If you type “Xinjiang” in your google search, the results will show you the list of recent unrests in the region. That’s my hometown, where I spent 18 years of my life. I am now living in a city over 10,000 km away, to be precise the distance from here to Urumqi (the capital city of Xinjiang province in China) is 12541.62 km.
I search news update on my hometown almost on an hourly basis, but the more I read the more questions unanswered. What triggered the riot? Who are the people have been killed? Can the authority confirm its the terrorist group? This is the typical way of reporting ethnic conflicts in my country . You dont see these terrorists as individuals, you dont know what kind of family they come from, when and how they joined the terrorist group. The state news include the where, when, death tool, cause of riot – terrorists group want to separate the region.
This is the reason I want to write down my thoughts, my questions on this issue. I have Uyghur and Han Chinese friends . The Uyghur friends are as angry as the Han Chinese on the recent incidents. However, I know they will have a more difficult time. When they go to work, they will be judged, their kids at school will be judged. Because they look like the group who caused the riots.
Back to 2009,on 5th July, almost 200 people died from the deadly riot in the capital city of the region Urumuqi. Its the darkest day in my life. Because the unrest have such an impact on the daily life of my families and friends.
I find its very difficult to share my thoughts and my emotions with friends and colleagues here. Because the media here does not really cover much of the issue in my hometown. I am conscious of not making a scene or being self pity when I explain to people the situation . Most of time I felt it was irrelevant with the life going on this side of the world.
Therefore, this is the space where I can pour my thoughts into. I want to write down whats on my mind, and to be able to speak freely is the most important thing during times of crises . It helps to calm the mind and clear the view.
I spoke to friends and family back home on a daily basis, we contact each other through phone calls , Chinese twitter and Weixin. People share images of the city, there was a military exercise took place yesterday, tanks, soldiers and patrol cars are everywhere.
When I was a child, summer time the sun does not go down till 10pm at night. The city square is a place where people get together to dance, fly kites, date and chat. Now it is a place for the army to show that stability will come through force, and strong military presence will hopefully bring everyone the peace of mind.
Fear is in the air, it will take a long time to go away, I wonder if it ever will.
Related articles
- Fresh unrest hits China’s Xinjiang (bbc.co.uk)
LIYANG'S THOUGHTS 