I. The facts of the incident on July 5th in Urumqi, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region:
On 26 June, in Shaoguan, Guangdong Province, a brawl broke out between workers from Xinjiang and local workers. It was an isolated and ordinary case of public order and was properly handled. But the World Uyghur Congress, an overseas East Turkestan Organization, used that incident to vilify China's ethnic and religious policies in an attempt to create problems between Uyghuris and Han ethnic groups in Xinjiang, and it aims at separating Xinjiang from China. The World Uyghur Congress played up the Shaoguan incident and incited followers through the internet and other channels to "be braver" and to "do something big". Rebiya Kadeer, an ethnic separatist and head of the World Uyghur Congress, clamored for "a big event in Urumqi on 5 July" and urged people to "follow closely the developments and collect relevant information". Some people with political motives inside China acted in collusion with the World Uyghur Congress.
On the evening of 4 July, messages appeared on the internet, calling for a gathering at the People's Square and South Gate in Urumqi at 5pm on 5 July, to answer the call from the World Uyghur Congress for a demonstration. Text messages were sent in large numbers to ask people to gather in Urumqi.
Organized and orchestrated by ethnic separatist elements abroad, over 200 people gathered at the People's Square in Urumqi at about 6:20pm on 5 July. They were later persuaded to leave by the police. At about 7:40pm, 300 people blocked roads at Renmin Road and South Gate. They were asked to leave by the police. At about 8:18pm, some people started beating, smashing and looting. They pushed over guard rails and smashed three buses before they were dispersed by the police. At around 8:30pm, rioters set ablaze a police car at Longquan Street, Jiefang South Road. They also chased and beat passers-by. Seven to eight hundred people moved to Big West Gate and Small West Gate along the square. They continued their sabotage activities along the way. The situation was gravely escalated. Rioters divided themselves into different groups and took different routes, wreaking havoc in streets, alleys and the area connecting the city and the countryside. They tried to kill any Han ethinic within sight, and smashed to set fire to stores and vehicles.
The violent crimes involving beating, smashing, looting and arson have inflicted heavy losses for life and property. At 220 sites, the rioters set fire to buildings, samshed or burned vehicles, and killed people. The cruelty of their deeds was abhorrent. According to updated figures till 12 July, 184 people were killed, of which 137 were Han ethnic, 46 were Uyghuris and 1 Hui ethnic. 1680 people were injured and 939 (216 were serious injured and 74 were nearly dead) people were in hospital. About 627 vehicles were destroyed, and 184 vehicles were terribly burned. About 633 private residences ruined and buildings of various types with a total floor space of 21353 square meters burned by the rioters. Approximately 291 shops were destroyed, and 29 shops were burned down with a total floor space of 13769 square meters.
To protect people's life and property and safeguard law and order in Urumqi, the government of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region speedily deployed police to those places where the situation was grave. The police acted resolutely in accordance with the law. They sent in small teams to rescue people across the downtown area and search for criminals. Till now,the public security authority has arrested and detained over 2000 suspects in accordance with the law.
The relief work team was quickly established on 6 July. And Li Zhi, the Party secretary of Urumqi, led the team to handle the relief issue. Meanwhile,special hotels were chosen to receive the relatives of the deceased and injured from other cities, and the team arrange cars to provide the relatives of the deceased and injured with medical and delivery service. According relevant laws, the goverment will provide 200000 RMB to the family of every innocent dead person as the special pension and 10000 RMB as the Funeral grant.
Transport and public order in Urumqi have now returned to normal. Facts have fully shown that the incident itself is not a national and religious issue. These are premeditated and organized crimes of violence directed and instigated by separatists abroad and organized and carried out by separatists inside the country. The World Uyghur Congress headed by the ethnic separatist Rebiya Kadeer made an issue of an incident in Shaoguan, Guangdong Province and directly instigated, orchestrated, directed and staged these highly violent crimes. The government of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region paid great attention to the situation. Police were speedily deployed to protect people's life and property, maintain social stability and restore public order. The situation has now been brought under control.
History has repeatedly shown that stability is a blessing and chaos is disaster. Without stability, nothing is possible in Xinjiang. We are unequivocally against ethnic separatism, violence and terrorism. Unity among people of all ethnic groups, social harmony and stability represent the highest interests of the Chinese people, the 21 million people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang included. Xinjiang today enjoys development and prosperity. The good situation has not come easily. Actions taken by the Chinese government against the recent violent crimes are completely lawful and justified. Any responsible government is obliged to do the same under such voilent situation. The Chinese government will redouble its effort to ensure that people of all ethnic groups will continue to work as one for common prosperity and development. And we should deeply cherish our harmonious and stable social and political situation.
II. China has 56 ethnic groups, among which 55 are minorities. China institutes Regional Ethnic Autonomy for the monorities. There are about 47 minorities in Xinjiang today and it is one of the biggest gatherings of Ethnic minorities in China. After 30 years of reform and opening up, Xinjiang, like other provinces, has made great achievement known by everyone. The GDP average annual growth rate is about 10.3%, and GDP per capita has raised from 313 RMB in 1978 to 19,893 RMB in 2008. In 2008, the growth rate of GDP in Xinjiang was 11%, which exceeded the national rate by 2%.
The Chinese Constitution stipulates that the all ethnic groups are equal; all ethnic groups, including Uyghur Ehtnics, share the same legal rights and interests. For the realization of all Ethnic groups' equality, unity and common development, the Chinese government formulates a series of ethnic and religious policies according to the actual ethnic and religious situation. Xinjiang ethnic minorities not only enjoy all the civil rights stipulated in the Constitution and the law same as the Han ethnic, but also enjoy a high degree of autonomy, which is a special right for Ethnic minoritis. As for the religion, the legitimate rights and interests of religious people have been protected by law, and their activities and customs are fully respected. For example, there are 24,000 mosques and more than 10 million Islamic people in Xinjiang. The violent crimes involving beating, smashing, looting and arson at July 5th in Xinjiang was caused by only a handful of ethnic separatists, and their deeds can't represent any ethnic group, especially can't represent more than 20 million Chinese Muslims.
III. After the Urumqi "7.5" incident, ethnic separatist Rebiya Kadeer and her likes have been trying every means to cover the crime facts involving beating, smashing, looting and arson. They distorted the facts and misled the media, and claimed the just measures taken by the Government of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region as violent repression. They ignored the facts that the social order in Urumqi has returned to mormal and continue to accuse the ethnic and religious policies of China for no reason, which shows their real purpose: provoking a new conflict in Xinjiang and destroying the unity and stability of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region as well as China as a whole. At the same time, some anti-China forces abroad and the some media distort the facts, vilify the Chinese ethnic and religious policy, interfere in China's internal affairs and instigate the relationship between China and the Islamic countries. The Chinese Government and people are firmly opposed to such acts.
IV. After the "7.5" Urumqi incident, Chinese government at the first time arranged the national and foreign media to visit Urumqi, which could help the people of all countries learn about the truth of the incident at the first time. Although some reports had been deliberately distorted when broadcasting, we still hold the open and transparent principles, welcoming all the media to visit Urumqi. We hope they can extensively interview the local Uyghur, Hui, Han and other people of all ethnic groups, tell the audience and readers the truth of Urumqi "7.5" incident and report the facts comprehensively, truthfully, and objectively.