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RFA Breaking News: Death Toll in Xinjiang Coal Mine Attack Climbs to 50

by Paul Eckert

Death Toll in Xinjiang Coal Mine Attack Climbs to 50 Sept. 30, 2015 - The death toll in a knife attack orchestrated by alleged “separatists” at a coal mine in northwestern China’s troubled Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region has climbed to at least 50 people—including five police officers—with as many as 50 injured, according to local security officials who say nine suspects are on the run. The attack occurred on Sept. 18, when a group of knife-wielding suspects set upon security guards at the gate of the Sogan Colliery in Aksu (in Chinese, Akesu) prefecture’s Bay (Baicheng) county, before targeting the mine owner’s residence and a dormitory for workers. When police officers arrived at the mine in Terek township to control the situation, the attackers rammed their vehicles using trucks loaded down with coal, sources said. Three sources, including a ruling Communist Party cadre from a local township government, told RFA’s Uyghur Service in recent days that at least 50 people were killed and as many as 50 injured in the attack—with most casualties suffered by the mine’s largely majority Han Chinese workers. “The damage of the attack was very severe—that is why we are controlling [the flow of] information about the incident so strictly, lest we frighten Han migrants in Aksu,” said the cadre, speaking on condition of anonymity. Last week, sources had estimated that at least 40 people were either killed or injured in the incident, including police officers, security guards, mine owners and managers, and attackers. Other sources within the ethnic Uyghur exile communities in Sweden and Turkey have since put the number of dead as high as 110 and said the worker dormitory was the focus of the attack, although these accounts could not be independently verified by RFA. Ekber Hashim, a police officer who inspected the mine’s dormitory following the incident, told RFA that “nearly all the workers who were not on shift at the time were killed or injured.” “Some workers were sleeping while others were preparing to work when the attackers raided the building after killing the security guards,” he said. The Sogan Colliery, consisting of three separate coal mine shafts, maintains a six-story dormitory to house its 300-400 workers—around 90 percent of whom are Han Chinese, according to official sources. At least five policemen were also killed in the attack, including Terek township chief Wu Feng, 45, and officers Xiao Hu, 25; Zakirjan, 28; and Zayirjan Kurban, 27. The fifth officer has yet to be identified. An auxiliary officer from the neighboring Bulung township police department told RFA that Terek township deputy police chief Kurbanjan and his assistant “survived the incident by throwing themselves into the river next to the colliery.” “They went [to the mine] as part of a second team after five police officers, including police chief Wu Feng, were killed,” said the officer, who also declined to provide his name. “The second team had no idea everyone in the first team had been killed when they left the station. They turned their motorcycles around and fled when they saw the dead and injured, but the attackers pursued them in trucks and they were forced to drive the bikes into the river to escape.” Suspects on the run According to sources, authorities in Aksu have issued a warrant list for nine suspects who are believed to be hiding in a nearby mountain ravine, amid a widespread police operation to locate them. The auxiliary officer from Bulung township said he believed the search had remained unsuccessful after 12 days because the suspects had taken guns from the policemen killed in the attack and authorities were reluctant to attempt to flush them out. He added that the ravine is “complicated and dangerous,” while the suspects are from nearby villages and are “familiar with every inch of the area.” Another officer from Bulung named Tursun Hezim said police had received a notice from higher level authorities warning them to keep a lookout for a group of people wearing “camouflage”—a tactic allegedly employed by suspects in other recent attacks in the Uyghur region. “Based on this guidance, I assume the suspects attacked while wearing uniforms, which allowed them to catch the guards at the colliery and police on the road when they were unaware and successfully make their escape,” he said. “We also have been warned not to walk alone while patrolling in the villages or mountains, and to protect the residences of Han workers and coalmine owners, as well as to closely monitor the dynamite storerooms at collieries.” Last week, sources told RFA that the suspects had “taken control of the dynamite” at Sogan and were believed to have used explosives in the attack, although this could not be verified. Security buildup Since the incident, security personnel have been deployed in force in Terek township and are pressing local residents into assisting them in the search for the suspects, sources said. Yasin Sidiq, a technician with a telecommunications company in Terek, said that while scouting locations for new signal towers near the mountains with coworkers on Tuesday he witnessed “armed police everywhere and many checkpoints, with police and army trucks passing us every five to 10 minutes.” “All the herdsmen in the area were holding sticks which are usually used by farmers while assisting in a police operation,” he said. A Terek township middle school teacher told RFA that authorities had established a “command center” at his school, while students and staff members had been on vacation for the past week. “Our schoolyard is completely filled with police cars and ambulances, while helicopters fly from our soccer field to the mountains and back,” he said. An attendant at a gas station in Terek said authorities had been gathering horses from local villagers to transport goods for the mountain search operation, while store owner Ablet Mehmut said the township administrative office had been set up as a mess hall with “20-30 women cooking food for the authorities and the farmers assisting them.” The ‘three evils’ China has vowed to crack down on the "three evils" of terrorism, separatism, and religious extremism in Xinjiang, but experts outside China say Beijing has exaggerated the threat from Uyghur "separatists" and that domestic policies are responsible for an upsurge in violence that has left hundreds dead since 2012. Uyghur groups in exile say such attacks are likely expressions of resistance to Beijing’s policies in Xinjiang, where Uyghurs complain of pervasive ethnic discrimination, religious repression, and cultural suppression by China’s communist government. Rights groups accuse the Chinese authorities of heavy-handed rule in Xinjiang, including violent police raids on Uyghur households, restrictions on Islamic practices, and curbs on the culture and language of the Uyghur people. Reported by Shohret Hoshur for RFA’s Uyghur Service. Translated by Shohret Hoshur. Written in English by Joshua Lipes. View this s tory online at: http://www.rfa.org/english/news/uyghur/attack-09302015174319.html Radio Free Asia is a private, nonprofit corporation broadcasting and publishing online news , information, and commentary in nine East Asian languages to listeners who do not have access to full and free news media. RFA ’s broadcasts seek to promote the rights of freedom of opinion and expression, including the freedom to “seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” RFA is funded by an annual grant from the Broadcasting Board of Governors. If you no longer wish to receive RFA news releases, send an e-mail to engnews-leave(a)rfanews.org . To add your name to our mailing list, send an e-mail to engnews-join(a)rfanews.org . ##### All media inquiries may be sent to Rohit Mahajan at mahajanr(a)rfa.org .

