The death toll from the ethnic riots in the Muslim region of Xinjiang in China has reached 156. The rioting stems from a call for the region to become an independent homeland for the Muslim Uighurs. Chinese officials are stating that the separatist urgings, and calls for protest, are coming from outside of the country by Internet and telephone.
Groups being accused of organizing the violence are denying the charge, and say it is due to pent-up anger regarding government policies, and the dominance over the Muslims by the Han Chinese.
Rioting Muslim Uighurs trace the unrest back to another confrontation that occurred in southern China in late June where Han Chinese and Uighurs fought at a factory in Shaoguan. Two Muslim Uighurs died in that episode. The outbreak of violence resulted from an accusation by the Han Chinese that Muslims had raped a Han Chinese woman.
The Uighur's claim that up to 100 Muslims were killed in that clash.
The rioters have been primarily identified as Muslim men in their twenties, many unemployed.
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
By Douglas V. Gibbs
Xinjiang riot toll hits 156 as unrest spreads - Yahoo! News, Reuters, Chris Buckley
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