Changes

In July 2009 large scale rioting erupted as Uighurs fought Chinese riot police in major cities in China's western Xinjiang province. Over 150 people are dead.  Chinese officials blamed Rebiya Kadeer, a Uighur businesswoman who was jailed for years in China before being released into exile in the US where she now heads the World Uighur Congress, for "masterminding" the unrest.<ref> See [http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/07/world/asia/07kadeer.html?ref=world Wrik Eckholm, "China Points to Another Leader in Exile," ''New York Times'' July 6, 2009]</ref>  Exiled Uighurs blame Chinese repression.  Uighurs are angry at political, cultural and religious persecution as well as the growing presence in the region of Han Chinese - China's main ethnic group. Han now predominate in the cities, and Uighurs in the countryside. This is the first major violent unrest in China in two decades.

In July 2009 large scale rioting erupted as Uighurs fought Chinese riot police in major cities in China's western Xinjiang province. Over 150 people are dead.  Chinese officials blamed Rebiya Kadeer, a Uighur businesswoman who was jailed for years in China before being released into exile in the US where she now heads the World Uighur Congress, for "masterminding" the unrest.<ref> See [http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/07/world/asia/07kadeer.html?ref=world Wrik Eckholm, "China Points to Another Leader in Exile," ''New York Times'' July 6, 2009]</ref>  Exiled Uighurs blame Chinese repression.  Uighurs are angry at political, cultural and religious persecution as well as the growing presence in the region of Han Chinese - China's main ethnic group. Han now predominate in the cities, and Uighurs in the countryside. This is the first major violent unrest in China in two decades.

Unrest in Urumqi, Xinjiang has led to the disappearance of 10,000 Uighurs in one night by Chinese authorities. Exiled dissident Rebiya Kadeer and the World Uighur Congress urge the international community to provide support for those missing. "Where have they gone? If they are dead, where are they now?" Also, they are blaming the [[United States]] government for keeping silent on the issue. <ref>[http://www.speroforum.com/site/article.asp?id=19981 10,000 Uighur disappear in China, U.S. silent Spero News, July 29, 2009]</ref>

Unrest in Ürümqi, Xinjiang has led to the disappearance of 10,000 Uighurs in one night by Chinese authorities. Exiled dissident Rebiya Kadeer and the World Uighur Congress urge the international community to provide support for those missing. "Where have they gone? If they are dead, where are they now?" Also, they are blaming the [[United States]] government for keeping silent on the issue. <ref>[http://www.speroforum.com/site/article.asp?id=19981 10,000 Uighur disappear in China, U.S. silent Spero News, July 29, 2009]</ref>

==History==

==History==