Chinese president calling for stability in Xinjiang province by Zuzana Zelenakova

Chinese president Hu Jintao has visited the province of Xinjiang for the first time since the ethnic riots last month. As he claimed in his speech the key factors for ensuring peaceful environment in the region were development, reform and above all ethnic unity. He also expressed gratitude to armed forces for their efforts in repressing deadly riots from July 5 that took place in Urumqi, the capital of this northwestern region. The riots were the result of wrath between Uyghur people, predominantly Muslim minority that similarly as Tibetans desires a new sovereign state, and Han Chinese that form majority in China. Uyghurs have complained for a long time about discriminat! ion from Han Chinese. The riots that broke out after police stopped originally peaceful demonstration organized by Uyghur youths claimed as much as 200 lives. During his visit that lasted from Saturday to Tuesday Chinese president toured various villages, farms, factories and others. He also promised to villagers that in the future the ethnic minorities will be protected by “more efficient measures." “In the future, Xinjiang's development will be better and faster," he said. "The improvement of people's lives will be even more remarkable; let's work together to create an even better future." He did not forget to emphasize that the crisis fully proved the stability and power of the Communist Party of China and the people and that the separatists are “doomed to fail”. According to the reports several hundred people were charged in connection with the riots as well as two websites for encouraging violence. Ilham Tohti, the founder of one of the sites, w! as held and questioned by secret police for more than a month.! The eth nic unrest in the province started in late June after two Uyghurs working at a toy factory in Guandong region were killed in a fight between Uyghurs and Han.

related story (sgx15228): http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090826/ap_on_re_as/as_china_unr...

by Zuzana Zelenakova for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

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