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Ethnic tensions taboo in China | Ethnic tensions taboo in China |
(1 day later) | |
By Vaudine England BBC News, Guangzhou A paper showed workers smiling at a toy factory where there was unrest | By Vaudine England BBC News, Guangzhou A paper showed workers smiling at a toy factory where there was unrest |
Among the Uighurs who have settled in south-eastern China, it is hard to find anyone prepared to talk openly about life in the Han-majority country. | Among the Uighurs who have settled in south-eastern China, it is hard to find anyone prepared to talk openly about life in the Han-majority country. |
In Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province, even people running restaurants that advertise Xinjiang food, have pictures of mosques on the wall, and employ staff wearing headscarves, insist they are not Uighur. | In Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province, even people running restaurants that advertise Xinjiang food, have pictures of mosques on the wall, and employ staff wearing headscarves, insist they are not Uighur. |
"We are from another minority," said a restaurateur, refusing to say which one. | "We are from another minority," said a restaurateur, refusing to say which one. |
On 26 June Han and Uighurs at a toy factory in the Guangdong town of Shaoguan fought each other for hours, leaving at least two dead and 118 injured. | On 26 June Han and Uighurs at a toy factory in the Guangdong town of Shaoguan fought each other for hours, leaving at least two dead and 118 injured. |
It was over this violence that Uighurs in Urumqi, in the north-western Xinjiang province, rallied on Sunday, leading to much more deadly clashes. | It was over this violence that Uighurs in Urumqi, in the north-western Xinjiang province, rallied on Sunday, leading to much more deadly clashes. |
Keeping heads down | Keeping heads down |
The restaurateur in Guangzhou did admit to discomfort when watching state television images of recent deadly unrest in Urumqi, but discussing ethnic tensions remains taboo. | The restaurateur in Guangzhou did admit to discomfort when watching state television images of recent deadly unrest in Urumqi, but discussing ethnic tensions remains taboo. |
XINJIANG: ETHNIC UNREST Main ethnic division: 45% Uighur, 40% Han Chinese26 June: Mass factory brawl after dispute between Han and Uighurs in Guangdong, southern China, leaves two dead5 July: Uighur protest in Urumqi over the dispute turns violent, leaving 156 dead and more than 1,000 hurt7 July: Uighur women protest at arrests of men-folk. Han Chinese make armed counter-march8 July: President Hu Jintao returns from G8 summit to tackle crisis Q&A: China and the Uighurs Accounts of Xinjiang violence In pictures: Xinjiang troops Chinese media bullish over riots Assessing the role of Uighur exiles | XINJIANG: ETHNIC UNREST Main ethnic division: 45% Uighur, 40% Han Chinese26 June: Mass factory brawl after dispute between Han and Uighurs in Guangdong, southern China, leaves two dead5 July: Uighur protest in Urumqi over the dispute turns violent, leaving 156 dead and more than 1,000 hurt7 July: Uighur women protest at arrests of men-folk. Han Chinese make armed counter-march8 July: President Hu Jintao returns from G8 summit to tackle crisis Q&A: China and the Uighurs Accounts of Xinjiang violence In pictures: Xinjiang troops Chinese media bullish over riots Assessing the role of Uighur exiles |
The teenage son of another restaurateur, further along San Yuan Li Road in Guangzhou, was even more reticent. | The teenage son of another restaurateur, further along San Yuan Li Road in Guangzhou, was even more reticent. |
"We don't have time to watch the news," he said. | "We don't have time to watch the news," he said. |
Prospering in their new life, it seemed the last thing his family wanted was to be associated with rioting back in Xinjiang. | Prospering in their new life, it seemed the last thing his family wanted was to be associated with rioting back in Xinjiang. |
Around Guangzhou's old railway station, what was once a lively and extensive Muslim community has shrunk. | Around Guangzhou's old railway station, what was once a lively and extensive Muslim community has shrunk. |
Those left seem determined to keep their heads down in times such as these. | Those left seem determined to keep their heads down in times such as these. |
Xinyue Muslim Restaurant in the Xinjiang Mansion - an official home to the representative office of the Uighur Autonomous Region's provincial government - offers nightly floor-shows by Uighur dancing girls. | Xinyue Muslim Restaurant in the Xinjiang Mansion - an official home to the representative office of the Uighur Autonomous Region's provincial government - offers nightly floor-shows by Uighur dancing girls. |
