Ethnic tension (as well as any other form of tensions) usually rises above surface when a society is undergoing big changes. Difference in wealth distribution is the underlying cause. Canada is no exception.

Most Canadians still remember the bombing in the 70s in Quebec; and we still see the third-world living standard of our native peoples, which explodes into clashes once in a while in the form of native land dispute.

China is a much more complicated place. With less per capita resources, the wealth gap between ethnic groups translates into real problem. I do believe this ethnic tension will gradually subside in the near future, as long as we help China to maintain its economic growth.

Ethnic militancy has subsided in Northern Ireland, Quebec, lately Sri Lanka, sporadic problems in Spain's Basque region. I believe Chinese people will eventually get out of it too.

Ethnic tensions rise to the surface in this case and that of Tibet, when central governments socially engineer the ethnic makeup of any part of a country. Han Chinese are given incentives to settle on 'the New Frontier' (Xinjiang) and exploit the resouces, whilst the native people are forced to watch from the margins.

You failed to mention the systamatic and wholesale distruction which is underway in the Uighur City of Kashgar in the South and the ban of the teaching of the Uighur language! Uighurs and the other Central Asians are the natives of this region, Han Chinese are natives of the Eastern Seaboard.

If Sinjiang is truly an autonomous regios, they should have some autonomy and rights over the resources which lay in Xinjiang! The boundary of China was set when they built the 'great' wall!

Ethnic tension does exist, but it would be much helpful without the provocation and the biase of the West's propaganda machines. As to Canada as an exemplar society, it's a bit naive. Practically every person whom this Mr. Yin knows probably can trace his origin to somewhere outside of North America. The real native Americans are marginalized to the remote "reserves" and live on the charity of the state. Their voice is efficiently muted outside their reserves. Is this the way China should deal with her minorities? Communication yes, but Mr. Yin really doesn't have to paint Canada as a Utopia just because he's a naturalized citizen.

Just minutes ago, Turkey started calling the killings "genocide". Perhaps true, but Turkey obviously and intentionally mistook the identity of the victims. It is remarkable that the country is even not Western enough or powerful enough, yet its propaganda machine won't be left behind in delivering the most vicious abuse of justice.

The Uyghurs (pronounced Oo-ee-gh.-oor, NOT pronounced wigger like the media errenously pronounces) for 50 years have been occupied by the CHinese govt, and for the last 50 years there has been a population change. The influx of Hans, changes demographics. This similar occurence is trying to be applied to Indian occupied Kashmir, where Indian govt is trying to settle Hindus in Kashmir so that when the plebicite vote occurs, Kashmir will join India, instead of independence or joining Pakistan. Even now, Urumchi is mostly Han populated, even though it is a traditional Turko-Mongol city.

The Uyghurs are religiously Muslim, ethnically Turko-Mongols, speaking Altay languages who have old religous, cultural and historical ties with Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan. This is not to say that ethnic CHinese Muslims don't exist, they do, they are known as the Hui. But as Muslims, Hui practice religious and cultural observances like the Uyghurs and the other Turko-Mongol and Aryan-Iranian neighbours. This is as much religious identity as ethnic identity. And the Uyghurs reject the atheistic and police style policies of the Chinese govt, and now recently are resisting the population changes happening in Uyghuristan (known as Xinjiang in China).

This is not to say Muslims can't live with non-Muslims in peace, they can and obviously do in other parts of the world. But the policy of the govt and the mass influx of Hans is seen as a threat to the identity of the people.

If Quebec had a mass Anglophone influx, and the French laws were replaced with British laws, would Quebec not respond in the same way the Uyghurs are? Quebec is recognized as a distinct identity within Canada, and thats all the Uyghurs are fighting for now.

THe label of "Muslim Terrorists" is just an excuse, because without the CHinese govt using that label, its just a plain old genocide, human rights violations and repression of an ethnic peoples and their own land.

Shahidler, I agree with you in most points.

But the war in Sri Lanka was created by India (RAW) and America (CIA) during the cold-war when West confronted India (East). There were three fronts.

