Death Toll Rise in Xinjiang Uyghur ‘Autonomous’ Region

Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Regional Committee of the Communist Party says death toll from the violent incidents up to 192.
Death Toll Rise in Xinjiang Uyghur ‘Autonomous’ Region
7/22/2009
Updated:
7/23/2009

The Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Regional Committee of the Communist Party said on Wednesday, July 15 that the death toll from the violent incidents between the Han people, Uygurs and police in Xinjiang Province, which broke out on July 5, increased to 192 people. The toll was 8 more compared to earlier published statistics. A total of 1,721 people were injured in the turmoil.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) regime’s statistics are quite different from local residents’ estimation. The World Uyghur Congress’ estimate of the death toll is approximately between 600  and 800 people. Radio Free Asia quoted a witness from Urumuqi, the capital of the Region, as stating the death toll was several hundred.

“The official claimed 150 people died, but that is just Han people.  Adding Uyghur people,  the death toll would be more than 500 people,” the Uyghur witness said.

Also according to other Western media a large number of riot police still patrol the streets of Urumuqi city. A majority of the businesses and stores have resumed normal operations. However, relations between the Han and Uyghur minority group are still very strained.

The Al Qaida terrorist organization claimed they will take revenge for China’s crackdown on Uyghurs (who are Muslims). The President of the World Uyghur Congress Rebiya Kadeer, in exile from China,   made an official declaration distancing Uyghur Muslims from Al Qaida  and condemning Al Qaida’s warning to “attack the Han nation.”

She said that she doesn’t  believe in using violence to resolve any problem and that global terrorists should not  use the Uygurs’ legitimate aspirations [for freedom or independence] as an excuse to conduct terrorism.

Read the original Chinese article.