But before a question about how the unrest in Xinjiang was affecting business could be completed, a waitress interjected. | But before a question about how the unrest in Xinjiang was affecting business could be completed, a waitress interjected. |
"This is a very safe place - you don't need to worry," she said. | "This is a very safe place - you don't need to worry," she said. |
Factory repaired | Factory repaired |
Guangzhou newspapers have followed the government line, reporting that the trouble in Xinjiang could only have happened because of outside manipulation. | Guangzhou newspapers have followed the government line, reporting that the trouble in Xinjiang could only have happened because of outside manipulation. |
Coverage has focused on the injuries suffered by the Han. | Coverage has focused on the injuries suffered by the Han. |
The Guangzhou Daily recently reported that in Shaoguan, repairs to the assembly line, dormitories and canteen needed after the 26 June fighting at the toy factory had already been completed. | The Guangzhou Daily recently reported that in Shaoguan, repairs to the assembly line, dormitories and canteen needed after the 26 June fighting at the toy factory had already been completed. |
Advertisement | Advertisement |
Amateur footage of toy factory riots | Amateur footage of toy factory riots |
"More than 700 Xinjiang migrant workers could resume their work thanks to the Xinjiang and Guangdong relevant departments' officials' endeavours," it said. | "More than 700 Xinjiang migrant workers could resume their work thanks to the Xinjiang and Guangdong relevant departments' officials' endeavours," it said. |
Alongside were pictures of happy, smiling Uighur women, back at work at long tables in the toy factory. | Alongside were pictures of happy, smiling Uighur women, back at work at long tables in the toy factory. |
Censored TV | Censored TV |
Two people in Guangzhou who were prepared to speak were Han taxi drivers, one of whom turned up his radio when the news came on to hear updates from Xinjiang. | Two people in Guangzhou who were prepared to speak were Han taxi drivers, one of whom turned up his radio when the news came on to hear updates from Xinjiang. |
Another went so far as to give his surname, Huang, and confide that he watched TV reports from Hong Kong channels, just across the border, to get a clearer picture of events. | Another went so far as to give his surname, Huang, and confide that he watched TV reports from Hong Kong channels, just across the border, to get a clearer picture of events. |
"Any time there's anything sensitive, they interrupt the signal and throw in another advertisement or jumble up the pictures," he said. | "Any time there's anything sensitive, they interrupt the signal and throw in another advertisement or jumble up the pictures," he said. |
A taxi driver said he agreed with the security crackdown in Urumqi | A taxi driver said he agreed with the security crackdown in Urumqi |
His views on the unrest in Xinjiang were firm. | His views on the unrest in Xinjiang were firm. |
"The government treats the Uighur so nicely, yet the Uighurs don't feel satisfied," he said. | "The government treats the Uighur so nicely, yet the Uighurs don't feel satisfied," he said. |
"They just create so much trouble. They should be satisfied with what they have." | "They just create so much trouble. They should be satisfied with what they have." |
He agreed with the crackdown now under way by Chinese security forces in Urumqi. | He agreed with the crackdown now under way by Chinese security forces in Urumqi. |
"The Communist Party has already done so much for the Uighurs," he said. | "The Communist Party has already done so much for the Uighurs," he said. |
His views are common in commercial centres where Uighurs have thrived. | |
The communities were included in former Chinese leader Deng Xiao-ping's plans for economic reform from the early 1980s, and have been resident in south China since then. | The communities were included in former Chinese leader Deng Xiao-ping's plans for economic reform from the early 1980s, and have been resident in south China since then. |
But as in other parts of the world, problems between different ethnic groups have endured. | But as in other parts of the world, problems between different ethnic groups have endured. |
The difference in China is that people are reluctant to discuss the issue, and the tensions are hard to measure. | The difference in China is that people are reluctant to discuss the issue, and the tensions are hard to measure. |
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