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Angry Chinese Mob Turns On ABC Reporters & Crew
July 08, 2009 11:46 AM
Urumqi, the troubled capital of China’s north-western Xianjiang province, is under lock-down today. It has been the scene of serious civil unrest since the weekend with the ethnic minority Uighurs pitting themselves against the Han Chinese in a series of violent street battles. The local Muslim Uighur population have long complained of discrimination by the Han Chinese who have been steadily moving into the region since the 1940s. The Uighurs say the Han, immigrants from other parts of China and the largest ethnic group in the country, are attacking their identity, religious beliefs and also taking all the best jobs and opportunities away from them. In short, treating them like second class citizens in their own home.
This region is of particular interest to China’s central government as it is rich in resources in particular natural gas. The tense situation there has caused such concern that President Hu Jintao has left the G8 summit in Italy early. Like last year’s protests in Tibet any uprising that could unravel the patchwork that holds China’s various ethnic communities together is treated with utmost severity – Urumqi’s Communist Party boss today threatened the riots’ ringleaders with execution. So far over a hundred and fifty people have died and the Chinese government yesterday ordered the town to be placed under curfew. Today the streets are swarming with troops and police.
ABC News’ producer Beth Loyd is there and described the scene:
Tens of thousands of troops and police have swarmed the streets of downtown Urumqi and made a perimeter around the mostly Uighur neighborhood to prevent the Uighurs from getting out and the Han Chinese from getting it. But that has not quelled the violence. We were driving to the Uighur area and encountered an angry mob. Thirty Han Chinese men were beating a Uighur man, kicking him and punching him and hitting him with sticks. He was not fighting back but just trying to get away. Hundreds of Han Chinese were cheering the men on. Eventually, the police dragged the Uighur away and put him in a vehicle for his protection. Then, the mob turned on us. They blocked our cameras, not wanting the images of Han Chinese beating a Uighur to get out. I was pushed. Then the group surrounded us and started yelling. They pushed us back up a highway ramp where we were shooting. They yelled that western journalists were biased against the Han Chinese and that we should delete our footage. One man tried to grab our camera and then pulled out a baton and held it over his head as if he were going to hit us. We turned around and ran. The oddest part of the whole experience was that there were swarms of police and troops around and none of them were really trying to break up the fight.
We finally made it inside the Uighur area and spoke to several people there who were afraid to have their faces shown on television, out of fear or reprisals by the authorities. The police stopped us several times and eventually forced us to leave the Uighur area.
The Communist Party Chief of Urumqi today said the situation is calm and under control. The scenes we saw today don’t support that conclusion.
July 8, 2009 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (101)
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Liberral [sic] Media is typical of the educated Chinese nationalist cheerleader of his/her government's oppression and brutal treatment of a despised minority with truth and justice on its side. We should never forget that the Nazi SS had scores of PhDs on its member rolls. People like this have paid for their privileges by giving up their own personal liberty and cannot stand it when a Tibetan or Uighur is unwilling to make that sacrifice. When you ain't got nothin', you got nothin' to lose.
More trouble coming without question.
Posted by: Michael | Jul 8, 2009 12:22:53 PM
American media at it's sickest! Learn something about what you are reporting BEFORE you report it. I'm sure the the American Government is very happy that you continue to support their agenda, however how can you sleep at night knowing that your reporting prolonging the ignorance of the American people, who are sorry yo say severely brainwashed.
We know that a prerequisite for employment in the American Political System is a being a talented liar, and a rich white man probably doesn't either hurt either, but i thought that at lease a small part of the American media might have different aspirations.
Edward
Beijing, China
Posted by: Edward Mangan | Jul 8, 2009 12:31:56 PM
It would be nice if you explained what you though was wrong with the article Edward Mangan. Or even brought a bit of coherence to your reply. No offense but from where I'm sitting it's not the Americans that look brainwashed. This primitive nationalism that some Chinese like yourself are infected with will end up hindering China's attempts to project itself onto the world stage. You and people like you are a stumbling block to China's long term interests.
Posted by: Jimmy | Jul 8, 2009 12:39:04 PM
Michael,
I hope by "nationalist" you are referring to the nationalistic zeal of the Chinese communists. The actual Chinese "Nationalists" go by the acronym "ROC" and mostly live in Taiwan and are far more reasonable people...
