By Kevin M. Mathewson
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

XINJIANG, China — Two men have been sentenced to death and three more jailed spawning from an incident occurring on April 23 in a town in Kashgar prefecture. The incident left 21 people dead, of which 15 were security personnel.

The Intermediate People’s Court in Xinjiang’s Kashgar prefecture sentenced Musa Hesen and Rehmen Hupur, both Muslim, to death for crimes including murder and being part of a “terrorist group”.  In total, 19 suspects have been arrested and additional trials are expected.

Death sentences in China are automatically reviewed by the country’s highest court before being carried out.

The violence was initiated when three officials noticed suspicious behavior at a house. Residents of the house seized the officials and other police who arrived on scene, many of whom burned to death when the house was set on fire.

China said the attack was planned by a “violent terrorist group”.  However, other accounts dispute this attributing the confrontation to ethnic tensions. Activists accuse China of over-exaggerating the terrorist threat to justify heavy handed rules.

Authorities said those arrested had watched videos advocating religious extremism and terrorism, made explosives and knives, and banners for terrorist attacks.

“Upholding laws during our fight against terrorism helps people at home and abroad get a clearer understanding about terrorist threats in Xinjiang.” said Li Wei, an expert on anti-terrorism at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations.

In recent years Xinjiang has been plagued with outbreaks of violence. Tensions have continued to rise between the State and Uighurs; the largely Muslim, Turkic-speaking ethnic group that makes up almost half the population.

Many Uighurs complain of religious and cultural repression by Chinese Authorities.  Yet,China says it treats minorities fairly and spends billions of dollars on improving living standards in minority areas.

In other recent unrest, in June of last year 35 people were killed in Turpan, and in July 2009 ethnic violence in Urumqi left almost 200 people dead and 1,700 injured.

For further information, please see:

The Guardian – Xinjiang violence: two get death penalty – 12 August 2013

China Digital Times – Court Sentences Five in Xinjiang Violence – 12 August 2013

The Australian – China sentences two to death over unrest – 13 August 2013

BBC News – Xinjiang violence: Two sentenced to death in China – 13 August 2013