La Croix: When did the persecution of Uyghurs in Xinjiang begin?
Laurence Defranoux: After the fall of the USSR and the Tiananmen protests in 1989, the oldest and most conservative elements of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) abandoned any idea of democratic reform of the country and took the turn of repression. The former Soviet republics of Central Asia gain their independence. Beijing fears that the Uyghurs(Muslim ethnic group that inhabits Xinjiang province, Editor’s note)very close to their neighbours, do not follow this example.
From the 1990s, anything resembling a distinct identity on the margins of China was repressed: artists were censored and cultural practices, such as wearing a mustache or celebrating religious holidays, were banned. to officials. The authorities target everything that can cement an identity parallel to the official discourse. The sense of celebration, the arts, the traditional solidarity of the Uyghurs are perceived as a threat against the hegemony of the CCP, and the ferment of opposition to its absolute power.
There have indeed been attacks by Uyghurs, but they were mostly isolated acts of rebellion, very common throughout China. Researcher Sean R. Robert evokes the notion of “self-fulfilling prophecy” to explain how the repressive policy pursued by the People’s Republic of China against a largely imaginary terrorist threat can lead to real attacks.
And indeed, given the constant harassment that the population of Xinjiang suffers – everything is monitored there, from surfing the Internet to the privacy of the bedrooms – a form of resistance has developed. But it is impossible that these acts, extremely repressed, are orchestrated by structured rebel organizations.
How is this persecution evolving after the events of September 11, 2011?
LD: Before the World Trade Center attacks, the Chinese authorities justified the repression in Xinjiang by a “separatism” Uyghur who would be manipulated from Washington. But as of September 11, this discourse changes dramatically. Of “separatists”the Uyghurs become “terrorists” followers of Al-Qaeda, led by Bin Laden. The latter, however, never spoke of East Turkestan.
A month after the attacks, the Chinese authorities wanted to have a Uyghur group recognized as a terrorist organization in the United States. The American experts initially refused, as the accusations were based on nothing. A year later, in return for support for the invasion of Iraq, the American administration nevertheless complied with China’s demands. It is by tapping into the Western imaginary of terrorism that Beijing has been able to translate the persecution of an ethnic group into political and economic goals as a facet of the international fight against terrorism.
How does this speech presage the establishment of the genocide perpetrated today against the Uyghur people?
LD: In the fall of 2013, Xi Jinping unveiled the “New Silk Roads” project which should allow China, via new commercial routes, to extend its influence over Central Asia, Europe and the rest of the world. world. Xinjiang, bordering eight countries, is becoming more important than ever.
This territory must be stable and fully exploitable at will. Beijing relocates polluting industries to Xinjiang, expropriates land. The “anti-terrorism laws” will then extend to all forms of “religious extremism”. Quitting smoking, wearing a long skirt, calling your son Mohamed, saying a prayer to your children… everything is considered a form of radicalization allowing ever more violent repression and ever greater control of the population.
The National Assembly denounces the “genocide” of the Uyghurs by China
In 2014, the “people’s war” was declared, and totalitarian practices began. The Chinese authorities are obsessed with the issue of ethnic quotas and seek at all costs to reverse the demographic balance in the region. For decades, they have been bringing in Han – the majority Chinese ethnic group – in droves, but that is not enough. So they set up policies to limit the births of Uyghurs, lock up men of childbearing age, impose contraception and sterilization on women. The end goal is clearly to dissolve the Uyghur identity.