Shadian incident

The Shadian incident (Chinese: 沙甸事件; pinyin: Shādiàn shìjiàn) was a massacre of Hui people by the People's Liberation Army that occurred in Shadian Town, Gejiu City, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, People's Republic of China in July 1975.^[1]

Background

Shadian Town at the time had one of the largest Hui people populations totalling about 7,200 people.^[2] As part of the Four Olds, the People's Liberation Army closed down mosques and burned religious books. Many Muslims set up their own factions to preserve their rights as guaranteed under the PRC constitution.^[1]

Incident

In 1974 a notice was issued ordering closure of mosques in the town. As many as 1,000 people boarded a train to Beijing to complain.^[2] The conflict escalated when Communist leftists criticised the conservative Muslims whereupon the Muslims took control of local PLA barracks and arsenals. This led to a string of incidents culminating in a military attack by a 10,000 strong force of PLA soldiers against the Hui people living in seven villages in July 1975. One week later, more than 1000 Huis lay dead with 4,400 houses destroyed. The PLA used guns, cannons and also aerial bombardment in the campaign.^[1][2]

Aftermath

Following the Cultural Revolution, in February 1979 the Yunnan Communist Party reviewed the incident, officially rectified the incidents and apologized.^[2]

References