China Executes Two Uyghurs for Alleged Terror Links

Uyghurs, like Tibetans, have a long history under Beijing’s heavy-handed rule-which has at times erupted in violence. But exiled Uyghurs deny the existence of an organized terrorist campaign and say previous incidents have been fabricated or exaggerated to secure international support for a crackdown.

Chinese riot police organized to attack people in the Xinjiang region. Some insiders say the people being attacked and executed did nothing wrong, and that the so-called terrorist charges are more similar to George W. Bush's imaginary WMD's. In this photo released by China's Xinhua News Agency, Chinese frontier guards with police dogs are ready for orders in the suburb of Yining, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, in 2006.

Mukhtar Setiwaldi and Abduweli Imin were originally handed death sentences by the Kashgar Intermediate People’s Court on November 9th 2007, according to a November 11th 2007 report by China's official Xinhua news agency.

Referring to them by their Chinese names, Xinhua said Muhetaer Setiwalidi and Abuduwaili Yiming were sentenced to death for separatist activities, training at a terrorist camp, and illegally manufacturing explosives.

They were sent to be executed after a public announcement of their sentences July 9th in Yengi Sheher county, Kashgar, Uyghur sources and a local official said.

Authorities ordered county residents to attend the meeting but police banned cameras, lighters, and recording devices, the sources told RFA’s Uyghur service.

Authorities also announced that three others Uyghurs had been handed two-year suspended death sentences and the rest were sentenced to jail terms ranging from 10 years to life, the sources said. All 17 defendants were charged as members of the East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM), which Beijing accuses of terrorist ties. ETIM denies the allegation. Salem-News.Com

Also see the EAST  TURKISTAN  INFORMATION CENTER