What Really Happened in the Hotan Riots?

For those of you that keep up with current events in Xinjiang and the deadly riots in Hotan (a.k.a. Khotan), I want to extend an apology for the ill timing of last weeks post entitled The Many Ways to Travel to Hotan. Obviously the sad news of the riots in Hotan have not only claimed the lives of many people, it has also made traveling there impossible for the time being.

Because I maintain a full-time job during the week, I usually write any articles the weekend before and schedule them to publish throughout the week. Such was the case here, where the travel article was written a few days before the deadly riots and was completely forgotten. To those whom this might have offendedI apologize.

What Happened in Hotan?

If you dont keep up with Xinjiang news, let me catch you up on what happened last week. On Monday, July 18th 2011, a deadly clash between Uyghur civilians and Chinese police has left at least 18 people dead. According to Chinese reports this includes 2 policemen, 2 hostages and 14 Uyghur.

Chinese media claims that this was a long-planned, unprovoked, terrorist attack whereas Uyghur organizations insist that about 100 locals had peacefully gathered to protest a police crackdown imposed on the city for the last two weeks.

Police forces have placed checkpoints along the roads leading in and out of Hotan and have completely barricaded the area where this incident occurred so that no independent sources can verify either of these claims.

Where Exac! tly Did This Happen?

One of the usually fun places to visit in Hotan is an area known as the Grand Bazaar or (dabaza). It is here where you can buy Uyghur trinkets, cloths, clothes, and some tasty Uyghur food.

About 200 yards to the southeast there is a police station guarded by a gate. Contrary to what you read in Xinhua or China Daily, this station isnt in the heart of the Grand Bazaar, its a little ways south.

See below for a map of where all this took place or see this link on Googles China Maps.

Crazy Things Worth Taking Note

Whats interesting are the discrepancies in the reporting and the strange trends that Ive noticed. Check this out:

• China Daily claims that this attack took place at the Naarburg Street police station and even shows a picture. What you dont realize it that this picture is actually cropped. The original photo reveals a sign that says this police station is located at 357 East TaiBei Street. I think I know why this is, but the picture cropping still seems sketchy to me.

Compare with the China Daily ! picture< /a>

• Another China Daily article chalked all this up to religious extremism, claiming that They [the rioters] hang ultra-religious banners on the station building just to fabricate larger impacts. As you can see in the picture above, no such banners are evident.
• Peter Dixie, a follower of FWC on Twitter, noted the presence of Chinese fireworks on the steps of the police station in the picture above. Important? Im not sure. But I do know that most police dont blow up fireworks in their spare time.
• Xinjiang officials have worked hard since 2009 to stop the outside influence of Uyghur organizations from the US and EU, so it would be counter-intuitive to blame this incident on them. Instead, a Chinese government think-tank has decided to place the blame on Pakistan.
• Considering how much China hates anniversaries (think 6.5, 7.4, etc.) I find it fascinating that the Chinese press has already named this the 718 or 7.18 Incident. Dont you think theyd want to shy away from calling it by its date?

It took a few days, but China has finally released a few pictures of the incident, a few of which you can see below: