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Communist China's Policy of Oppression in East Turkestan

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110<br />

changes that occurred <strong>in</strong> the region (and the world as a whole) prevented<br />

the desire <strong>of</strong> the people <strong>of</strong> <strong>East</strong> <strong>Turkestan</strong> for <strong>in</strong>dependence<br />

from be<strong>in</strong>g translated <strong>in</strong>to reality. Ch<strong>in</strong>a—a country with a total land<br />

area <strong>of</strong> some 10 million square kilometers—tried to exterm<strong>in</strong>ate the<br />

people <strong>of</strong> <strong>East</strong> <strong>Turkestan</strong> (also a giant nation <strong>of</strong> 2 million square kilometers)<br />

by its policies <strong>of</strong> oppression and isolation.<br />

Just like the Russians <strong>in</strong> West <strong>Turkestan</strong>, the Ch<strong>in</strong>ese also changed<br />

the region's name. The new name they used was the "Uighur Autonomous<br />

Region <strong>of</strong> S<strong>in</strong>kiang." They then began to implement the same<br />

k<strong>in</strong>ds <strong>of</strong> policies used by other imperialist nations. A ruthless war was<br />

waged aga<strong>in</strong>st the local people's beliefs, customs, and religious practices.<br />

Ethnic discrim<strong>in</strong>ation became rife, demands for <strong>in</strong>dependence<br />

were ferociously suppressed, defenseless people were exiled from their<br />

land, and Ch<strong>in</strong>ese settlers were brought <strong>in</strong> to replace them. The brutality<br />

known as "Ch<strong>in</strong>ese torture" and cruelty soon became reality.<br />

Before go<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>to the details <strong>of</strong> the oppression, (<strong>of</strong> which most people<br />

are very unaware), we will review <strong>East</strong> <strong>Turkestan</strong>'s historical, geostrategic<br />

and geo-political position.<br />

EAST TURKESTAN: THE CRADLE OF<br />

TURKISH-ISLAMIC CIVILIZATION<br />

The history <strong>of</strong> the lands <strong>of</strong> <strong>Turkestan</strong> goes back to the third century<br />

B.C. (the Gokturk and Hun period). The area has been the Turkish<br />

homeland s<strong>in</strong>ce very early <strong>in</strong> history, and Islamic territory for a thousand<br />

years. Although no state or khanate bear<strong>in</strong>g the name <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>Turkestan</strong> was ever established, the area <strong>in</strong> question, which makes up a<br />

large part <strong>of</strong> Central Asia, has always been called by that name because<br />

it has been a Turkish settlement area s<strong>in</strong>ce very ancient times. Researchers<br />

describe <strong>East</strong> <strong>Turkestan</strong> <strong>in</strong> particular as one <strong>of</strong> the first centers<br />

<strong>of</strong> civilization and, as an area where, due to its geo-strategic position,<br />

Western and <strong>East</strong>ern cultures <strong>in</strong>term<strong>in</strong>gled.<br />

<strong>Communist</strong> Ch<strong>in</strong>a’s <strong>Policy</strong><br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>Oppression</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>East</strong> <strong>Turkestan</strong>

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