Great China is cracking down on Muslim brothers 
From correspondents in Beijing
April 12, 2004
CHINA today compared “terrorists” in its north-western predominantly Muslim Xinjiang region to “rats,” saying it would act resolutely to crack down on separatist activities.
“The violent terrorists in Xinjiang are like rats scurrying across a street, hated and detested by everybody,” the Xinjiang government said in a statement issued at a briefing in Beijing on the region.
“Their evil conspiracy of separating the country and destroying the stability of Xinjiang will never be achieved,” it said.
Turkic-speaking Uighurs make up the largest ethnic group in Xinjiang, which is believed to be home to strong separatist sentiments.
Human rights groups have accused China of suppressing even peaceful dissent under the guise of counter-terrorism.
The Xinjiang government said in its statement it would firmly adhere to the principle of ruling the country and the region by law.
“We will take resolute measures to crack down on separatist activities conducted by a few violent terrorists,” it said. “We will oppose illegal activities in the name of religion.”
China last month executed two Uighurs extradited from neighbouring Kyrgyzstan who were convicted of murdering a Chinese diplomat and his driver in the Central Asian country
In December China issued its first publicised list of “terrorist” organisations.
It included four groups of Uighurs advocating for an independent state in the natural resource-rich region. The list also named 11 Uighur Muslims, most of them living overseas.
The region has seen a series of anti-Chinese activities, including an uprising in February 1997 in Yining town, in which insurgents took up arms and fought bloody street battles with Chinese police.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,9261157%255E1702,00.html
