By Hyo-Jin Paik
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia
BEIJING, China– Five people were killed and 14 were injured in the latest unrest in China’s western city of Urumqi. 25 people are reportedly being held over the incident where demonstrators clashed with the police when the Han Chinese took the streets of Urumqi demanding better police protection from ethnic Uyghurs.
Chinese troops patrolling streets of Urumqi (Source: AFP)
Uyghurs, who are being blamed for the recent attacks, are Turkic-speaking Muslim minority in China who consider Xinjiang their homeland. Ethnic tensions between Uyghurs and the Han Chinese have resulted in violent riots since July.
A joint statement released by Urumqi’s court, prosecutor’s office and the police department noted that the syringe attackers who triggered the latest riots will face harsh punishment. The Chinese officials said attackers who stabbed people with needles containing harmful substances may be jailed for three or more years. The authorities also added that the attacker(s), if convicted, may receive the death penalty since China’s penal code allows for death penalty for crimes that involve dangerous substances used to harm others.
China’s Xinhua News Agency stated that more than 500 victims of hypodermic needle attacks are being treated in Urumqi hospitals, and the victims include various ethnic groups, including the Han, Uygurand and Kazakstan.
The syringe attacks began in early August, and one resident, wishing to remain anonymous said, “People are angry that the government is not doing much against the Uyghurs’ needle stabbing.”
Another resident said that the government had sent out text messages to citizens warning them of syringes containing unknown diseases. This is a matter of grave concern since the Xinjiang region has the highest HIV infection rate in China. In addition, Johns Hopkins University reported that Xinjiang serves as a convenient drug-trafficking route because the region is located between opium growing regions of Afghanistan and Southeast Asia.
Exiled Uyghur activist Rebiya Kadeer is asking the “Chinese officials to guarantee the security of all people living in East Turkestan (Xinjiang), including Uyghurs and Han Chinese.” People of Urumqi are stocking up on groceries in fear of escalated violence. Furthermore, there is no traffic around the city and schools have been closed.
For more information, please see:
BBC – China warning to syringe stabbers – 6 September 2009
CNN – Five killed as police face syringe protesters in Chinese city – 4 September 2009
Xinhua – Urumqi syringe attackers may face death penalty – 6 September 2009
