Uygur scholar Ilham Tohti slams repression of ethnic minority

An outspoken advocate for China’s Muslim Uygur minority criticised the government on Friday at a time of heightened sensitivities because of recent unrest, saying its stifling security presence has fanned ethnic discord in his far western homeland.

The comments by Uygur scholar Ilham Tohti, as well as his allegations that 34 Uygurs remain missing after a previous crackdown, came on the fourth anniversary of massive ethnic riots that rocked the Xinjiang regional capital. His critique of Beijing’s policies was unusually bold for an activist based on the mainland, rather than overseas, at a time when authorities are on high alert and have responded to such critics with detentions.

Clashes have erupted in recent months that have killed at least 56 people in Xinjiang, a region that has long been home to a simmering rebellion against Chinese rule among parts of the Central Asian, Turkic-speaking Uygur (pronounced WEE-gur) population. In the bloodiest recent clash, 35 people were killed last week when a group of assailants attacked a police station and government offices in the eastern Xinjiang town of Lukqun, the government said.

Tohti said tensions will continue to boil over into violence as long as the government maintains its tight controls over the region and fails to address the Uygur minority group’s complaints of discrimination and marginalisation.

“Every time something happens, the government responds with one word: pressure. High pressure, high pressure, and even greater pressure. This leads to greater resistance and more conflict,” Tohti said by phone. “The government should reflect and take responsibility for what is happening in Xinjiang now and in the future.”

China has responded to the recent unrest with a massive show of force. State media have shown fleets of armoured anti-riot vehicles and trucks loaded with paramilitary police forces rolling along main streets. Hundreds or thousands of gun-toting, helmeted troops were shown assembled on a public square in Urumqi being sworn-in before they were deployed for patrols.

Authorities have blamed the unrest on “terrorism, extremism and separatism”, ordered the confiscation of long knives, guns and other weapons and offered rewards for tips on suspected terrorist activity. In what was described as counter-terror efforts, police also publicised a list of names and pictures of 11 Uygur men it described as suspects wanted for murder and other attacks dating back to 2011.