By
Iddi Yire, GNA
Accra, Jan. 8, GNA –
Mr Shi Ting Wang, Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, has reiterated that there are no
concentration camps in the Chinese Xinjiang Province but rather educational
training and vocational camps, as part of efforts to address terrorism.
He said following
the establishment of Vocational Education and Training Centres in 2016, there
has been no single record of terrorist attacks in the Province.
Speaking at a media
engagement on Wednesday in Accra, Mr Shi said terrorism and extremism are the
common enemies of humanity.
He urged the western
media to desist from propagating falsehood about Xinjiang.
He said terrorism
and extremism has a long history in Xinjiang; stating that since the 1990s,
especially after the September 11 attacks in the United States, the “East
Turkistan” forces inside and outside China have stepped up their collaboration
as terrorism and extremism spread around the globe, trying desperately to
establish “East Turkistan” through “Jihad” (holy war).
He said between 1990
and the end of 2016 separatists, religious extremists and terrorists plotted
and carried out several thousand acts of terrorism such as bombings,
assassinations, poisoning, arson, assaults and riots in Xinjiang.
Mr Shi said as
result, many innocent people were killed and several hundred police officers
died in the line of duty; declaring that the property losses incurred were
enormous.
“In the face of
these real threats, Xinjiang has taken a resolute action to fight terrorism and
extremism in accordance with the law,” the Ambassador said.
“There have been no
violent terrorist cases and incidents for three consecutive years in Xinjiang.”
He said the spread
of extremism has been effectively contained, public security has notably
improved, and people of all ethnic groups are able to live and work in peace
with a much stronger sense of gain, happiness and security.
Mr Shi said Xinjiang
was a key battlefield in the fight against terrorism and extremism in China;
recounting that in past Xinjiang had been plagued by terrorism and religious
extremism, which pose a serious threat to the lives of the people in the
region.
He said addressing
both the symptoms and root causes and integrating preventative measures and a
forceful response, Xinjiang had established Vocational Education and Training
Centres in accordance with the law to prevent the breeding and spread of
terrorism and religious extremism, effectively curbing the frequent terrorist
incidents and protecting the rights to life, health, and development of the
people of all ethnic groups.
The Ambassador, who
said worthwhile results had been achieved; noted that currently there are no
people at the centres because they have been trained and graduated.
He said there was
now peace in Xinjiang and that its doors were opened to visitors and tourists.
Mr Shi said for
sometime now, some governments and media of western countries distorted facts,
smear and unjustifiable criticism of Xinjiang’s counter-terrorism and
de-radicalization efforts.
“They claimed that
“one million Uygur Muslims in concentration camps!” … “Ethnic Cleansing and
Cultural Genocide!” … These are completely groundless and erroneous.”
Mr Shi said the
Xinjiang issue was by no means an issue of human rights, ethnicity or religion,
but an issue of anti-violence and anti-separatism; “Xinjiang is China’s
Xinjiang. The Xinjiang-related issues are purely China’s internal
affairs”.
“Only by abandoning
double standards, enhancing political mutual trust, reaching strategic
consensus, and promoting exchanges and cooperation, can we effectively curb and
combat terrorism and extremism in the interests of world peace and stability.”
Xinjiang (Xinjiang
Uygur Autonomous Region) is situated in northwest China and the hinterland of
the Eurasian Continent, covering an area of 1.66 million sq km.
It borders eight
countries: Mongolia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan,
Pakistan, and India. Since ancient times, Xinjiang has been home to various
ethnic groups, and different cultures and religions coexist.
It has also been an
important channel for communication between civilizations of the East and the
West, and was an important section of the famed Silk Road which linked ancient
China with the rest of the world.
GNA
