Says release from embassy in Georgetown
The Chinese Government has stated that it is unequivocally against ethnic separatism, violence and terrorism.

A press release from the Embassy of the Republic of China in Guyana yesterday said, “The Chinese Government cherishes national unification, ethnic unity and social stability, and is committed to ethnic harmony and common development of all ethnic groups.”

“The Government and people of China, also the international community, will recognise the terrorist and separatist nature of the Eastern Turkistan forces and do not support or sympathise with them in any form,” it added.

It noted that on July 5, highly violent crimes involving beating, smashing, looting and arson took place in Urumqi, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

“A large number of innocent civilians and armed policemen were killed and many others were injured,” it observed.

At 220 sites, the rioters set fire to buildings, smashed or burned vehicles, and killed people; and according to initial figures, up to July 10, 1,680 people were injured and 184 killed, including 57 who were beaten to death right on roads or alleys.

“Most of the victims are innocent civilians. About 527 vehicles, including buses, taxis and police cars were smashed and burned. Six hundred and sixty-three construction units with a total floor space of 21,353 square metres were damaged in the riot. There are 291 shops among the damaged houses. Twenty-nine of them with a total floor space of 13,769 square metres were razed by fire. Most of them were big supermarkets,” it stated.

The release said, “No country under the rule of law and no responsible government would tolerate such violent crimes involving beating, smashing, looting and arson.”

“The CPC Committee and Government of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region paid great attention to the situation,” it noted.

The release stated that Police were speedily deployed to protect people’s lives and property, maintain social stability, and restore public order.

“They sent in small teams to rescue people in the downtown area and search for criminals. The actions taken by the local authorities are completely legitimate and justified and have received public support,” it maintained.

“By now, the public security authority has arrested and detained over 1,400 suspects in accordance with the law. The situation has now been brought under control,” the Embassy stated.

“Transport and public order in Urumqi have now returned to normal. Main retailers in Urumqi have resumed business,” it went on.

“The Chinese government adopts an open and transparent policy towards media reports on the July 5 riots. Resident correspondents in China are invited to visit Xinjiang. The local authorities set up a media centre in Urumqi and are providing assistance and convenience to foreign and domestic media for their report in Xinjiang, with the hope that international media can cover the incident in an objective and fair manner,” the statement said.

“Facts have fully shown that the July 5 riots were premeditated and organised crimes of violence, direct and instigated by separatists abroad and organised and carried out by separatist inside the country,” the release said.

“It aims at destabilising Xinjiang and separating it from China. It is not an ethnic or religious issue, but rather, major principled issues of national unification and social stability,” the release stated.