Chinese Riots: Blame the Dame

Wednesday's news that Chinese President Hu Jintao is bailing on the already-dubious G8 Summit in L'Aquila, Italy, to head home should come as little surprise to those following the recent wave of riots and killings in China's western region of Xinjiang. Over the past weekend, ethnic Han Chinese clashed with the region's native Muslim Uighur minority, leaving more than 1,000 injured and at least 156 people dead.The story in Xinjiang bares unfortunate resemblance to what's been happening in Tibet over the last few decades: Spurred on by Communist Party incentives, Han Chinese have moved to increasingly remote locales, taking over businesses and dramatically changing the economic landscape. In tandem, regional ethnic minorities have felt increasing pressure by party leaders to forsake their native cultures and conform to the dominant Han practices--with leading human rights groups asserting these populations are under assault.

In the case of the Uighurs, this has meant a phasing out of Uighur language in school, increasing unemployment, and severe limits on religious practice (Uighurs in the government are not allowed to practice Islam, fasting during Ramadan is against the law, and only state-sponsored hajjs are allowed.) In the meantime, the Han Chinese population in Xinjiang has exploded: in 1949, Han Chinese were 6 percent of the population; by 2000, they made up nearly 40 percent.

As with Tibet, the Chinese government has come forward and pinned the uprising on a leading human rights figure in exile. Where Tibetan tensions have been placed squarely on the shoulders of the Dalai Lama (whom the Chinese have--perhaps less than amicably--called "a jackal clad in Buddhist monk's robes." Ouch) this time, all Party fingers are pointing to Rebiya Kadeer, a Uighur activist in exile.

While the Dalai Lama and Kadeer presumably foment revolution from their lofty perches elsewhere (given the current government crackdown on communication, Kadeer must have some crazily proficient ESP), the top Chinese Communist official in the region has vowed to seek the death penalty for the perpetrators of the Xinjiang violence. As President Hu makes his way to back Beijing, 20,000 Chinese troops have arrived in town as Uighurs have begun fleeing their homes in busloads. Han Chinese, meanwhile, have been seen in the streets brandishing bats and pipes, ready to attack. Wherever Kadeer is, we can safely assume that things are not going the way she had hoped.