Hill in Washington for practical experience with government bodies and human right institutions.

 

 

Recent Activities

 

WUC vice president makes presentations during several large conferences During the first two weeks of April, at special invitation by Turkish civil society groups, the WUC vice president, Seyit Tumturk, made presentations about the Uyghur human rights situation at large conferences in several cities in the Turkish Province of Sakaya. WUC affiliates organize commemorative events for Barin uprising Affiliate organisations of the WUC all around the world including Canada, Japan, Kazakhstan, Netherlands, Sweden, Turkey, took part in demonstrations and other events in commemoration of the 23rd Anniversary of the Barin Uprising. WUC president calls on US and Chinese authorities to respect human rights In her interview with the Radio Free Asia, the WUC president, Ms. Rebiya Kadeer, called upon the US and Chinese authorities to respect and guarantee the human rights of the Uyghur people in their anti-terror cooperation. She also outlined some of the more persistent problems, including the plight of Uyghur refugees as well as recent curbs on religious freedom, and voiced some of her recommendations for a possible solution. WUC vice president discusses Uyghur situation on Turkish television On April 9, WUC vice president, Seyit Tumturk, attended a live broadcasting by Kayseri and Erciyes TV respectively and discussed the Uyghur human rights issue. The appearance allowed for greater reach of Uyghur issues, particularly those involving Uyghur refugees currently helf in Thailand and Malaysia. WUC leader discusses Uyghur situation on French television On April 18, the president of the France Uyghur Committee, Erkin Ablimit, attended a live broadcast by French national TV and discussed the Uyghur human rights situation. Mr. Ablimit discussed issues ranging from the refugee situation in Thailand and Malaysia, to what the French government is able to do in relation to China and its observance of human rights norms. WUC vice president meets with leaders of Turkey’s oppositions parties On April 20, the WUC vice president, Seyit Tumturk, met with Mr. Mustafa Kamalak and Mustafa Desici, the leaders of Turkish opposition parties (The Felicity Party and The Great Union Party), who were visiting the East Turkestan Culture and Solidarity Association in Kayseri. During the talks, Mr. Tumturk briefed the guests on the recent human rights situation of the Uyghur people in East Turkestan and appealed to the Turkish politicians to do more for a de-escalation of the situation in the region and elsewhere. Uyghur society in Kyrgyzstan convene elections On April 19, the members of the “Ittipak” Uyghur Society of the Kyrgyz Republic convened its 8th General Assembly in Bishkek and democratically elected its new round of leadership under its current president, Mr. Artiq Hajiyev.  WUC vice president meets with members of Turkish Parliament The WUC vice president, Seytit Tumturk, visited several Members of the Turkish Parliament who have been supporting the Uyghur cause and whose mandate will end this June. He expressed great aspirations of the Uyghur people and the WUC for their strong supports to raise awareness to the Turkish Parliament and the government towards the human rights situations of the Uyghur people in East Turkestan. WUC president authors joint article with Freedom House President A joint article titled, The Uyghurs’ Plight: Lessons about China, written by WUC president Ms. Rebiya Kadeer and president of Freedom House Mr. Mark P. Lagon, was published on April 22 on the websites of both the WUC and Freedom House. WUC Executive Committee Chairman attend interethnic/interfaith conference The Chairman of the WUC Executive Committee, Mr. Dolkun Isa, attended the 10th Interethnic Interfaith Leadership Conference in Washington, DC that took place from April 27-30. In addition to raising the Uyghur issue, Mr. Isa also met with Tibetan and Chinese democracy activists to exchange experience and strategy during the conference. The two parties are seeking to advance mutual understanding, respect, and cooperation among the diverse ethnic, religious, cultural, and regional groups seeking a better China. WUC vice president makes presentation at Turkish University On April 29, at special invitation, the WUC vice president, Seytit Tumturk, made a presentation about the situation of the Uyghur people in East Turkestan at a conference at the Karabük University in Turkey. The event was attended by more than 500 people from various backgrounds. WUC president testifies at a US human rights hearing Rebiya Kadeer testified at the Subcommittee hearing on the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act along with the Executive Vice President of Freedom House, the President of the Hudson Institute and the CEO of Hermitage Capital Management. During the hearing, Ms. Kadeer raised the Uyghur issue to the panel in relation to global human rights issues.