9 years, 9 months

RFA Breaking News: Knife Attack at Xinjiang Coal Mine Leaves 40 Dead, Injured

by Paul Eckert

Knife Attack at Xinjiang Coal Mine Leaves 40 Dead, Injured Sept 22 - A knife attack orchestrated by alleged “separatists” at a coal mine in northwestern China’s troubled Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region has resulted in at least 40 casualties, including the deaths of five police officers, and several suspects are believed to be on the run, according to local security officials. The attack began at around 3:00 a.m. on Sept. 18 when a group of knife-wielding suspects set upon security guards at the Sogan Colliery in Aksu (in Chinese, Akesu) prefecture’s Bay (Baicheng) county, Jamal Eysa, the chief of state security police at a neighboring mine in the county seat told RFA’s Uyghur Service Monday. “The attack started at security gate of the colliery, which was watched by some 20 security guards at the time,” he said. “The residence of the colliery owner was the second target and, at the end, [the suspects] attacked police as they approached the area to control the situation.” Eysa said he received a phone call from the mayor of Bay township later that day ordering him to patrol area streets and prepare for a potential attack against the Bay Colliery where he is stationed, around 20 kilometers (12 miles) away from the Sogan Colliery in Terek township. An official notice he later received suggested the incident at Sogan was “a long-planned, well-prepared, large-scale attack by separatists against police officers and mine owners at a coal field in our county.” Colleagues who took part in the operation against the attackers told Eysa the suspects were from “neighboring farms” and that they had “taken control of the dynamite at the colliery.” “That is why they were able to do such severe damage to our police team and to the Han businessman and factory owners,” he said, without providing details about whether explosives were used by the suspects. Eysa estimated that “at least 40 people were killed or injured, including police officers, security guards, mine owners and managers, and attackers.” Relatives informed him that his friend Zakirjan, who worked as a security guard at Sogan, was among those killed. “That day, seven or eight ambulances were constantly driving between the Sogan Colliery and the Bay County Bazaar from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.,” he said. “Even though four days have passed since the incident, raiding operations are ongoing, so I believe that at least some of the attackers are alive and on the run.” Police officers targeted Zhang Jianjie, a security guard employed by the Bay township government, told RFA authorities were now patrolling the area in force and strictly controlling information about the incident, but said he had received details about the incident from his superior. “According to my boss, the attackers called the Terek police station to report the incident, and when police officers approached the mine area, the group used trucks filled with coal to ram the police van and then assaulted the injured officers with knives,” Zhang said. “I know that five of 10 police officers were killed at the scene and the rest of them were transferred to the hospital in Bay county, but I don’t know how many of the attackers were killed or injured,” he said. “The current situation in Bay county indicates that at least some of the attackers are alive and were able to escape.” A policeman from the Terek township station, who spoke to RFA on condition of anonymity, also confirmed the incident and said victims of the attack included high-ranking officers from his department. “I know that our chief, Wu Feng, was killed in the incident and our deputy chief Kurbanjan was injured and taken to a hospital,” he said. “I have not seen my other three colleagues since they left the station … to go to the coal mining field, and I’ve only been told to wait to hear in the next few days about their fate.” The policeman said he “didn’t have much knowledge about the incident” and suggested speaking with area residents to get more information. Security crackdown Li Ming, a resident of Bay township, told RFA that when he took his son to school on the day of the incident, he noticed that the campus security detail had moved from the gate onto the street and had increased to 10 guards from two or three normally. He said that by Monday afternoon, security checkpoints had been established at all intersections throughout town, while armed police squads were patrolling the area in armored personnel carriers, leading him to believe that the “incident was much more severe than I had thought and the suspects have still not been killed or captured.” Li’s son had been let out of school two hours early on Monday, but the only explanation his teacher gave was that the dismissal was linked to an “incident at the coal mining field.” While Li could confirm the incident had taken place at “the coal mining field in Terek township,” he said he was unable to provide further details due to a clampdown on information by local authorities. “I have no right to give you information and I have to record your contact information to give to the county police department,” he said. “I can only answer your questions if the department notifies me that I may accept your interview.” The ‘three evils’ China has vowed to crack down on the "three evils" of terrorism, separatism, and religious extremism in Xinjiang, but experts outside China say Beijing has exaggerated the threat from Uyghur "separatists" and that domestic policies are responsible for an upsurge in violence that has left hundreds dead since 2012. Uyghur groups in exile say such attacks are likely expressions of resistance to Beijing’s policies in Xinjiang, where Uyghurs complain of pervasive ethnic discrimination, religious repression, and cultural suppression by China’s communist government. Rights groups accuse the Chinese authorities of heavy-handed rule in Xinjiang, including violent police raids on Uyghur households, restrictions on Islamic practices, and curbs on the culture and language of the Uyghur people. Reported by Shohret Hoshur for RFA’s Uyghur Service. Translated by Shohret Hoshur. Written in English by Joshua Lipes. View this story online at: http://www.rfa.org/english/news/uyghur/attack-09222015150820.html Radio Free Asia is a private, nonprofit corporation broadcasting and publishing online news , information, and commentary in nine East Asian languages to listeners who do not have access to full and free news media. RFA ’s broadcasts seek to promote the rights of freedom of opinion and expression, including the freedom to “seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” RFA is funded by an annual grant from the Broadcasting Board of Governors. If you no longer wish to receive RFA news releases, send an e-mail to engnews-leave(a)rfanews.org . To add your name to our mailing list, send an e-mail to engnews-join(a)rfanews.org . ##### All media inquiries may be sent to Rohit Mahajan at mahajanr(a)rfa.org .