Posted by: Bob | Jul 8, 2009 12:40:20 PM
The Urighur are an oppressed and disriminated Minority. It's that simple.
And Edward, what is there to learn about a mob of 30 Han beating up an Urighur for no reason? Footage is footage.
ABC just caught footage of what happens to Utighur on a regular basis. Props to ABC
Posted by: SSA | Jul 8, 2009 12:42:31 PM
Chineese government conducted 46 nukleer tests in uighur. And forced 15 million abortions. And by government, under employement opportunities program 300 000 uighur girls were forced to sex slaves. By government newspaper, a lie story was told that uighurs harassed han girls which was a lie so that they can go on kill all uighurs. But uighurs know where uighur is located. Even if chineese kill all of them this will not be forgotten in 5000 years to come.
Posted by: george cornel | Jul 8, 2009 12:46:30 PM
@Bob
I was, though one can never be sure I think Edward Mangan would be unhappy with anyone labeling him Taiwanese. Edward Mangan seems to be a specimen of a certain group of Chinese given very limited (and when it come to history biased) education. Without the education and training in critical thinking, to know better, these Chinese not on only drink the Koolaid of government propaganda but chug it down. At times though, like with this recent unrest, Beijing through more flame on the fire then they actually wanted through their propaganda. It will be interesting to see what Beijing does with these useful idiots in the coming decades. The fervent nationalists are starting to be too blunt an instrument to be employed in most situations.
Posted by: Jimmy | Jul 8, 2009 12:51:00 PM
ABC Reporters & Crew are risking their life to bring unbias reports to the world. I am so sick of listening to the red china propaganda.
Posted by: namewithheld | Jul 8, 2009 12:51:51 PM
Please give American the truth as you are a reporter not an acompany with the Uighurs terrorist used by someone protected by some governments.They take use of your regime and partiality with no guilty feeling after killing ao many people even babies and pregnant woman, if the baseless words you can believe in, why you ignore the true????From the foundation of China, we han Chinese and Uighurs chinese work together and live together very well and I also have some Uighurs friends, some of them are very nice and bright, we all love China and want to get a better future,Please don't mislead Amweican with you heart.
Posted by: leowo | Jul 8, 2009 12:52:49 PM
man...that picture looks like it could be in gaza...except for the soldiers being chinese
Posted by: SSA | Jul 8, 2009 12:59:56 PM
I am so glad that the world got to hear your voice Edward Mangan Beijing, China.
Now that it is clear to everyone who reads this article of what the chinese's point of view in this conflict. It actually very much support the accuracy of ABC's report. More chinese people like you should post their comments on the internet so the world could get a better understanding of the red china.
China is slow coming out from the closet to show its true face. The scarry thing is that they're all over the world and among us. Becareful!
Posted by: namewithheld | Jul 8, 2009 1:13:27 PM
Dear ABC,
Please take response to whatever you say. Don't make mistake like the report of last year's Tibet 314. And also don't anger 1.3 billion people in the world.
Thank you!
Best wishes,
Chinese
Posted by: Chinese | Jul 8, 2009 1:32:18 PM
it is very sad to see many innocence citizen, woman, taxicab drivers and children got killed or got injured in the street riot of Xinjiang a few days ago, west of China by the some extremers and terrorist groups. Yet, it is even sad to dissappointed to observe some western media like this crew, has they has no profeesional conduct journalism. Selectively reporting one-sided negative story in the past few days. Knowing the fact that many innocence citizen got killed or got injured in the street riot of Xinjiang by the extremer and terrorist group. Why? just because they are in the wrong place and in the wrong time? Yet, there is no single coverage by any of ABCnews, they don't deserve the attention? don't they and their family has nay right? would the news team interview victim family in US? Yet, Is any of the family victims regardless of the ethnic group get interview or even being cover by our American media? NONE! where is the basic human right and voice of the victim. yet, 80% of wording by our media is to cover political viewpoint of Uighur extermer oversea and in US. Are this terorrist riot fund and support by the special interest group and CIA? Shame on you! Like reprot of ABC here, solely high light ethnic hate, ethnic difference and solely be posted one-sided story for Uighur extermer. After reading what these so call "Journalist"'s report, I am not sure if people would still respecting these gang? Are they reporters or are they just some political speaker of special interest grop and terroist group? If NOT, why are they suppporting killing and beautify the action of exterme terroist group? They id it in Olynmpic and they did it here. Shame and disaapointed of ABC to support extermer and terrorism. It is interesting to point out that, even this report, the being demonized Chinese police officer are protecting all citizens of all ethnic group; "The police dragged the Uighur away and put him in a vehicle for his protection"
Posted by: WC Read | Jul 8, 2009 1:33:34 PM
hey where is my post and link to video about this riot. did abc just delete it because it shows han chinese was beating by uighur
Posted by: wen | Jul 8, 2009 2:00:23 PM
West Media like you have made me really sick.
