Posted on 07/07/2009 5:54:46 PM PDT by Kaslin
Democracy: Riots exploded in China's western Xinjiang province this week, in what authorities alternatively call criminal acts or global terrorism. In reality, it's neither: it's the pent-up fury of people who live without freedom.
International response has been muted, but shouldn't be. The scale of deaths and the increasing frequency of such upheavals across the country raises red flags about China's prized "stability."
It's curious, but places that justify repression in the name of stability always seem to end in turmoil. Official Chinese sources offer two explanations, each containing a bit of truth, but all skirting the real issue, which is China's growing need for democratic accountability.
State media claimed the riots were a law-enforcement matter, describing Uighur ruffians coming armed and ready to rumble at last weekend's demonstration in Urumqi. But that doesn't quite work.
China's other version of events contradicts the law-enforcement thesis and called it essentially the work of outside agitators.
The riots were also said to be an orchestrated effort from abroad to break up the country with terrorism. One official version holds that Uighur rioters are al-Qaida-inspired troublemakers.
There's some truth to this, given rising Islamic fundamentalism in Xinjiang. Other versions insist the unrest was masterminded from America by exile leader Rebiya Khadeer, a 62-year-old businesswoman who leads the Uighur National Congress. Khadeer denies this, and it's impossible to see how much influence she has, anyway.
(Excerpt) Read more at ibdeditorials.com ...
China gets that vaunted stability through the combination of a monolithic society and a heavy hand. The restive Islamic element certainly challenges that status quo.
Isn’t TROP the problem in this instance?
Hmmm tough call, is it ok to hope that they kill each other...
I’d like to think so....
They have Muslims causing trouble — why wouldn’t the Chinese react? (Because the Muslims are noted for their peacefulness? /sarc)
I would not label it as a lack of freedom, but frustration out of what amounts to the Han Chinese muscling the Uighars out of their own country.
For years, the Chinese government has been importing Han Chinese, for whom it builds new cities nearby to Uighar cities, but the Han cities get all the support and resources, and the old Uighar cities are left to wither.
Much like in Tibet, so many Han Chinese are brought in that they become a majority, and there is little or no interface with the native people. The Han will only employ Han, sell goods to Han, buy goods from Han, speak with Han. And they live in relative wealth compared to the Uighars.
The Han Chinese also help themselves to the oil and minerals, the better agricultural land, and the fresh water. Then the Han complain about the Uighar complaints.
Red ants vs. black ants
“Muslim extremists versus Chinese Communists...”
As Henry Kissinger said during the Iran-Iraq war, it’s a shame they can’t both lose.
That's my vote. And I hope they invite their friends.
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