Daily Lessons from Life 18 June 2010 - China plans Xinjiang crackdown for riot anniversary

"China plans Xinjiang crackdown for riot anniversary - Fri, Jun 18, 2010 AFP

BEIJING, CHINA (AFP) - Police in the capital of China's restive Xinjiang will launch a security clampdown ahead of the anniversary of ethnic riots, the government said Friday, in an indication they fear further unrest.

Authorities in the city of Urumqi, which exploded in deadly riots last July 5, will 'increase the police presence in key places, vital sectors and public areas,' the Xinjiang region's state-run Tianshannet website said."

How time fly! The bloody riot that shook the nation and took many lives happened almost a year ago though it seems like ages ago. This year we have the World Cup as distraction. So, maybe the people are not too keen on bloodshed!

Lessons for me are;

1. ethnics difference is a very difficult thing for the rational people to comprehend as it drives deep emotional element. All rational people knows that without peace and stability, there is little chance for development, progress and prosperity. Yet, when emotion is aroused, there is no holding back;

2. it is important to recognize the need to take pro-active action to prevent the emotion side from getting out of hands. Hence, simple rules of thump like: no bad mouthing others, no mercy for those who tried to provoke any religious or racial or ethnicity issues, etc. It is also critical to promote integration of the ethnicity through cluster housing, inter-marriage, etc;

3. at the risk of being 'attacked', I have to say that the Uighur are very different from the Hans. But through historical reasons and the strategic intent of having a buffer between 'mainland China' and the potential 'outside opponents', Xinjiang has to be part of PRC. Strategic consideration sometimes have to ignore the sense of what is 'just and right'.

May there be lasting peace and harmony between the Hans and the original inhabitants of Xinjiang!