Uighur leader condemns China
2009-08-07 10:34
Melbourne - Exiled Uighur leader Rebiya Kadeer accused Beijing of "heinous" crimes during last month's deadly Xinjiang riots as she addressed a protest outside Melbourne's Chinese consulate on Friday.
Kadeer, whose visit to Australia has been strongly opposed by China, told about 100 flag-waving demonstrators watched by a heavy police presence that Beijing had lied about the extent and nature of the July 5 violence.
The US-based head of the World Uighur Congress said the number of dead far exceeded China's official toll of 197, and denied she was responsible for inciting the violence, as claimed by Beijing.
"In order to cover up their heinous crime, in order to divert attention and point the finger to others, the Chinese government accused me and the World Uighur Congress for allegedly instigating the so-called unrest," Kadeer said through an interpreter.
"We'd like to call on the international community, the United Nations and also the Australian government to call on the Chinese government to reveal the truth of the people who were killed, wounded, injured, imprisoned and those who died in Chinese government custody," she added.
Kadeer, a figurehead for the mainly Muslim Uighur minority, is here to attend a weekend screening of 10 Conditions of Love, a documentary about her life, despite protests from Beijing which calls her a "criminal".
Saturday's screening, which is sold out, has also drawn condemnation from China which tried to have the movie pulled from Melbourne's ongoing film festival.
Kadeer told the crowd they were engaged in a peaceful struggle for "freedom, for democracy, and for our human rights".
The Uighurs say they have suffered political and religious persecution since Chinese troops "peacefully liberated" the vast region 60 years ago.
- SAPA
