ID :
71486
Wed, 07/22/2009 - 15:24
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/71486
The shortlink copeid
CHINA'S POLICY ON ETHNIC MINORITIES WILL BE IMPROVED OVER TIME
BY VINCENT LOW
BEIJING, July 21 (Bernama)-- The July 5 riots in Urumqi are not connected
whatsoever to China's policy currently enforced on ethnic minorities in the
country , said Wu Shimin, Vice Minister in charge of the State Ethnic Affairs
Commission.
He said the authorities would not abandon the policy simply because of an
isolated incident in some place.
"We will continue to pursue the policy which has proven to be effective and
successful, but with progress over time, we will enrich and improve it in
accordance with the real needs of the people," he said.
Wu, who had condemned the riots as a crime schemed and fabricated by the
'three forces' of extremism, separatism and terrorism, said the rioters were not
pursuing development or material needs, but a political agenda of 'Xinjiang's
Independence'.
"I am here to tell them that this demand will never be satisfied," said Wu
at a press conference held by the State Council Information Office here Tuesday.
The riots in Urumqi left 197 people dead and more than 1,600 injured.
Losses as a result of vandalised properties amounted to RMB68.95 million (US$10
million).
Wu also said separatist activities conducted by the East Turkistan forces
started as early as 76 years ago.
They had engaged in separatist violence and terrorist activities since they
raised the flag of the East Turkistan Republic in 1933, he said.
"People always want to live a better life, but in a society governed by law,
no one is allow to take unlawful and violent means to meet their so called
objectives. They are placing themselves above the law.
"We will continue to meet the legitimate needs of the people in Xinjiang and
other areas inhabited by ethnic minorities and to address problems they
encounter in their lives."
Wu said under the ethnic policy, autonomous prefectures and counties were
headed by ethnic minority officials, and there were also proportionate officials
in government departments.
There are 30 autonomous prefectures and 120 autonomous counties in China.
"Ethnic minorities enjoy many privileges under the policy. In
education, ethnic minority students enjoy extra points in their college entrance
examinations," said Wu.
The law also provides preferential treatment for applicants from ethnic
minorities to secure jobs in the ethnic minority regions and posts that are in
charge of minority affairs are exlusive to ethnic minority officials.
As for the Uygurs unemployment issue in southern Xinjiang, Wu said
authorities had speed up economic development so as to boost employment
opportunities.
"The local government also provides free vocational training to equip them
with more skills to find jobs, and to those temporarily unemployed, the
government is providing them subsistance allowance," he added.
-- BERNAMA
BEIJING, July 21 (Bernama)-- The July 5 riots in Urumqi are not connected
whatsoever to China's policy currently enforced on ethnic minorities in the
country , said Wu Shimin, Vice Minister in charge of the State Ethnic Affairs
Commission.
He said the authorities would not abandon the policy simply because of an
isolated incident in some place.
"We will continue to pursue the policy which has proven to be effective and
successful, but with progress over time, we will enrich and improve it in
accordance with the real needs of the people," he said.
Wu, who had condemned the riots as a crime schemed and fabricated by the
'three forces' of extremism, separatism and terrorism, said the rioters were not
pursuing development or material needs, but a political agenda of 'Xinjiang's
Independence'.
"I am here to tell them that this demand will never be satisfied," said Wu
at a press conference held by the State Council Information Office here Tuesday.
The riots in Urumqi left 197 people dead and more than 1,600 injured.
Losses as a result of vandalised properties amounted to RMB68.95 million (US$10
million).
Wu also said separatist activities conducted by the East Turkistan forces
started as early as 76 years ago.
They had engaged in separatist violence and terrorist activities since they
raised the flag of the East Turkistan Republic in 1933, he said.
"People always want to live a better life, but in a society governed by law,
no one is allow to take unlawful and violent means to meet their so called
objectives. They are placing themselves above the law.
"We will continue to meet the legitimate needs of the people in Xinjiang and
other areas inhabited by ethnic minorities and to address problems they
encounter in their lives."
Wu said under the ethnic policy, autonomous prefectures and counties were
headed by ethnic minority officials, and there were also proportionate officials
in government departments.
There are 30 autonomous prefectures and 120 autonomous counties in China.
"Ethnic minorities enjoy many privileges under the policy. In
education, ethnic minority students enjoy extra points in their college entrance
examinations," said Wu.
The law also provides preferential treatment for applicants from ethnic
minorities to secure jobs in the ethnic minority regions and posts that are in
charge of minority affairs are exlusive to ethnic minority officials.
As for the Uygurs unemployment issue in southern Xinjiang, Wu said
authorities had speed up economic development so as to boost employment
opportunities.
"The local government also provides free vocational training to equip them
with more skills to find jobs, and to those temporarily unemployed, the
government is providing them subsistance allowance," he added.
-- BERNAMA