9 years, 9 months

RFA Breaking News: Interview: Retiree Than Shwe Exerts 'No Influence Whatsoever' on Myanmar Politics

by Paul Eckert

August 20, 2015 - In an interview with Nancy Shwe, director of RFA’s Myanmar Service, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Commander in Chief of the Myanmar Armed Forces, said former junta chief Than Shwe advises his former army colleagues on military affairs but exerts no influence on the country’s politics. He also denied that the Tatmadaw [Myanmar’s armed services] played any role in the ouster last week of ruling party chairman Shwe Mann. RFA: Is former Myanmar junta chief Gen. Than Shwe still involved in Myanmar’s affairs? MIN AUNG HLAING: I would say this is impossible. He’s living peacefully by himself in retirement. I sometimes go to see him to pay my respects on religious occasions, but I do this because he’s the father of the Tatmadaw. He gives advice on the betterment of the Tatmadaw, but he won’t say “do this” or “do that.” He often stresses the need for us to maintain unity and to work for the country. We don’t discuss the current political process. The government and the Hluttaw [legislature] are also doing their best within their rights. There is no influence whatsoever being exerted by retired Gen. Than Shwe. RFA: What is the military doing to provide relief to Chin State, which has suffered from flooding, heavy rains, and landslides? MIN AUNG HLAING: We are carrying out everything according to our program. We use helicopters for emergency supply, and use the roads for whatever can be transported by land. The Tatmadaw is using lots of cars, helicopters, and airplanes in these efforts. I myself have been to [Chin state capital] Hakha and feel very bad about the landslide there. We are sending 1,000 tons of cement, 5,000 sheets of corrugated iron, and other construction materials. We will soon be sending another 5,000 sheets. I believe this will contribute to the reconstruction in Chin State. RFA: People are happy about the Tatmadaw’s assistance in disaster relief efforts, but at the same time the ethnic parties are worried that the Tatmadaw is now also buying more arms to build up its military strength. MIN AUNG HLAING: First, we are not doing this relief work because the law tells us to; it is because we believe we must do it. Second, all countries must build their defense capabilities. We have bought fighters, trainers, and transport planes, but these are only for building our strength. This has nothing to do with the ethnic groups. And even still, we have not reached our goals. Many countries build up their arms on the pretext of defending the peace, and others then expand their own militaries in response, and these arms buildups go on and on. The late Gen. Aung San himself said in 1947 that the country’s air force would need at least 500 airplanes, with another 500 in reserve. That was in 1947, and we are not even close to that yet. But if relations among our neighboring countries and other countries around the world improve, I don’t think that any harm will come to our nation. RFA: There have been reports in the media that you are supporting President Thein Sein during the latest political developments in Myanmar. MIN AUNG HLAING: The Tatmadaw must stand up for the government, and we are helping Thein Sein’s government in the work of successfully rebuilding our country. Although I am the head of the military, Thein Sein is the head of state, and so I have to work under his leadership. That is my duty. Regarding the recent political changes, this is the business of the [ruling USDP] party. The party is simply doing its work. Some have said that these things happened because of the involvement of senior retired military officers. But they can take any path they choose, because they are retired. Our military is not involved. All this is speculation, I would say. RFA: You once said that the Tatmadaw would withdraw from politics when peace comes to the country. Can you set a time frame for that? MIN AUNG HLAING: Since 1948, when Myanmar achieved independence, the Tatmadaw has involved itself in the country’s changes in one way or another, and now we have reached the present situation. We do not yet have complete stability in the country. We are still trying to solve the problem of the armed ethnic groups, and we can see that some of these groups’ activities are affecting national peace and stability. We cannot deviate from our goals. We are marching toward a parliamentary democracy. The people have asked us for this. The Tatmadaw has tried to create this, and we will not let it fall apart. Stability means economic security, political security, food security—everything connected to “human security.” And when all of this is stable, other things will fall into place automatically. We want to see the country peaceful and developed, and the Tatmadaw will play any role necessary to accomplish this. RFA: Can you set a time frame for this? MIN AUNG HLAING: This will happen when the ethnic groups come into the legal fold, give up their arms, and participate peacefully in building a democratic nation. Another concern is our three main tasks: nondisintegration of the Union, nondisintegration of national unity, and perpetuation of national sovereignty. We need to guarantee that these tasks are not compromised, and we will need to wait until we have achieved this. So all this depends on the other side. Maybe in five or ten years. Now we are trying to create a national cease-fire agreement. Once they have signed it, political dialogues will follow, and things will fall into place if we all work together with trust. RFA: Is progress toward the signing of this pact not meeting expectations yet? MIN AUNG HLAING: The onus is on both sides, though some might say that the army is mainly responsible. My sincere wish, the Tatmadaw’s wish, is to see peace. But if the government stops functioning after we get a pact, that would not be good. Right now, we can see that armed ethnic groups are involved in some sectors of the country’s administrative machinery. Everything should be in accord with the law. They should have a genuine desire to achieve peace, and all parties will need to participate in this endeavor. Look at any country. No one will accept an armed movement inside that country. That’s what we are pointing out and asking from them. We would have absolute peace if they would work with us in trust. View this story online at: http://www.rfa.org/english/news/myanmar/influence-08202015151523.html Radio Free Asia is a private, nonprofit corporation broadcasting and publishing online news , information, and commentary in nine East Asian languages to listeners who do not have access to full and free news media. RFA ’s broadcasts seek to promote the rights of freedom of opinion and expression, including the freedom to “seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” RFA is funded by an annual grant from the Broadcasting Board of Governors. If you no longer wish to receive RFA news releases, send an e-mail to engnews-leave(a)rfanews.org . To add your name to our mailing list, send an e-mail to engnews-join(a)rfanews.org . ##### All media inquiries may be sent to Rohit Mahajan at mahajanr(a)rfa.org .

