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Han Chinese Launch Revenge Attacks Against Uighur

by Rob Walker | July 7, 2009 at 06:03 am

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A day after riots and violence claimed the lives of almost 160 people in China's Xinjian district, a new wave of violence rampaged through Urumqi. Thousands of angry Han Chinese smashed up Uighur stores and sought vengeance for Han deaths over the weekend.

Riot police attempted to disperse the mob, but thousands were still on the streets armed with whatever they could find, including metal chains, shovels and axes. The attacks came as retribution for a number of deaths during the riots on Monday.

Rioters smashed Uighur restaurants, threw rocks at a mosque and threatened residents of Uighur areas, although moderates in the crowd attempted to restrain them.
"They attacked us. Now it's our turn to attack them," one protester told Reuters. Another said: "We're here to demand security for ourselves. They killed children in cold blood."

Since the riots have broken out, at least 60 overseas media groups have sent journalists to Urumqi. This will contrast remarkably with China's known efforts to shape any information coming out of the area.

"We disclosed information shortly after the incident. We welcome domestic and overseas journalists to come and see what happened," Hou Hanmin, deputy head of the publicity department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Xinjiang regional committee, said Tuesday.

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Barbara McPherson

at 08:47 on July 7th, 2009

A curfew has been imposed now to try to tamp down the chaos. This is a traditionally Muslim area which has been agitating to regain their independence. The PRC has been moving ethnically Han people into the area, much like they have done in Tibet.