One of them was the Punjab front. That is the time some groups from Punjab were able to bomb Air India in Canada and said they wanted to kill 50,000 Hindus.

Another front was the East Pakistan, today’s Bangladesh. That is the time America was sending the USS Enterprise to (act on) India. It was blocked by the USSR nuclear submarines. Both pulled back and the East Pakistan became Bangladesh with India’s help in 1971.

Sri Lanka was the third front. When Sri Lanka became a playground for the West (i.e. Voice of America etc), specially after 1977 Sri Lankan election, India took more than 1000 Tamil youths to India, trained them and sent back to Sri Lanka to fight with Sinhalese dominated army.

Economy was not a big factor here.

To Asem:

You mentioned: "This is not to say that ethnic CHinese Muslims don't exist, they do, they are known as the Hui."

I must say, this statement is strange. Hui are ethnic Hui Muslims. Though they are Chinese, they differ ethnically from Han Chinese. They are descendants of merchant immigrants from the Middle Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia and Persia over many centuries in different time periods. To say the Hui people are ethnically Chinese Muslims is a pointless phrase.

So far the "genocide" has killed more Hans than Uyghurs. Of course that would be a lie from the government too.

I am glad that you guys are interested in the Xinjiang issue. But I have to tell you that this is a very very complicated issue. Depending upon your origin, knowledge and information source, you may have totally different conclusions.

Q1: Why don't the other 53 ethnics in China call for independence? Because the other 53 ethnics consider themselves as Chinese. Many friends of mine including Hui, Mongolian, Man, Korean, Xibo, Tujia, Yi, Bai......you name it, never doubt their identities. Although some Uighurs do the same but the other do not. Due to the complicacy, I wouldn't discuss here. It is widely known that several nations did and do stir the pot.

Q2: Is Canada as a Utopia? Obviously Canada is not a Utopia and we are not happy with many things. Since China and Canada are totally different in every single aspect, China cannot copy Canadian methods. What I meant is taht if any solution helps improve the situation, it should be considered.

Q3:Turkey calls it "genocide of Uighurs". The total death toll is 184 including Han 137, Uighur 49 and Hui 1. Who attacked whom in Urumqi where Han dominates? Turkey is lying and misleading. Facts will be released to public.

Q4:Will Xinjiang independ? Chinese history shows that China firmly controlled her frontiers when she was strong. Now China is rapidly growing in all aspects, seperism is just a dream which never comes true.

Again, despite the ethnics, all people want to live in a peaceful and harmonious society.

I understand the word PEACE. As a Swiss - Canadian businessman in Shanghai I founded www.BlueprintAsia.com. We are cheerleaders for all Asia. PEACE is a 10 generation 200 year process that starts at the kitchen table where we learn the Good; the Bad: and the Ugly as children and teenagers on our "Journey of 10,000 meals". Read us.

The leadership in Beijing is building a modern industrial society where eradication of poverty, better national education, health, infrastructure, and economic development is the priority. Social control is the essential component. So when Beijing sees a Tibetan punk chasing a Han buisnessman down the street with a machete or a Uighur mob chasing and killing Hans in Urimuchi, then the hammer goes down and Blueprint applauds Beijing. There will be no repeat of 1990 era Yugoslavia in China I assure everyone. The common enemy is greed, envy and pride ...... and to eradicate these deadky sins in a society takes 200 years. China, East Asia, and ASEAN are in year 65 and generation #4 since World War II ended. PEACE is within our grasp in Asia. Hold the course China. And remind America of the race riots in the South; in Detroit; Chicago and LA. Remind Canadians of the history of Newfoundland, Quebec, and Japanese detention in the West etc. Not very pretty was it.
Denis Braun founder BlueprintAsia.com

I do hope all your friends remain safe.

Though I do wonder, how many of them were Uighurs.

It would be nice to find out some of the background that went into the creation of conditions that led to these riots. From what I've read, the 90's were a time when Uighur culture was not threatened by China's policies, but I understand that has since changed.

How do you feel about the plans to demolish much of historic Kashgar?