9 years, 10 months

RFA Breaking News: Chinese Authorities Snatch Tenzin Delek Rinpoche's Ashes from Tibetans

by Paul Eckert

Chinese Authorities Snatch Tenzin Delek Rinpoche's Ashes from Tibetans July 20, 2015 - The ashes of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche were forcibly taken from Tibetans who were carrying the revered monk's cremated remains to his home county of Nyagchuka, a Tibetan living in India told RFA’s Tibetan Service on Monday. Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, 65, who died on July 12 in the 13th year of a life sentence imposed for what rights groups and supporters have described as a wrongful conviction on a bombing charge, was cremated by prison authorities on July 16 against the wishes of his family. Four Tibetans who stayed in the Sichuan capital, Chengdu, to receive the ashes were carrying them back to Nyagchuka ( in Chinese, Yajiang) and stopped over night at a town in Jagsamka (Luding) county on July 16. "At that time, the Chinese authorities came to them in the night and forced them to give back the remains. They even threatened to throw the ashes into the local river in Luding," Geshe Jamyang Nyima, a source in exile with connections to the monk's family, told RFA . "We don’t know whether they actually dumped the ashes in the river or not, but it was an unfortunate incident,” he added. The death in prison of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, who was widely respected among Tibetans for his efforts to protect Tibetan culture and the environment, added to simmering tensions in Tibetan parts of Sichuan and beyond. The cremation in defiance of his family's request that his remains be returned to them was followed by the detention of the sister of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche and that woman’s daughter. Dolkar Lhamo, 55, and Nyima Lhamo, aged about 25, were detained in the provincial capital Chengdu at about 8:00 a.m. on July 17 by police sent from their native Lithang (Litang) county. “It was extremely horrible action on the part of the Chinese authorities. Even if the body was not handed over to the relatives and students, snatching the remains of the cremated body of Rinpoche after it was handed over was unimaginable," said Geshe Jamyang Nyima. "They should at least leave the relatives alone in peace. But his sister Dolkar Lhamo and her daughter were taken away by Lithang police from Chengdu town on July 17, and nothing has been heard about them too. It is sheer bullying and unreasonable," he added. Reported by Lobsang Choephel for RFA’s Tibetan Service. Translated by Karma Dorjee. Written in English by Paul Eckert. View this s tory online at: http://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/tibet-lama-07202015173154.html Radio Free Asia is a private, nonprofit corporation broadcasting and publishing online news , information, and commentary in nine East Asian languages to listeners who do not have access to full and free news media. RFA ’s broadcasts seek to promote the rights of freedom of opinion and expression, including the freedom to “seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” RFA is funded by an annual grant from the Broadcasting Board of Governors. If you no longer wish to receive RFA news releases, send an e-mail to engnews-leave(a)rfanews.org . To add your name to our mailing list, send an e-mail to engnews-join(a)rfanews.org . ##### All media inquiries may be sent to Rohit Mahajan at mahajanr(a)rfa.org .

9 years, 11 months

RFA BREAKING NEWS: Popular Tibetan Monk Serving Life Sentence Dies in Chinese Jail

by Param

Popular Tibetan Monk Serving Life Sentence Dies in Chinese Jail JULY 13, 2015—A popular Tibetan monk serving a life term in prison in China's Sichuan province has died after being known to be in extremely poor health with a serious heart condition for which he allegedly received no treatment, according to sources and rights groups. Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, who had been imprisoned since 2002 after what rights groups and supporters described as a wrongful conviction on a bombing charge, died on Sunday, the sources said. He was 65 years old. "Chinese police informed his relatives that he was seriously ill and when they rushed to visit him, they were told he was already dead," one source inside Tibet told RFA's Tibetan Service. Another source said Tenzin Delek Rinpoche's body has not been handed over to his family after his death at 4:00 p.m. local time Two of his relatives had been in Chengdu, Sichuan's capital, for more than a week hoping to visit the ailing monk in Mianyang jail but they were not allowed by the authorities to see him, the source said. Death sentence Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, who was highly respected by Tibetans, was charged with involvement in an April 3, 2002 bombing in the central square of Chengdu and initially sentenced to death in December that year along with an assistant, Lobsang Dondrub. His death sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment, but Lobsang Dondrub was executed almost immediately, prompting an outcry from rights activists who questioned the fairness of the trial. New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) concluded in a report two years after the trial that the legal proceedings against Tenzin Delek Rinpoche had been “procedurally flawed” and that he was charged only in order to “curb his efforts to foster Tibetan Buddhism … and his work to develop Tibetan social and cultural institutions.” Authorities had begun to perceive Tenzin Delek Rinpoche as a threat as his “local status rose and he successfully challenged official policies on a number of issues,” HRW said in its report. 'Devastated' Students for a Free Tibet, a global Tibetan group, said Sunday it was "devastated" by his death. "A Tibetan hero has died in Chinese prison," it said. "Over 13 years of unjust imprisonment and torture in prison left him with critical medical conditions for which he received no treatment," the group said. It charged that he "has died under suspicious circumstances," calling him "a revered Tibetan Buddhist teacher and outspoken advocate for his people." "Tibetans inside Tibet are already demanding local authorities to release his body to arrange Buddhist religious rites," the group said. Recognized by Tibet's spiritual leader the Dalai Lama as a reincarnated lama in the 1980s, Tenzin Delek Rinpoche has been a community leader and a staunch advocate for the protection and preservation of Tibetan culture, religion, and way of life for decades, the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) had said. He has been held in detention for over 13 years "for a crime that he did not commit," the ICT said. Petition More than 40,000 Tibetans had signed their names to a petition asking for his release, each attesting to their signature by adding a thumbprint in red ink, the ICT said. "Every single one of the 40,000 Tibetan signers knows that they risk their freedom and perhaps their lives by speaking out for the Tenzin Delek Rinpoche." Tibetans had also been protesting for his release since he was detained in 2002 and many were themselves jailed for the action. Reported by Lhuboom and Kalden Lodoe for RFA’s Tibetan Service. Translated by Kalden Lodoe. Written in English by Parameswaran Ponnudurai. View this story online at: http://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/monk-07132015015651.html Radio Free Asia is a private, nonprofit corporation broadcasting and publishing online news, information, and commentary in nine East Asian languages to listeners who do not have access to full and free news media. RFA’s broadcasts seek to promote the rights of freedom of opinion and expression, including the freedom to “seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” RFA is funded by an annual grant from the Broadcasting Board of Governors. If you no longer wish to receive RFA news releases, send an e-mail to <mailto:engnews-leave@rfanews.org> engnews-leave(a)rfanews.org. To add your name to our mailing list, send an e-mail to <mailto:engnews-join@rfanews.org> engnews-join(a)rfanews.org . ##### All media inquiries may be sent to Rohit Mahajan at <mailto:mahajanr@rfa.org> mahajanr(a)rfa.org.