I read CNN and Bloomberg every day and keep this habit for over 10 years, and, I check up many other west media like your web when somthing comes out. With a dear heart to double check what the China State Media may cover up, in the end I always find myself falling in love with China more and more after seeing so much biase and prejudice and fact-distortion in the West Media toward China, Chinese and the regime. This love may go further to understand better the regime and the government, especially since last time Lasha riot, I started to feel sick of West Media.
I think my case is a representative of many highly educated Chinese.
Posted by: davidwangsd | Jul 8, 2009 2:02:42 PM
If you communists want peace, you should stop invading peaceful countries and communities. If your government is so great, tell them to release all political prisoners and stop the murder of innocent people who don't exactly follow your godless dictatorships. These Muslims do not present a threat to your insane leadership. But people like your Hans have been following party lines to their own destruction and others destruction. The USA has not been innocent, It has done the same thing to the Native Americans of this continent. But that don't mean you have to be like each other. Ethnic cleansing needs to stop everywhere for any government to call itself legitimate. Otherwise, the world community needs to come down hard with trade and business opportunities to those who act like third world dictatorships. The US is waking up in some parts. But the south US still has a long way to go. You Chinese Communists need to leanr that your ethnic cleansing has no place among the international community of humans. When you or any country acts inhumane to minorities, you show yourselves as not human but monsters.
Posted by: Dave | Jul 8, 2009 2:04:03 PM
@ dave
funny i don't recall china invade any country lately, last time i check xinjian and tibet are part of china. no country recognize xinjian or tibet is a independent state.
Also why is my post that shows evidence of uighur beating and killing han chinese was not posted.
is this blog only want to shows one side of story??
Posted by: wen | Jul 8, 2009 2:09:17 PM
China is going to be a super power and the Chinese have stood up. Your West Media and western people must get along with this reality.
CCP regime is not good but it is improving and is the only power who can manage the country to develop. When the regime becomes a hurdle for growth, trust the Chinese have the wisdom to change it over.
It is the failure of West Media and the culture to have made millions west educated pro-dem Chinese like me to feel sick of your alike media after seeing so much biase and prejudice and fact-distortion in you so-called free-press and probaly the people's mind.
Posted by: davidwangsd | Jul 8, 2009 2:20:49 PM
I think China's lack of empathy for the viewpoint of others dooms any attempt on their part to be a major player on the global stage. A Chinese rise is likely to be checked by their neighbors who fear them more than the US. Incidents like this only serve to increase the suspicion with which the world views China. If China wants to be a global player a lot of things are going to have to change, otherwise the world will keep China's ambitions penned in.
Posted by: Jimmy | Jul 8, 2009 2:27:29 PM
Below is a paragraph taken from the editorial of a mainstream Chinese newspaper in Hong Kong:
"What triggered the riot was a Han-Uygur brawl that took place late last June at a toy factory owned by a Hong Kong company in Shaoguan, Guangdong. Some rumoured on the Internet that some Uygurs had raped two Han women workers of the factory but its management had done nothing about it. In the small hours of June 26, a number of Han workers attacked their Uygur colleagues at the factory. In the brawl two Uygur men were killed, and 120 other workers, injured, of whom eighty are Uygur."
Posted by: DelegateMath | Jul 8, 2009 2:42:14 PM
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