Terrorists have betrayed Uygur people

Words are insufficient to express my shock at hearing what happened in Kunming. Definitely this is terrorism, which kills without discrimination for its own ugly political purposes.

By killing 29 innocent people and injuring another 130, the terrorists have destroyed maybe hundreds of families, as well as inflicted permanent wounds upon relatives, friends, and colleagues, who might number in thousands. The scars caused by the attack might never heal.

Unlike previous attacks, which took place in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, the mass killing in Kunming means that terrorism has already spread into inland provinces, which might cause more suffering to the country and the people.

Like all ethnic groups, we Uygur people hate terrorism, too, which is an enemy to all and can victimize all. The Uygur as an ethnic group cherish a peaceful life no less than others. In Uygur communities quarreling or fighting are especially rare because that’s against the morality of ordinary people. What the terrorists have done, whether in Xinjiang or elsewhere, is against the moral teachings of their ethnic group and is considered an act of betrayal.

Terrorism has actually hurt the Uygur people most. Whenever such a terrorist attack happens, the Uygurs who live in inland provinces will feel insecure and isolated. A small number of terrorists are enough to damage the good reputation of the whole ethnic group and they should be held responsible for the sufferings of Uygur people.

Terrorism is also harming efforts to promote the prosperity of Xinjiang. After the riot in Urumqi on July 5, 2009, many tourists canceled their plans to travel to Xinjiang, which almost destroyed the local tourism industry. In 1997 and 1998, when violent crimes were rampant in Xinjiang, investment from inland provinces and foreign countries declined.

What the terrorists are doing hurts the Uygur people no less than other ethnic groups and we hope the State can root them out for a better tomorrow of all.

Reyila Dawuti, professor of Uygur culture at Xinjiang University