Citizen Power for China (CPFC, aka Initiatives for China) strongly condemns the violent terrorist attack on innocent people at the Kunming Railway Station on March 1st, 2014. We are shocked and outraged by the cruelty of the knife-wielding assailants, who mercilessly killed 29 people and wounded over 130. We offer our deepest condolences and our compassion to the innocent victims and their families.
Nothing can justify such brutal violence and murder against innocent civilians. The assailants’ cowardly actions are barbaric and beyond human dignity – no matter the injustice or oppression under the Chinese authoritarian regime.
We greatly regret this incident’s deepening of ethnic tensions and resentment between the Uyghurs and Han Chinese, which has helped fuel such senseless violence. CPFC urges the Chinese government to reform its ethnic policies, which have marginalized the Uyghur population through violence and misinformation. History demonstrates that authoritarian rule and government suppression create the conditions necessary for horrendous internal violence and strife, of which the Kunming murders are a part.
The Uyghurs have been made into second-class citizens in all walks of life in the face of the Han-dominated regime’s monopoly on political, economic, cultural, and social power. Uyghur Muslims have been oppressed by the regime’s strict controls on Islamic institutions, in some cases wiping out religious practices altogether. The regime’s use of its armed forces to suppress protests over this treatment, in the name of anti-terrorism, has victimized countless innocents. Most recently, the regime unjustly arrested Uyghur scholar Ilham Tohti, a prominent advocate for ethnic reconciliation, unity, and human rights.
The communist regime must end its national policy of suppression and allow the return of real autonomous rule and self-determination of the Uyghur people. Without fundamental reforms, the sense of injustice and desire for revenge will only deepen, perhaps leading to even more tragic events.
CPFC implores all involved parties to avoid falling into the trap of hatred and distrust that serves only to reward those behind the attack. The murders in Kunming involved only extremists who stand to benefit politically from rising tensions and renewed hatred. All peoples, both the Hans and Uyghurs, wish to live in peace, equality, freedom, and dignity. We must not equate the extremists with innocent, peace-loving citizens, or else we fall into the extremists’ hands.
As a nonprofit civil group consisting mainly of the Han Chinese, CPFC calls for deeper reflection on Han chauvinism and prejudice. We must look closely at the Uyghur people, their history, culture, religion, and reality, to truly understand the Kunming tragedy. Through understanding, we may seek equal respect for other ethnic groups and individuals.
The murders in Kunming have unfortunately given the regime an opportunity to worsen the Uyghur-Han divide by intensifying their oppression and crackdowns on the Uyghur population. The communist regime routinely seizes such opportunities to strengthen its violence in the name of maintaining stability. We therefore call on the world to refocus its attention on the Chinese regime as the situation develops, as close and pointed scrutiny may save countless lives in coming days.
CPFC has long been committed to Uyghur human rights in cooperation with Uyghur activists. We appeal to our Uyghur brothers and sisters to draw a clear-cut line from the violent extremists, strengthen communication with all walks of the Han Chinese, and help to remove misunderstanding and build confidence between our peoples.
CPFC continues its firm push for democratic reforms, which are more necessary now than ever amid ethnic rivalries and conflicts. Only a democratic China can find fair and peaceful solutions that are true to the interest of all peoples. The totalitarian governance is the root cause of the Chinese regime’s faulty and morbid ethnic policy which victimizes ethnic peoples. CPFC urges our brothers and sisters with all ethnic backgrounds to join together, upholding peaceful, rational and non-violent principles, and stand in solidarity to fight tyranny and advance human rights and freedom.
Contact:
Jianli Yang
857-472-9039
yangjianli001@gmail.com
Lianchao Han
703-851-8334
lianchao@gmail.com
Jianying Wang
202-677-0209
josephdcwang@gmail.com