9 years, 11 months

RFA Breaking News: Tibetan Monk Self-Immolates in Kyegudo in Sixth Protest Burning This Year

by Paul Eckert

Tibetan Monk Self-Immolates in Kyegudo in Sixth Protest Burning This Year JULY 9, 2015 - A Tibetan monk set himself ablaze on Thursday in northwestern China’s Qinghai province in an apparent challenge to Beijing’s rule in Tibetan areas in the sixth such protest this year, according to sources in the region and in exile. The burning in the central square of Kyegudo in the Yulshul (in Chinese, Yushu) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture brings to 142 the total number of self-immolations by Tibetans since the wave of fiery protests began in 2009. The still unidentified monk was taken to hospital for treatment of his burns, but no word has been received on his current condition or whereabouts, sources said. “On July 9, sometime between 5:00 and 6:00 p.m. [local time] a monk self-immolated in Kyegudo’s Gesar Square,” a Tibetan living in exile told RFA’s Tibetan Service on Thursday, citing contacts in the town. “We still don’t know what his name is or which monastery he came from,” he said, adding that though sources said the monk was transported to a local hospital for treatment, it is unclear if he was taken there by bystanders or the police. Kyegudo, the site of Thursday’s protest and Yulshul prefecture’s main town, was hit by a devastating earthquake on April 14, 2010 that largely destroyed the town and killed almost 3,000 residents by official count. Thursday’s burning is the sixth Tibetan self-immolation to take place since the beginning of the year. It follows the May 27 protest of Sangye Tso, a Tibetan mother of two, who set herself ablaze and died outside Chinese police headquarters in Chone (Zhuoni) county in Gansu province’s Kanlho (Gannan) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. Reported by Kalden Lodoe for RFA's Tibetan Service. Translated by Benpa Topgyal. Written in English by Richard Finney. View this story online at: http://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/sixth-07092015165728.html Radio Free Asia is a private, nonprofit corporation broadcasting and publishing online news , information, and commentary in nine East Asian languages to listeners who do not have access to full and free news media. RFA ’s broadcasts seek to promote the rights of freedom of opinion and expression, including the freedom to “seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” RFA is funded by an annual grant from the Broadcasting Board of Governors. If you no longer wish to receive RFA news releases, send an e-mail to engnews-leave(a)rfanews.org . To add your name to our mailing list, send an e-mail to engnews-join(a)rfanews.org . ##### All media inquiries may be sent to Rohit Mahajan at mahajanr(a)rfa.org .

9 years, 11 months

RFA Breaking News: Thailand Rejects Claims it Killed Uyghurs Who Resisted Deportation

