Military

DATE=10-16-01

TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT

NUMBER=5-50235

TITLE=CHINA / U-S / UIGHURS

BYLINE=JIM RANDLE

DATELINE=BEIJING

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: China is cooperating with Washington's war on terrorism - supplying intelligence and political support. But that worries some members of China's Muslim minority who fear that the United States might now tone down criticism of China's human-rights practices in its restive western frontier. V-O-A's Beijing Correspondent Jim Randle reports.

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The City of Kashgar, in China's Xinjiang region, is home to Uighurs, and other mostly Muslim ethnic groups. Their culture, faith, and aspirations differ sharply from the Han Chinese who also live here. The Han are the overall majority in China and run the country. They are also are a growing presence in traditionally Muslim Xinjiang.

Some Uighurs in this rugged and beautiful land do not like rule from Beijing and wish to be an independent nation.

/// SFX: SOUNDS KASHGAR MARKET, FADE UNDER ///

Kashgar's busy marketplace is famous for rugs, but Chinese officials say some residents are crafting revolution, not tourist trinkets. They say Xinjiang separatist forces have used bombings, assassinations and other terrorist tactics in a bid for independence, prompting a years-long crackdown by Chinese troops and police.

Human-rights groups and the U-S government frequently criticize the numerous arrests and executions in that campaign. And Washington also strongly protested last year's imprisonment of a prominent Uighur businesswoman for alleged involvement in separatist activities. The U-S Senate passed a resolution calling for her release.

But Chinese scholar and diplomat Xue Mouhong says the September 11th terrorist attacks on the United States might mute Washington's criticism of Beijing's approach to Muslims in China.

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I think that it is very important to have a common enemy. It is a very important factor in improving Sino-U-S relations. The common enemy is terrorism.

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Some Muslim Uighers in Xinjiang say they appreciate Washington speaking out for them in the past, but fear the United States might go silent in exchange for China's help in the struggle against suspected terrorist Osama bin Laden and his militant organization.

But a U-S-based expert on Uighurs, Professor June Dreyer of the University of Miami, says any softening of support from Washington would not last long. Professor Dreyer says support for human rights and religious freedom is a fundamental American value and the Bush Administration would be criticized if it abandoned its support of Uighurs.

/// DREYER ACT ///

I also think that both sides understand that, assuming the Osama bin Laden problem can be dealt with, we are probably going to step up our criticisms again.

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Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Sun Yuxi denies China has demanded concessions in exchange for supporting a global crackdown on terrorists.

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Mr. Sun says the fight against terrorism is a common struggle because terrorism is a common scourge to the international community. He says all nations have an obligation to protect their citizens. The spokesman says China and the United States have differences and disputes, but also have shared interests.

How the coalition against terrorism will affect China's actions against the Uighers and suspected separatists is not clear.

But Professor Xue says while the small Muslim movement is not a real threat to China's territorial integrity, it must still be dealt with severely because it does manage to injure and kill people in its quest for a separate state. (SIGNED)

NEB/HK/JR/JO/RAE