China e o terrorismo

C H I NA DA I LY

T U E S D A Y, A U G U S T 9 , 2 0 1 1

nation 5

Gas project bringing jobs to many Xinjiang residents
By SUN YUQING
CHINA DAILY

CHINA NEWS SERVICE

A security worker checks a motorcycle at the entrance of a main shopping street in Kashgar, Northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, on August 4.

Xinjiang bolsters combat against religious extremists
URUMQI — The top official of Northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region has ordered a crackdown on religious extremists in the region’s latest campaign against terrorism. Zhang Chunxian, Party chief of Xinjiang, made the pledge at a regional government meeting following a trio of deadly attacks in the region. Zhang ordered local officials to rely on the public to help them curb illegal religious activities and to crack down on the use of religion to incite violence or organize terrorist attacks, local media reported on Monday. He said the management of religious affairs should follow the central government’s policy of “protecting the legitimate, banning the illegal, fighting infiltration and cracking down on crimes.” Nearly 42 percent of Xinjiang’s 21 million people are Uygurs, a largely Muslim Chinese ethnic group. The region is considered to be a frontline in China’s fight against separatism, religious extremism and terrorism. Two bloody attacks occurred in the region’s city of Kashgar during the last weekend of July, leaving at least 14 civilians killed and 42 others injured. Police killed eight terrorists during the attacks. The Kashgar violence followed a July 18 terrorist attack

targeting a police station in the city of Hotan that left 18 people dead, including 14 terrorists. Zhang said the region’s current anti-terrorism campaign is meant to stem the tide of violence and prevent the attacks from fomenting riots. Experts have said the recent Xinjiang violence shows clear signs of religious extremism, which may continue to inspire attacks in the region if it is