BAD BLOOD IN URUMQI AGAIN

AUM
By Brigadier Chitranjan Sawant,VSM
Urumqi,capital of Xinjiang province of the People's Republic of China is in the news again. And for all wrong reasons. The central government in Beijing is embarassed as the world media, both print and electronic, have focussed on the ethnic tensions there. Moreover, on 1st october 2009, China will celebrate her 60th anniversary of the Communist take over of the country after a civil war. naturally, the Central government would be happier if only good news emanates from the country.
Merinews.com had the privilege to be among the first few news portals to have carried an authentic story of the ethnic riots that had broken out in Urumqi in early July 09. As many as 200 plus citizens had perished in that far flung region of China and president Hu Jintao had to cut short his international tour where he had met some heads of state of major powers to solve the problems resulting from the global economic downturn. His presence in Beijing was considered essential to take prompt and far reaching decisions as head of the state. Of course, what the authorities had done then was termed as fire fighting to douse the flames and no concrete steps were taken to solve the recurring problem of ethnic tensions and eruption of riots over flimsy matters.
Now in September 2009, tension is running high in Urumqi. The Han Chinese and the Uighur Muslims are at daggers drawn once again. The Han Chinese, a dominant ethnic group in entire China, have complained that some Uighur Muslims roam about in streets and stab han Chinese found alone with syringes. It is not yet clear whether the needles of syringes are infected but some sources have pointed out that the needles are AIDS infected. Some reports mentioned that needles used to stab innocent pedestrians were indeed Hypodermic. The situation reached a nadir when on last Wednesday the Uighur Muslims did not spare even han Chinese children.
The Han Chinese took out processions and as many as one thousand men and women reportedly joined to make a common cause and drum their grievance into the ears of the local administration. Wang Lequan, head of the Communist party in Xinjiang was made the butt of anger of the Han Chinese as he failed to protect them from wanton attacks of uighur Muslims. Some angry demonstrators shouted slogans demanding that Wang's head must roll if he did not resign on his own. The processionists assembled in the People's Square right in front of the government office where Wang Lequan sits and works and indeed it was so embarrasing for him.
Fortunately, there has been no loss of life or property this time unlike what the situation was in July 09. The administration has toughened its stand and deployed sufficient force to overawe the mischief mongers. Of course, the long term solution lies in bringing the two ethnic groups - Han Chinese and Uighur Muslims - closer to each other. Taking recourse to the age old saying the men and women of Xinjiang may be counselled thus : "BRING YOUR HEARTS TOGETHER BUT KEEP YOUR TENTS APART"
submitted by Brigadier Chitranjan Sawant,VSM