Page 114 - Communist Chinas Policy of Oppression in East Turkestan

110

changes that occurred in the region (and the world as a whole) pre-
vented the desire of the people of East Turkestan for independence
from being translated into reality. China—a country with a total land
area of some 10 million square kilometers—tried to exterminate the
people of East Turkestan (also a giant nation of 2 million square kilome-
ters) by its policies of oppression and isolation.
Just like the Russians in West Turkestan, the Chinese also changed
the region's name. The new name they used was the "Uighur Au-
tonomous Region of Sinkiang." They then began to implement the same
kinds of policies used by other imperialist nations. A ruthless war was
waged against the local people's beliefs, customs, and religious prac-
tices. Ethnic discrimination became rife, demands for independence
were ferociously suppressed, defenseless people were exiled from their
land, and Chinese settlers were brought in to replace them. The brutal-
ity known as "Chinese torture" and cruelty soon became reality.
Before going into the details of the oppression, (of which most peo-
ple are very unaware), we will review East Turkestan's historical, geo-
strategic and geo-political position.

EAST TURKESTAN: THE CRADLE OF
TURKISH-ISLAMIC CIVILIZATION

The history of the lands of Turkestan goes back to the third century
B.C. (the Gokturk and Hun period). The area has been the Turkish
homeland since very early in history, and Islamic territory for a thou-
sand years. Although no state or khanate bearing the name of
Turkestan was ever established, the area in question, which makes up a
large part of Central Asia, has always been called by that name because
it has been a Turkish settlement area since very ancient times. Re-
searchers describe East Turkestan in particular as one of the first centers
of civilization and, as an area where, due to its geo-strategic position,
Western and Eastern cultures intermingled.

Communist China’s Policy
of Oppression in East Turkestan