by Paul Eckert

RFA Breaking News: Thailand Rejects Claims it Killed Uyghurs Who Resisted Deportation JULY 9, 2015 - The Thai government on Thursday rejected a claim by the World Uyghur Congress that at least 25 men among a group of nearly 100 Uyghurs had been killed when they resisted moves by authorities to forcibly repatriate them to China. Thai authorities confirmed Thursday it had forcibly repatriated nearly 100 Uyghurs to China, a move that drew criticism from human rights groups and protests in Turkey over the expulsion of the Turkic-speaking Muslim minority that suffers harsh repression under Chinese rule. In a statement, the WUC had asserted that it has “direct information over the phone from a source on the ground in Thailand who indicated that at least 25 men were also killed trying to resist boarding the plane.” But Thai government deputy spokesman Weerachon Sukhontapatipak told Radio Free Asia that “there was no such thing as claimed by WUC.” The Munich-based WUC appeared to have removed the claim about the killing hours after publishing the statement on its website Thursday. The group had a day earlier accurately reported the impending expulsion of the more than 90 Uyghurs. Another Thai government source, speaking on condition of anonymity to RFA, also dismissed the WUC claim. “It is not true. There was no killing as claimed by the WUC,” he said, adding that Thai authorities could provide video evidence to show that there was no deaths in the run up to the repatriation. I believe we can prove this with sort of evidence, perhaps video footage, which I believe we may have during the operation,” he said. Initial report of 25 shot dead The WUC said in its statement that a first plane was loaded primarily with women and children, along with a small group of men, and departed without incident. “The second plane, however, was “intended to transport around 65 men, but authorities faced some resistance from the men in doing so.” It said that in the process 25 men were killed. Later, the paragraph on the killing was removed from its statement on its website. Wednesday's forced deportation followed the resettlement in Turkey last week of 173 women and children from among the detainees in Thailand, following long-lasting negotiations between the two countries. Figures given for the overnight deportation through a military section of Bangkok's main airport have ranged from 90 to 108. Thai officials said another 50 Uyghurs remained in the country awaiting determination of their status. The Uyghur arrivals in Turkey were among about 370 Uyghurs held in Thai government-run refugee detention centers in Padang Besar—in Songkhla province’s Sadao district—and the cities of Bangkok, Rayong and Trat, since March 2014 in what visitors have described as cramped and unhygienic conditions. Many have complained of worsening conditions and poor food quality, and detainees held a hunger strike in January to demand authorities improve the situation at the Padang Besar facility. One ethnic Uyghur boy detained there died last December after contracting tuberculosis. The detainees had remained in limbo more than a year into their detention, with Beijing demanding they be repatriated to China. Amnesty sees 'despicable act' Thailand, run by a military junta that has suspended democracy and is accused of human rights abuses, appeared uncomfortable being caught in a dispute among China, the Uyghurs who have been fleeing repression in increasing numbers and Turkey, which has offered hundreds of Uyghurs safe haven in recent years. “(If) they (Uyghurs) want to fight their way, just do it, but why cause friction between Thailand and Turkey, China or Uyghurs?" Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha, Thai prime minster, told reporters in Bangkok on Thursday. Prayuth also said the repatriated Uyghurs "will be provided with justice and safety. China confirmed they will be given access to fair justice." Those Chinese pledges are not taken seriously by human rights experts, who point to decades of systematic repression in the Xinjiang Uyhgur Autonomous Region, as that region is formally called. “This is akin to sentencing them to the worst punishment imaginable. Time and time again we have seen Uughurs returned to China disappearing into a black hole, with some detained, tortured and in some cases, sentenced to death and executed,” said Nicholas Bequelin, Regional Director for East Asia at Amnesty International. “Deporting these people is a despicable act, and illegal under international law. If the Thai authorities go ahead with any further deportations, they will be putting the lives of many at risk,” he said in a statement issued by the London-based rights watchdog. The U.S. State Department also condemned Thailand's move, saying it put the 100 or more Uyghurs in a position "where they could face harsh treatment and a lack of due process." In a statement from Washington, State Department spokesman John Kirby urged Thailand "not to carry out further forced deportations of ethnic Uyghurs" and called on China to "uphold international norms and to ensure transparency, due process, and proper treatment of these individuals." In recent years, hundreds of Uyghurs have been leaving China to escape persecution and repression by authorities and loss of land to settlers from eastern China. Chinese authorities have blamed an upsurge of violence in Xinjiang since 2012 on terrorists and Islamist insurgents seeking to establish an independent state, and have cracked down on Uyghur religion and culture. Reported by RFA's Uyghur Service. Written in English by Parameswaran Ponnudurai and Paul Eckert. View this story online at: http://www.rfa.org/english/news/uyghur/thailand-uyghur-07092015140950.html Radio Free Asia is a private, nonprofit corporation broadcasting and publishing online news , information, and commentary in nine East Asian languages to listeners who do not have access to full and free news media. RFA ’s broadcasts seek to promote the rights of freedom of opinion and expression, including the freedom to “seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” RFA is funded by an annual grant from the Broadcasting Board of Governors. If you no longer wish to receive RFA news releases, send an e-mail to engnews-leave(a)rfanews.org . To add your name to our mailing list, send an e-mail to engnews-join(a)rfanews.org . ##### All media inquiries may be sent to Rohit Mahajan at mahajanr(a)rfa.org .

9 years, 11 months

RFA Breaking News: Thailand Expels Nearly 100 Uyghurs to Uncertain Fate in China

by Paul Eckert

Thailand Expels Nearly 100 Uyghurs to Uncertain Fate in China JULY 9, 2015 - Thailand said on Thursday it had forcibly repatriated nearly 100 Uyghurs to China, a move that drew criticism from human rights groups and protests in Turkey over the expulsion of the Turkic-speaking Muslim minority that suffers harsh repression under Chinese rule. Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha, Thailand’s prime minster, told reporters his country was “not part of the dispute” between China and Uyghurs and had received guarantees from Beijing that the Uyghurs forced onto planes late on Wednesday would be treated fairly. “They will be provided with justice and safety. China confirmed they will be given access to fair justice,” Prayuth told reporters at the government house in Bangkok. “If they are not implicated in any offenses, they will be released and given land for making a living. But if any are implicated with crimes, they will be tried,” he said. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees said it was shocked at the deportation of a group believed to include women and children who did not wish to return to China. “While we are seeking further clarifications on what happened exactly, we are shocked by this deportation of some 100 people and consider it a flagrant violation of international law," said Volker Türk, UNHCR's Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, in a statement issued by the U.N. agency. "I strongly urge the Thai authorities to investigate this matter and appeal to Thailand to honor its fundamental international obligations, notably the principle of non-refoulement, and to refrain from such deportations in the future," he added. On Wednesday , the Munich-based World Uyghur Congress (WUC) warned of the impending repatriation and appealed for international intervention. The WUC said it was “gravely concerned” about the fate of the Uyghurs, noting that the consequences of their repatriation were likely to include criminal allegations used to justify punishments that would be inflicted on them upon their arrival in China. “It is anticipated that the Chinese government is behind this covert, and indeed heinous, operation which aims to bring these Uyghurs back to harsh punishment, which possibly includes capital punishment,” the WUC said. The forced deportation came despite the resettlement in Turkey last week of 173 women and children from among the detainees in Thailand, following long-lasting negotiations between the two countries. Maj. Gen. Weerachon Sukhontapatipak, deputy spokesperson for the Thai government, said in Bangkok the repatriation was ‘in line with a citizen verification procedure, which indicated them as Chinese and they must follow China’s justice.” The earlier release of Uyghurs to Turkey was a different matter, he told reporters at a news conference. “In regards with the 170 Uyghurs Thailand sent over to Turkey late June, this is an indication for Thailand’s compliance with international-standard citizenship verification process. They are verified being Turkish, so they were sent to Turkey,” said Sukhontapatipak. “We admitted it is a very sensitive security issue. However, Thailand has continual discussions with both China and Turkey,” he added. “There are about 50 Uyghur who are pending citizenship verification completion,” said Sukhontapatipak. Leaving China in droves In Turkey, local protesters responded to the expulsion by smashing windows and ransacking parts of the honorary Thai consulate in Istanbul. “Prime Minister Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha, has had a direct phone conversation with the Turkish prime minister and asked him to maintain security for the Thai diplomats and Thai citizens in Turkey. He has great concerns on the issue.” Sukhontapatipak said. The detainees had remained in limbo more than a year into their detention, with Beijing demanding they be repatriated to China. During the last couple of years, Uyghurs have been leaving China in droves to escape persecution and repression by authorities who consider them separatists and terrorists and have cracked down on their religion and culture. Chinese authorities have blamed an upsurge of violence in Xinjiang since 2012 on terrorists and Islamist insurgents seeking to establish an independent state. Several Asian nations—including Thailand—have bowed to demands by Beijing to repatriate Uyghurs fleeing persecution in Xinjiang, despite warnings from rights groups and the Uyghur exile community that they may face prison sentences upon their return. Reported by RFA's Uyghur Service. Written in English by Paul Eckert. View this story online at: http://www.rfa.org/english/news/uyghur/thailand-uyghurs-07092015085045.html Radio Free Asia is a private, nonprofit corporation broadcasting and publishing online news , information, and commentary in nine East Asian languages to listeners who do not have access to full and free news media. RFA ’s broadcasts seek to promote the rights of freedom of opinion and expression, including the freedom to “seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” RFA is funded by an annual grant from the Broadcasting Board of Governors. If you no longer wish to receive RFA news releases, send an e-mail to engnews-leave(a)rfanews.org . To add your name to our mailing list, send an e-mail to engnews-join(a)rfanews.org . ##### All media inquiries may be sent to Rohit Mahajan at mahajanr(a)rfa.org .