This article basically confirms the info I derived from the news site. What is missing is the history and cause for the hatred that exists towards the Hans.
Separatism does exist in many places and has many causes. Economic, social, cultural, religious reasons are known to be involved. But hatred leading to murder of another group is hard to understand unless religious directives are in play.

This little "Bytes" has more information on the whole event than CBC ever reported in the past week!

Liang Yin said: "I sincerely wish that all the local ethnics live a peaceful and harmonious society like we do here in Canada — a multicultural and multi-ethnic nation."

To all Canadians who get the opportunity to read this article - we are very, very fortunate to have a democracy which allows us to have our many freedoms.

For example, I can publish the following pledge without fear of reprisal or persecution.

We, the descendants of Canada’s Aboriginal, French and English founders,
and of all others who later arrived to help build this nation,stand in unity as witness to this pledge.

Remembering that Canada’s provinces and territories have been settled by peoples whose mother tongues, heritage and values differed, we pledge to one another:

To recognize, to respect, and to celebrate Canada’s diversity, lest a loss of identity suffers unto our descendants;

To embrace tolerance, equality, sharing and compassion as the moral cornerstones of our great nation;

To bond together as one in the pursuit of dignity, health, prosperity and happiness for all Canadians;

To forever preserve and promote this mission that we so proudly share.

Let not conflicting ambitions, neglect, nor the passage of time, allow this pledge to be forgotten or ignored.

It's quite disingenuous to portray the Han Chinese as innocent victims here, when many of them were planted in the region by the Chinese government as part of a policy of settlement and ethnic reorganization. The Uighurs face constant discrimination from the Han-dominated government, which seeks to "sinofy" the region in much the same way they are doing in Tibet.
It's not surprising that China's government-controlled media focuses on Han casualties while ignoring the Uighurs who were killed and injured by Han mobs and security forces - what I didn't expect was for the CBC to provide a platform for such one-sided commentary.

I did see CBC post "There were a few photos and videos of the riot showing bloody, dead bodies lying on the streets, many injured people, and lots of burned vehicles. "
Did CBC tell all Canadian all the facts while reporting?

wERE THAT ALL eTHNICS HAD THE SAME OUTLOOK AS THIS YOUNG MAN.

wE, IN cANADA DO NOT KNOW HOW GOOD WE HAVE IT...EVEN THOUGH THERE IS STILL LOTS TO BE RECTIFIED!

AS A THIRD GENERATION CANADIAN BORN CANADIAN PEOPLE WITH VALUES CONSTRUCTIVE TO SOCIETY WILL ALWAYS FIND A HOME HERE.

Lin Liang: As a Han Chinese either I feel sad about what happened in Xinjiang. Hatred is from angry and angry is due to frustration; frustration needs knowledge and knowledge can only be gotten from education. Most of the people did the crime are from southern Xiang where is the poorest region of the province. I guess many of them probably didn’t have a good education. Mitigating poverty and improving education are the only way to prevent such tragedy in future. Yes, the government needs invest more on education and then it probably can put less money on security. But we general Chinese people can also do something that the government cannot do.

In many poor western provinces of China there is a program that an employee in a state-owned company usually donates money every year to a poor rural family for better education of the kids. If that happens between a Han family and a minority family, it can also build good relations between different ethnic groups. I had a couple of Uighur classmates when I was in China and I know some place in Xinjiang is still very poor.

A suggestion is that why don’t you setup an education fund asking our Chinese Canadian fellows to donate money helping those poor rural Uighur kids for a better education? If each 1 million Chinese Canadian can donate $10 every year, it could probably prevent many young Uighurs to be “terrorists”. Please contact me if you would like to do this and you can get my email from CBC’s editor.

Every multi-ethnic state in history ends up tearing itself apart.
Canada will suffer the same fate , it will only be a matter of time and changing demographics . Just wait 'til whitey is a minority .

Global socialists and their useful idiots have had their way with Canada .
It's sad to read some of these stupid comments . White Canadians are a very naive and guilt ridden people , who don't even have the sense to preserve themselves .