East Turkestan Liberation Organization

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The East Turkestan Liberation Organization (Sharqiy Turkestan Azatliq Teshkilati; abbreviated to ETLO) is a secessionist Uyghur organization that advocates an independent Turkestan.[1] The organization was established in Turkey in late 1990s to fight against Chinese administration in East Turkestan which is primarily inhabited by Uyghur, Han Chinese, Kazakh and other Turkic communities. [2]

Xinjiang or East Turkestan has a population of 18 million, eight million of which are the Turkic-speaking Muslim Uighurs. As a result of Chinese demographic policies, ethnic Chinese population of the region has risen from 6 % in 1949 to 40 % or 7.5 million people. Kazakhs, the third largest group, constitute 1.2 million. Chinese government has been widely criticized for its extensive human rights violations, political, social, and religious persecutions of Muslims in the region.[3]

Contents

[edit] History

Amnesty International reports that "The Chinese government’s use of the term "separatism" refers to a broad range of activities, many of which amount to no more than peaceful opposition or dissent, or the peaceful exercise of the right to freedom of religion. Over the last three years, tens of thousands of people are reported to have been detained for investigation in the region and hundreds, possibly thousands, have been charged or sentenced under the Criminal Law; many Uighurs are believed to have been sentenced to death and executed for alleged "separatist" or "terrorist" offences, although the exact number is impossible to determine."[4]

Since September 11, 2001, China has effectively used the international climate to build an international coalition against Uyghur separatist movements.[5] On 15 December 2003, the Chinese Ministry of Public Security issued a list of "East Turkestan terrorists" and "terrorist organizations" which named four organizations and several individuals: the East Turkestan Liberation Organization (ETLO), the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), the World Uyghur Youth Congress (WUYC) and the East Turkestan Information Centre (ETIC).[6] At the same time, the official Chinese press initiated a campaign detailing "terrorist" incidents allegedly carried out by the individuals listed. Amnesty International regarded these allegations "uncorroborated and no credible evidence was provided to substantiate these claims. Indeed, much of the "evidence" appeared to have been obtained from other individuals under interrogation. In view of the ongoing and widespread use of torture and ill-treatment by police in China, particularly to extract "confessions" from detained suspects, Amnesty International believes any "evidence" obtained in this way must be treated with deep suspicion." [7]

[edit] Shanghai Cooperation Organization

Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) members; China,[8] Kazakhstan[9], and Kyrgyzstan,[10] designated ETLO as a terrorist organization. According to Amnesty International, "the listing of ETIM and ETLO was in keeping with previous allegations made by China against these groups. Both were highlighted in China’s official report on "East Turkestan terrorists" of January 2002 and China’s allegations against ETIM (East Turkestan Islamic Movement) were bolstered in August 2002 when the US, closely followed by the UN formally classified ETIM as a "terrorist organization" after repeated lobbying from China. The grounds that formed the basis for this decision, aside from China’s previous allegations, remain unclear."[11] The American government refused China's request to recognize the East Turkestan Liberation Organization (ETLO) as a terrorist organization in December 2003.[12]

The organization operates primarily in Xinjiang, China, but operates throughout Central Asia and in Pakistan. The ETLO is allied with the East Turkestan Islamic Movement and the Taliban.[13] Kazakhstan banned the ETLO, designating it a terrorist organization, on 17 November 2006. The United States State Department says the ETLO has engaged "small politically-motivated bombings and armed attacks".[9][14] The Global Defence Review says it is "widely acknowledged" that Al-Qaeda gives funding and training to the ETLO and the East Turkestan Islamic Movement.[14]

According to the Shanghai-based Oriental Morning Post, "in March 2003 ETLO members hijacked a Chinese bus in Kyrgyzstan and set it on fire, killing all 21 passengers and the bus driver."[15]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/02/15/asia/AS-GEN-Kyrgyzstan-Extremism.php Kyrgyz authorities arrest fugitive Uighur separatist, International Herald Tribune, February 15, 2007
  2. ^ http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/engasa170212004 People’s Republic of China Uighurs fleeing persecution as China wages its "war on terror," Amnesty International
  3. ^ http://www.hrw.org/backgrounder/asia/china-bck1017.htm, China: Human Rights Concerns in Xinjiang, Human Rights Watch
  4. ^ http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/engasa170212004 People’s Republic of China Uighurs fleeing persecution as China wages its "war on terror," Amnesty International
  5. ^ http://hrichina.org/public/contents/8784 Nicolas Becquelin, Criminalizing Ethnicity: Political Repression in Xinjiang, China Rights Forum, 2004, No:1
  6. ^ http://hrw.org/reports/2005/china0405/4.htm#_Toc100128615 Devastating Blows Religious Repression of Uighurs in Xinjiang, Human Right Watch
  7. ^ http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/engasa170212004 People’s Republic of China Uighurs fleeing persecution as China wages its "war on terror," Amnesty International
  8. ^ China releases 'terror' blacklist of Uyghurs RadioFreeAsia
  9. ^ a b Uyghur group added to Kazakh terror list RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty
  10. ^ Islamic groups banned in Kyrgyzstan Central Asia Caucasus Institute
  11. ^ http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/engasa170212004 People’s Republic of China Uighurs fleeing persecution as China wages its "war on terror," Amnesty International
  12. ^ http://hrw.org/reports/2005/china0405/4.htm#_Toc100128615 Devastating Blows Religious Repression of Uighurs in Xinjiang, Human Right Watch
  13. ^ Eastern Turkistan Liberation Organization MIPT Terror Knowledge Base
  14. ^ a b East Turkestan Liberation Organization MIPT Terror Knowledge Base
  15. ^ China marks western Xinjiang as main terror threat Yahoo! 7 News
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