9 years, 11 months

RFA BREAKING NEWS: At Least 18 Dead in Ramadan Attack on Police Checkpoint in Xinjiang

by Param

At Least 18 Dead in Ramadan Attack on Police Checkpoint in Xinjiang JUNE 23, 2015—At least 18 people are dead following a knife and bomb attack by a group of ethnic Uyghurs on a police traffic checkpoint in northwestern China’s troubled Xinjiang region, sources said Tuesday, amid harsh restrictions on observance of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. One source said the incident, which occurred Monday in the Tahtakoruk district of southwestern Xinjiang’s Kashgar (in Chinese, Kashi) city, left as many as 28 people dead, several of whom were bystanders. The attack began when a car sped through a traffic checkpoint without stopping, Turghun Memet, an officer with the nearby Heyhag district police station told RFA’s Uyghur Service. “When one of the policemen at the checkpoint ran out of the booth, the car backed up, hitting him and breaking his leg,” Memet said. “Two other suspects then rushed out of the car, using knives to attack and kill two police officers who had come to rescue their comrade,” he said. The remaining traffic police, who do not carry guns, called for backup from Memet’s department and the People’s Armed Police (PAP). “By the time armed police reached the scene, three more suspects had arrived by sidecar motorcycle and attacked the checkpoint and police cars with explosives, killing one regular police officer, another traffic policeman and one auxiliary officer,” Memet said. “They also injured four other officers and damaged a police vehicle,” he said. “At that point, our [armed officers] arrived and killed 15 suspects we designated as terrorists.” Memet said the car used by the attackers had displayed a license plate from Kizilsu Kirghiz Autonomous Prefecture’s Atush (in Chinese, Atushi) city, but he was told they were residents of Kashgar prefecture’s Yengisheher (Shule) and Peyziwat (Jiashi) counties. “The security is tight in [downtown Kashgar], so they chose to attack an area on the outskirts of the city,” he said. “They were in possession of simple weapons, so they targeted [an unarmed] traffic police checkpoint.” Information ‘tightly controlled’ A police officer from Kashgar’s Ostengboyi station, near the site of the attack, confirmed the incident to RFA, but said it was unclear how many people had died. “The number of the dead varies even among the police—especially when it comes to the number of female suspects,” the officer said on condition of anonymity, adding that he had heard either three or eight women were involved in the attack. “Some are saying that all of the suspects were killed, while others say some were injured and taken to the hospital for treatment,” he said. “Information about this kind of incident is always tightly controlled—not even the police are given the details. But people are saying that the dead numbered around 20.” The officer noted that the attack occurred during the sensitive month of Ramadan and had “a massive effect” on the inhabitants of the city. “Even the police are panicked and the situation is still very tense right now.” An officer from the Qoghan police station, which has jurisdiction over the site of the incident, also said the attackers were from Yengisheher and Peyziwat counties, but decided to target Kashgar because the city is more populated. “I assume that they intended to do more damage in a bigger crowd in Kashgar city,” he said, adding that an investigation into the attack was ongoing. ‘Running for their lives’ A food vendor who works near where the attack occurred said the sound of explosions and prolonged gunfire prompted him to open his shop door a crack so he could see what was happening. “I saw people running for their lives in all directions when the police fired, including a lot of women who were crying and screaming,” he said, adding that if the women had been among the attackers “they would not have run and cried.” “We weren’t given any information about the suspects’ identities. The government usually refers to them as ‘terrorists’ in this kind of situation and they may do so this time as well.” A retired government worker, who also declined to give his name, said he had heard from a police officer that “28 people were killed in the incident, including six attackers and three police, while the others were all bystanders.” “It seems the police who arrived at the spot were either panicked or encouraged by the ‘strike hard’ policy, because they opened fire indiscriminately and many people who were not linked to the attackers got killed,” he said. Authorities have launched a “strike hard” campaign in Xinjiang in the name of fighting separatism, religious extremism, and terrorism, following a string of violent incidents that have left hundreds dead in recent years. The government worker said he believed the incident was prompted by the restrictions put in place by authorities during the month of Ramadan, which he called “very extreme.” “I think this is the first reaction to this year’s Ramadan restrictions,” he said. “If such restrictions were implemented in other parts of the [Muslim] world, they would have led to bloody incidents on a mass scale, but we Uyghurs are a defenseless and helpless people and this is the reaction.” Ramadan restrictions The attack comes a week after millions of Uyghurs began observance of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan under increasing official pressure not to fast. Uyghur officials and other state employees like teachers have been banned from fasting, and it is against the law for children under 18 to take part in religious activities. Restaurants in the region are typically required to stay open all day, even if the owners are Muslim, and Uyghur children and young people are often required to attend free lunches in the region's schools and universities to avoid the dawn-to-dusk fast traditionally observed during Ramadan. Turkic-speaking minority Uyghurs have complained about pervasive ethnic discrimination, religious repression, and cultural suppression by Chinese authorities. Last October, authorities tightened rules forbidding anyone under the age of 18 from following a religion, targeting families whose children studied the Quran or fasted during Ramadan with hefty fines. Authorities in the Hotan, Kashgar, and Aksu prefectures of Xinjiang have forced Uyghur parents to sign pledges promising not to allow their children to participate in religious activities, the Germany-based World Uyghur Congress exile group has said. Reported by Shohret Hoshur for RFA’s Uyghur Service. Translated by Mamatjan Juma. Written in English by Joshua Lipes. View this story online at: <http://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/burning-02142013110206.html> http://www.rfa.org/english/news/uyghur/attack-06232015182353.html Radio Free Asia is a private, nonprofit corporation broadcasting and publishing online news, information, and commentary in nine East Asian languages to listeners who do not have access to full and free news media. RFA’s broadcasts seek to promote the rights of freedom of opinion and expression, including the freedom to “seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” RFA is funded by an annual grant from the Broadcasting Board of Governors. If you no longer wish to receive RFA news releases, send an e-mail to <mailto:engnews-leave@rfanews.org> engnews-leave(a)rfanews.org. To add your name to our mailing list, send an e-mail to <mailto:engnews-join@rfanews.org> engnews-join(a)rfanews.org . ##### All media inquiries may be sent to Rohit Mahajan at <mailto:mahajanr@rfa.org> mahajanr(a)rfa.org.

