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Communist China's Policy of Oppression in East Turkestan

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here have been two ma<strong>in</strong> stages<br />

<strong>in</strong> Ch<strong>in</strong>ese communism: The Mao<br />

period and the Deng period.<br />

Although Mao and Deng differed <strong>in</strong> theory<br />

and practice, look<strong>in</strong>g at them from a wider perspective,<br />

based on the criteria <strong>of</strong> human rights and democracy, two very important<br />

similarities exist <strong>in</strong> the two periods. Throughout both periods the country<br />

was kept under the strict control <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Communist</strong> Party. The present<br />

rulers are also still cont<strong>in</strong>u<strong>in</strong>g to repress the Ch<strong>in</strong>ese people under that<br />

same despotic regime.<br />

The Mao period lasted from 1949 to 1977, and witnessed the deaths <strong>of</strong><br />

millions <strong>of</strong> people from starvation and the kill<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> millions <strong>of</strong> others.<br />

Strict discipl<strong>in</strong>e prevailed <strong>in</strong> all areas <strong>of</strong> life, little <strong>in</strong>dividual freedom was<br />

allowed, and whole communities were kept <strong>in</strong> l<strong>in</strong>e by violence and oppression.<br />

Food could only be purchased with coupons, only one type <strong>of</strong> costume<br />

was allowed, and people could only work <strong>in</strong> the fields and the<br />

factories allocated by the state. The <strong>Communist</strong> Party decided who could<br />

marry whom, where they would live, and how many children they could<br />

have.<br />

Although food today can be purchased without coupons, and people<br />

can wear what they want and visit neighbor<strong>in</strong>g cities, these<br />

economic-based changes have not led to any change <strong>in</strong> the<br />

mentality <strong>of</strong> the party. The Ch<strong>in</strong>ese people still can<br />

enjoy freedom only with<strong>in</strong> the limits set out by the<br />

<strong>Communist</strong> Party. In fact, the latest economic<br />

changes began when the <strong>Communist</strong><br />

Party allowed private <strong>in</strong>vest-

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