of China's Uighur community
RELATIVES of exiled Uighur leader Rebiya Kadeer have blamed her for the deaths of innocent people in ethnic unrest early last month.
Kadeer's son Khahar, daughter Roxingul and younger brother Memet wrote an open letter to her, expressing "their moral indignation at the riot" in Urumqi, the capital of northwest China's Xinjiang region, the Xinhua news agency said.
"Because of you, many innocent people of all ethnic groups lost their lives in Urumqi on July 5, with huge damage to property, shops and vehicles," they wrote, according to Xinhua.
"The harmony and unity among ethnic groups were damaged," the letter allegedly said.
The Chinese government says Kadeer was behind the July 5 violence, which left 197 people dead, most of them Han Chinese killed by angry mobs from China's Uighur minority.
Kadeer, a former businesswoman who spent several years in Chinese jail before leaving for US exile earlier this decade, has denied the charges.
Among those of Kadeer's children who remain in China, her son Ablikim Abdiriyim was sentenced in April 2007 to nine years in prison for what Beijing called "secessionist" activities.
Two other sons, Khahar and Alim, were fined in 2006 for alleged tax evasion while Alim was also sentenced to seven years in jail, according to Amnesty International.
It was not possible to immediately ascertain the authenticity of the letter, which was widely reported in the Chinese-language media.
Chinese state television showed footage from the alleged letter, written in the Arabic script of the Uighur language.
The relatives held Kadeer and the World Uighur Congress (WUC), which she heads, responsible for the unrest, Xinhua said.
"Evidence proved the riot was organised by the WUC, led by Rebiya Kadeer, and implemented by a group of separatists within the Chinese borders," the letter reportedly said. "Those who committed crimes should take responsibility."
Kadeer's son Khahar, daughter Roxingul and younger brother Memet wrote an open letter to her, expressing "their moral indignation at the riot" in Urumqi, the capital of northwest China's Xinjiang region, the Xinhua news agency said.
"Because of you, many innocent people of all ethnic groups lost their lives in Urumqi on July 5, with huge damage to property, shops and vehicles," they wrote, according to Xinhua.
"The harmony and unity among ethnic groups were damaged," the letter allegedly said.
The Chinese government says Kadeer was behind the July 5 violence, which left 197 people dead, most of them Han Chinese killed by angry mobs from China's Uighur minority.
Kadeer, a former businesswoman who spent several years in Chinese jail before leaving for US exile earlier this decade, has denied the charges.
Among those of Kadeer's children who remain in China, her son Ablikim Abdiriyim was sentenced in April 2007 to nine years in prison for what Beijing called "secessionist" activities.
Two other sons, Khahar and Alim, were fined in 2006 for alleged tax evasion while Alim was also sentenced to seven years in jail, according to Amnesty International.
It was not possible to immediately ascertain the authenticity of the letter, which was widely reported in the Chinese-language media.
Chinese state television showed footage from the alleged letter, written in the Arabic script of the Uighur language.
The relatives held Kadeer and the World Uighur Congress (WUC), which she heads, responsible for the unrest, Xinhua said.
"Evidence proved the riot was organised by the WUC, led by Rebiya Kadeer, and implemented by a group of separatists within the Chinese borders," the letter reportedly said. "Those who committed crimes should take responsibility."
Source: The Australian
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