Beijing, NU Online
Chinese authorities vowed Friday, March 6, 'more severe' security measures for the Muslim-majority region of Xinjiang, which has already been under draconian security crackdowns.
"The (security) situation will be more severe," Chairman of the Xinjiang regional government Nur Bekri said, Xinhua news agency reported.<>
"The task (will be) more arduous, and the struggle more fierce in the region this year," he added on the sidelines of the annual meeting of China's parliament.
Nearly 3,000 delegates met on Friday in the second day of the annual session parliament, which approves decisions made by the Chinese Communist Party.
Rights groups said that this year's nine-day meeting has been accompanied by an unprecedented crackdown campaign on opposition figures.
"What we're seeing is that it's not only in Beijing, but also like in Shanxi and other areas" said Sharon Hom, from the New York-based advocacy group Human Rights in China.
China has waged a harsh campaign in recent years against Uighur Muslims struggling to set up an independent "East Turkestan" in Xinjiang.
The Uighurs are a Turkish-speaking minority of eight million whose traditional homeland lies in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region in north-west China.
The U.S. State Department last month accused China of severe repression in Xinjiang in 2008 in a human rights report.
Severer
Bekri defended the severe security measures in the Muslim-majority region of Xinjiang.
"The situation in South Asia, including the Mumbai attacks and attacks in Afghanistan and Pakistan, of course are a spur to the three forces (terrorism, separatism and extremism) and those who want to harm Xinjiang," he said.
"So this year our task is very arduous."
Rights groups and advocates of Uighur autonomy say China exaggerates the threats there to justify the controls.
Almost 1,300 people were arrested by security forces on charges of terrorism, religious extremism in the region last year, according to local media.
Bekri said attacks may be launched during China's celebrations of the 60 years of the Chinese rule in Xinjiang.
"As we celebrate the birthday of our nation, we don't believe that hostile forces from home and abroad will give up," he was quoted by islamonline.com as saying.
"I'm afraid we will face a more severe situation in maintaining stability than last year, our task will probably be heavier, and the struggle will probably be fiercer."
Xinjiang has an anniversary of its own, as six decades ago Chinese troops marched into the region, implementing what is now called a "peaceful liberation" of the region.
But since 1955, the Muslim-dominated region has been autonomous.
Beijing views Xinjiang as an invaluable asset because of its crucial strategic location near Central Asia and its large oil and gas reserves. (dar)
Chinese authorities vowed Friday, March 6, 'more severe' security measures for the Muslim-majority region of Xinjiang, which has already been under draconian security crackdowns.
"The (security) situation will be more severe," Chairman of the Xinjiang regional government Nur Bekri said, Xinhua news agency reported.<>
"The task (will be) more arduous, and the struggle more fierce in the region this year," he added on the sidelines of the annual meeting of China's parliament.
Nearly 3,000 delegates met on Friday in the second day of the annual session parliament, which approves decisions made by the Chinese Communist Party.
Rights groups said that this year's nine-day meeting has been accompanied by an unprecedented crackdown campaign on opposition figures.
"What we're seeing is that it's not only in Beijing, but also like in Shanxi and other areas" said Sharon Hom, from the New York-based advocacy group Human Rights in China.
China has waged a harsh campaign in recent years against Uighur Muslims struggling to set up an independent "East Turkestan" in Xinjiang.
The Uighurs are a Turkish-speaking minority of eight million whose traditional homeland lies in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region in north-west China.
The U.S. State Department last month accused China of severe repression in Xinjiang in 2008 in a human rights report.
Severer
Bekri defended the severe security measures in the Muslim-majority region of Xinjiang.
"The situation in South Asia, including the Mumbai attacks and attacks in Afghanistan and Pakistan, of course are a spur to the three forces (terrorism, separatism and extremism) and those who want to harm Xinjiang," he said.
"So this year our task is very arduous."
Rights groups and advocates of Uighur autonomy say China exaggerates the threats there to justify the controls.
Almost 1,300 people were arrested by security forces on charges of terrorism, religious extremism in the region last year, according to local media.
Bekri said attacks may be launched during China's celebrations of the 60 years of the Chinese rule in Xinjiang.
"As we celebrate the birthday of our nation, we don't believe that hostile forces from home and abroad will give up," he was quoted by islamonline.com as saying.
"I'm afraid we will face a more severe situation in maintaining stability than last year, our task will probably be heavier, and the struggle will probably be fiercer."
Xinjiang has an anniversary of its own, as six decades ago Chinese troops marched into the region, implementing what is now called a "peaceful liberation" of the region.
But since 1955, the Muslim-dominated region has been autonomous.
Beijing views Xinjiang as an invaluable asset because of its crucial strategic location near Central Asia and its large oil and gas reserves. (dar)
