The official version claims police looking for suspects and criminals were attacked by "thugs" and "terrorists." Beijing responds to Uyghur desire for greater autonomy and justice with a ruthless military, economic and religious control.

Beijing ( AsiaNews / Agencies ) - At least 16 people were killed in a violent clash near Kashgar . The news was reported today by Tianshan.net, the official website of the Xinjiang government.

Two of those killed were policemen, while the other 14 are defined as "violent thugs" . According to the site, the police were looking for criminal suspects in Shufu County, when they were attacked by "thugs " armed with explosives and knives .

While the police were trying to arrest one of the suspects, the "terrorists" went into action.

Two of the attackers were arrested.

Xinjiang is a very restless region.  The Uyghur population that inhabits it, Turkic speaking and Muslim, accuses Beijing of wanting to colonize them with a massive migration of Han Chinese and with stringent military and economic control.

Uyghur groups are fighting for the independence of the region they call "East Turkestan ." China accuses them of being terrorists and keeps strict control of Islamic schools and religious practice .

Last October , a car bomb exploded in Tiananmen Square, killing five people . According to Beijing, the incident was a Uyghur "terrorist attack" .

 

• CHINA
• uyghur
• police
• attack
• xinjang