The mainland's top police officer yesterday promised tougher action against violent crime and terrorism to protect stability in Xinjiang, where Turkic-speaking Uygurs make up nearly half the population.
Xinhua quoted Public Security Minister Meng Jianzhu as telling delegates to a national anti-terrorism work conference in Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang, on Wednesday that everyone had to be well aware of the seriousness, complexity and long-term nature of the arduous anti-terrorist campaign.
'In an attempt to safeguard social stability and the safety of people's lives and assets, we must make the maintenance of stability the overriding priority in our jobs, while clamping down on violence and terrorist activities with more adamant determination and stronger measures,' Meng said.
The hardline stand taken by Meng, who is also the head of a national anti-terrorism taskforce, comes in the wake of at least three deadly attacks by Uygurs in the ancient cities of Hotan and Kashgar that claimed at least 32 lives, including those of 20 suspected assailants, and injured 44 others.
On July 18, nearly 20 Uygurs armed with knives and petrol bombs attacked a police station in Hotan, taking hostages. Dozens of armed policemen shot dead 14 assailants who had killed at least four people - an armed policeman, a Uygur police assistant and two Han Chinese women - authorities said.
Last weekend, at least 14 people were killed and 42 wounded in two attacks 24 hours apart by knife-wielding Uygurs in the centre of Kashgar.