10 years

Radio Free Asia Series on China Nuclear Risks Wins at New York Festivals

by Rohit Mahajan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 23, 2015 Contact: Rohit Mahajan 202 530 4976 <mailto:mahajanr@rfa.org> mahajanr(a)rfa.org Radio Free Asia Series on China Nuclear Risks Wins at New York Festivals WASHINGTON - Radio Free Asia <http://www.rfa.org/english/> (RFA) last night won a bronze medal at the New York Festivals' 2015 International Radio Program Awards <http://www.newyorkfestivals.com/worldsbestradio/2015/> for its Cantonese Service <http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/?encoding=simplified> 's investigative series <http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/features/hottopic/GD-nuclear-power-12012014110 600.html> on China's nuclear energy risks. Titled, "A Citizenry Left in the Dark: China's Nuclear Power Industry," the series follows on RFA's revelations in June 2010 when a nuclear power plant in close proximity to Hong Kong leaked radioactive material. It won in the juried contest's category of Best Investigative Reporting. "This award helps to underscore an important issue of safety for the millions in China who live and work near nuclear plants," said Libby Liu, President of RFA. "The tireless work of Radio Free Asia's Cantonese Service brings this story to the people who would otherwise be left in the dark by Chinese state-controlled media and officials. "The continued recognition of this story also inspires us at RFA to continue bringing news to people in Asia who would otherwise not be able to access uncensored, accurate journalism." In June 2010, radioactive substances were detected in cooling water at the Daya Bay nuclear power plant in southern Guangdong, China's most populous province. After RFA Cantonese broke the story, local authorities claimed that the danger to the public was "negligible." Four years after the incident, an RFA undercover film crew traveled to the site to investigate safety conditions in the area. RFA's team learned that local residents remain woefully ignorant of the danger of nuclear waste, even though waste from the power plant is dumped at a site that is five kilometers from where they live. RFA found also that, in order to prevent the rise of popular discontent in the aftermath of the 2010 radioactive leak, local authorities have been providing generous monthly living subsidies to those living within the immediate vicinity of the plant to quell discontent and concerns among locals. RFA's four-part multimedia series, which aired in four parts in December 2014, also explores safety issues surrounding Guangdong's Huizhou Nuclear Power Plant, one of 26 nuclear power plants under construction in China. The majority of local residents interviewed by RFA were only vaguely aware, if at all, of the existence of the nuclear plant, much less the health risks of living close by. China is in the midst of a serious push to expand its nuclear power industry to lessen reliance on fossil fuels. What is troubling, especially in the post-Fukushima era, is that there does not exist in the country a comprehensive national program to provide citizens with information on possible public health hazards in their communities; nor have the authorities established emergency plans and response mechanisms in the event of a nuclear accident. The award was presented at a ceremony in New York City. Earlier this year, the series also won a Sigma Delta Chi award <http://www.rfa.org/about/releases/sigma-deltachi-04242015113307.html> , presented by the Society of Professional Journalists <https://www.spj.org/index.asp> , in April. Other winners at New York Festivals included RFA sister broadcaster Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, the Middle East Broadcasting Networks (MBN), the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, BBC Radio 4, RTE, and WNYC, among many other esteemed broadcasters from around the world. # # # Radio Free Asia is a private, nonprofit corporation broadcasting and publishing online news, information, and commentary in nine East Asian languages to listeners who do not have access to full and free news media. RFA's broadcasts seek to promote the rights of freedom of opinion and expression, including the freedom to "seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers." RFA is funded by an annual grant from the Broadcasting Board of Governors. Rohit Mahajan | Radio Free Asia | Media Relations Manager <mailto:mahajanr@rfa.org> mahajanr(a)rfa.org | O: 202.530.4976 | M: 202.489.8021

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