[Uighur-l] [UHRP Press Release] Uyghurs swept up in mass detentions as Chinese government steps up rhetoric

Tue Aug 4 18:04:45 CDT 2009

Uyghurs swept up in mass detentions as Chinese government steps up rhetoric

For immediate release
August 4, 2009,11:45 am EST
Contact: Uyghur American Association +1 (202) 349 1496   

The Uyghur American Association (UAA) is concerned over news in the 
official Chinese media that 319 more individuals have been arrested 
in Urumchi in relation to unrest that occurred on July 5. The news, 
following reports of the arrest of another 253 people and the 
issuance of a "most wanted" list on July 30, indicate that Chinese 
authorities are moving swiftly to crack down on Uyghurs and carry out 
highly politicized trials. 

Chinese official media announced on July 31 that trials for some of 
the people arrested since July 5 would be held in the coming weeks. 
Official reports that 319 people were detained recently in Urumchi, 
adding to the 253 individuals who were detained on July 30, bring the 
official toll of those arrested to more than 2,000 people.

Based on independent eyewitness accounts and international media 
reports, UAA believes that the actual number of people arrested is 
much higher than the official figures. The Telegraph newspaper 
reported on July 31 that Uyghur residents of Urumchi have described 
armed police going from house to house and taking away all males 
under the age of 50. A July 19 Financial Times report stated that 
more than 4,000 Uyghurs had been arrested and that Urumchi's prisons 
were so full that detainees were being held in People's Liberation 
Army warehouses. UAA fears that these detainees face execution in 
non-transparent judicial procedures. 

"Detentions of Uyghurs are clearly being carried out in violation of 
the law," said Uyghur democracy leader Rebiya Kadeer. "According to 
the family members of many of those detained, they are not told where 
their loved ones are being taken, or on what charges. Urumchi police 
are simply taking Uyghurs away- particularly young Uyghurs, to the 
point that there are almost no Uyghur youths left on the streets of 
the city."

UAA calls upon the Chinese government to provide information about 
those detained in relation to the unrest in Urumchi, including where 
they are being detained and the reason for their detention, as 
required by Chinese law. Chinese law stipulates that a family member 
or work unit of a detained individual must be informed of the reason 
for their detention and the location of their detention.

According to the China Daily, the suspects accused of carrying out 
violence in Urumchi will be appointed lawyers who have "special 
training". However, human rights groups have consistently raised 
concerns over the lack of an independent judiciary and the prevalence 
of torture in East Turkestan.

Uyghurs in government custody frequently suffer from physical abuse 
and other maltreatment. In late 2005, after making his first visit to 
China, during which he visited prisons in Urumchi, Lhasa, and 
Beijing, Manfred Nowak, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on 
Torture, confirmed that "torture was widespread" in China, especially 
in East Turkestan and Tibet. No effective mechanisms have been 
initiated in China to curb the practice of torture within East 
Turkestan.       

"Most wanted" list

On July 30, police in Urumchi issued a list of 15 fugitives labeled 
as suspects in the unrest, together with their photos. Fourteen of 
the suspects appear to be Uyghur, and one appears to be Han Chinese. 
According to official Chinese media, police said that those who 
turned themselves in within 10 days would be treated leniently, while 
those who did not would be "punished severely".

UAA is extremely concerned about the credibility of the Chinese 
government's accusations against 15 people on the "most wanted list". 
It is unclear at present what specific criminal charges have been 
made against the individuals on the list. UAA fears that all 15 
individuals will face a lack of due process according to the law, and 
may be subject to execution.

Urumchi Communist Party Secretary Li Zhi has indicated the planned 
use of capital punishment against those convicted of the most serious 
offenses. "To those who have committed crimes with cruel means, we 
will execute them," Li told a news conference on July 8.

See also:

UAA commemorates the United Nations International Day in Support of 
Torture Victims and Survivors

<http://www.uhrp.org/articles/2347/1/UAA-commemorates-the-United-Nations-International-Day-in-Support-of-Torture-Victims-and-Survivors-/index.html>http://www.uhrp.org/articles/2347/1/UAA-commemorates-the-United-Nations-International-Day-in-Support-of-Torture-Victims-and-Survivors-/index.html

China Arrests 319 People in Unrest in Xinjiang

<http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/03/world/asia/03china.html?hpw>http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/03/world/asia/03china.html?hpw

Xinjiang arrests 'now over 1,500'

<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8181563.stm>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8181563.stm

China releases Xinjiang 'most wanted' list

<http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hcPwiAn7z-2PIHj5dUOudHauvMAA>http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hcPwiAn7z-2PIHj5dUOudHauvMAA

Urumchi police release list of 15 suspects wanted in connection with 
the July 5 incident

<http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/0801/2009-07/30/content_1131093.htm>http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/0801/2009-07/30/content_1131093.htm

China to Try Suspects Held After Riots

<http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/01/world/asia/01china.html?hp>http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/01/world/asia/01china.html?hp

China to put Urumqi rioters on trial In August

<http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/5946113/China-To-Put-Urumqi-Rioters-On-Trial-In-August.html>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/5946113/China-To-Put-Urumqi-Rioters-On-Trial-In-August.html

China Warns of Executions as Riots Ebb

<http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/09/world/asia/09hu.html?hpw>http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/09/world/asia/09hu.html?hpw

Unrest in East Turkestan: What China is Not Telling the Media

<http://www.uhrp.org/articles/2539/1/Unrest-in-East-Turkestan-What-China-is-Not-Telling-the-Media-/index.html>http://www.uhrp.org/articles/2539/1/Unrest-in-East-Turkestan-What-China-is-Not-Telling-the-Media-/index.html

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