Fri 22 October 2021:
In a statement delivered before the United Nations on Thursday, 43 countries called on China to “ensure full respect for the rule of law” for the Muslim Uyghur community in Xinjiang.
The resolution, which was signed by the United States, as well as other European and Asian member states and others, accused China of a litany of human rights violations against the Uyghurs, including torture, forced sterilization and forced disappearances.
“We call on China to allow immediate, meaningful and unfettered access to Xinjiang for independent observers, including the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and her office,” the countries said in a joint statement, read at the United Nations by France.
“We are particularly concerned about the situation in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region,” the statement continued, citing “credible” reports that “indicate the existence of a large network of ‘political reeducation’ camps where over a million people have been arbitrarily detained.”
Beijing has long refuted allegations of ethnic cleansing targeting Uyghurs and other largely Muslim Turkic people in Xinjiang, where researchers believe that over a million people are imprisoned in camps.
Zhang Jun, China’s ambassador to the United Nations, slammed what he called “lies” and a “plot to hurt China” on Thursday.
“Xinjiang enjoys development and the people are emancipating themselves every day and are proud of the progress made,” he said.
And while Zhang told media that China was willing to host a “friendly” visit to the region, he did not agree to an inquiry by the UN human rights commissioner.
He accused Washington, Paris and London of having a “terrible human rights record.”
Beijing accused the US of “inhumane ethnic cleansing” of Native Americans and France of “crimes against humanity” in its former colonies in a statement to the media.
Similar statements were made in 2019 and 2020 condemning China’s policies in Xinjiang, where the US has accused Beijing of genocide.
According to diplomats, China has increased pressure on UN member states not to support the declarations.
(with agency)
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