China Aid Association
(Midland, Texas–Jan. 16, 2012) China Aid Association is calling for full disclosure from Chinese authorities in the deaths of seven Uyghurs in far western China late last month and the detentions of as many as five Uyghur children.
Government reports said a clash with police occurred December 28 as a group of Uyghurs were trying to leave the country illegally by crossing China’s western border. The official Xinhua News Agency said “violent terrorists” had kidnapped two people in a remote and mountainous area of far western China’s minority region of Xinjiang.
The report said that during a police rescue mission in Pishan county, Hotan prefecture, police fired on the kidnappers who had “resisted arrest,” killing seven and wounding four others, who were arrested.
The U.S.-government-funded Radio Free Asia quoted local sources as saying that the whereabouts of at least five children who were part of the group remained unknown. They are believed to be in official custody, and some may be seriously injured. RFA reported that the group was fleeing China because of religious repression. One of those who was killed had reportedly been detained previously for three months for attending banned religious education classes.
ChinaAid condemns the killing and arbitrary detention of these Uyghur people. We stand for religious freedom for all people and call on the Chinese government to give a full and truthful accounting of this incident.
China Aid Contacts
Rachel Ritchie, English Media Director
Cell: (432) 553-1080 | Office: 1+ (888) 889-7757 | Other: (432) 689-6985
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.chinaaid.org
