Showdown in U-town brings Clampdown

Home » Life, riots, Urumqi June 21, 2010 10 Comments

Last week was a busy week of Xinjiang news and I anticipate these next two to be even worse. The one-year anniversary of the Urumqi riots is soon approaching and two opposing groups are gearing up for the big day. On one side we have the Xinjiang government and on the other we have representatives of the Uyghur population abroad. Here’s what’s happened so far:

  • June 10th: Xinjiang police forces held an anti-riot training exercise that included fake rioters, water cannons, dogs, snipers, and machine guns. The exercise was called “a comprehensive test of the emergency response of the Urumqi police” (AFP)
  • June 19th: It was reported that the Uyghur representatives announced plans of protests and demonstrations in honor of the one-year anniversary in cities around the world where there is a Uyghur presence. Interestingly, the website of this group returns a “503: Service Unavailable” reply. (Sri Lanka Guardian)
  • Jun 19th: Coinciding with the previous announcement, Xinjiang officials further revealed plans to clamp down on security for a month beginning on June 20 through July 20. This means more police, more inspections, and strict interpretation of usually lenient rules. (AFP)

A Bad Time to Travel

Riot Police in China's Xinjiang capital of Urumqi

All of this comes while Kyrgyzstan, Xinjiang’s neighbors to the west, are enduring their own unrest. It feels like this general area of Central Asia just can’t seem to find equilibrium.

The chances of an all-out riot breaking out in Urumqi again in the next month are pretty slim. Police deployment, especially in the south of Urumqi, will be heavy, no doubt. Security checkpoints will be everywhere and many places that are usually opened to tourist will be restricted.

If you were once planning to travel to Xinjiang over the next month you might want to reconsider. I’m not concerned with safety so much as convenience. If the month following the actual riots was any indication, I can tell you from experience that it would be an awkward time to tour the province.

10 Comments

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  • damo said:
    June 21st, 2010 at 9:31 am

    My wife just came back from Xinjiang and said the situation there is calm.

    I have noticed that her ability to pick up on dangerous situations and tense areas are limited?

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  • lee said:
    June 21st, 2010 at 6:26 pm

    Was planning a trip out West this July… anyone have any idea if this clampdown will extend to Kashgar? And what kind of inconveniences should one expect, aside from closed sites?

    thanks for any help!

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    Jan Abbey says: June 22nd, 2010 at 8:34 am

    Kashgar wasn’t affected like Urumqi so I don’t think you should have too much trouble-just have your passport with you at all times and be prepared to be checked by police. Also, you may have trouble finding a hotel as many don’t want the perceived trouble that a foreigner might bring. Here in Urumqi, however, will be a different situation. Already the army is stationed everywhere with their guns displayed. I usually don’t carry my passport but will now start (I’ve lived here 3 years). I think it will be a tense month :(

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    Josh says: June 22nd, 2010 at 11:52 am

    Thanks for the update. I’m surprised Kashgar isn’t as affected but I could have guessed about the army in the Urumqi streets. Good luck with it all!

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  • Mitch said:
    June 22nd, 2010 at 10:17 am

    G’day.
    I’m in the same boat as Lee, except I’m planning on heading up to the Bayanbaluk Grasslands and maybe Turpan too, before moving onto Beijing in early August…
    Cheers.

    [Reply]

  • Adam Daniel Mezei said:
    June 23rd, 2010 at 12:00 am

    While it might not be the most convenient time to move around in the province, it will most certainly be the best time to collect photos and perhaps even some audio bits as things — regrettably — heat up in the region. I recommend to all who’ve posted here, @Mitch, @lee, and @Jan Abbey to share your snaps with Josh so he can update us accordingly…thanks to everyone for keeping us updated and whatever you do: please be safe!

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    damo says: June 25th, 2010 at 7:03 am

    Being there last year during and before the unrest I can say that is wasn’t the best time to collect photo’s and audio bits.

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    Josh says: June 25th, 2010 at 10:53 pm

    You were collecting audio bits? For what?

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    damo says: June 26th, 2010 at 5:39 am

    I wasn’t so stupid to take photo’s or audio bits.

    As you know Josh it was a difficult and nervous time there.

    Certain people had a act first ask questions latter attitude then.

  • damo said:
    June 25th, 2010 at 7:17 am

    Just reading that China has arrested suspected terrorists(ETIM) in Xinjiang which had plans of unrest in Kashgar,Hotan and Aksu in 2009.

    Giving Kashgar special city status recently making it a economic hub for that part of the world leads me to believe that all is not that safe in Kashgar at the moment.

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