Emotional ceremony held in Kashgar for victims of terrorism

Fifteen people who were killed by terrorists in Kashgar, the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, more than one week ago were honored as martyrs and "anti-terrorism warriors" by the regional government on Monday.

The terror attack on April 23 in Sebuliya township, Bachu county, was the deadliest incident since the July 5 riot in 2009 in Urumqi, capital of the region, which left about 200 dead.

Nine community workers and six policemen (10 Uygur, three Han and two Mongolians) were killed. Mirgul Yusup, 24, a female community worker, was the youngest victim. Six suspects were shot dead and eight arrested.

Nine people, including those injured during the attack, were also honored after the memorial service took place in Kashgar. More than 1,000 people, including the families of the dead and Nur Bekri, chairman of the region, observed a moment of silence for the victims as rain fell on the city for the first time this year.

In a breakthrough on Monday, police said they had arrested 11 suspects who had fled the scene.

Police also found 20 explosive devices, raw materials for making explosives, knives, combat training equipment, illegal religious materials as well as three jihadist flags.

Xinjiang police identified Kasmu Memet as the leader of the group that had been planning to "do something big" in a crowded public area in Kashgar this summer.

On April 23, bombs were being made at a house in Selibuya.

Community workers, on a routine visit, arrived at the house in the afternoon.

Other gang members, not in the house, were alerted and took up position.

Once they realized that the community workers had discovered explosives in the house and were holding the men inside, this group ran into the house and targeted the community workers.

All three female community workers were killed. Nine others, including the head of Selibuya police station who shot dead one suspect and wounded another, were forced into a room and burnt to death after the terror group set the room on fire with petrol.

The group then ambushed a backup team of police officers and township officials. One township official was killed and two police officers later died of their wounds in hospital. One suspect was shot dead.

Then four terror suspects ran onto the street and set vehicles alight. One was shot dead as he tried to break into the county government building. Three hijacked a tricycle and drove into Selibuya police station and they set it on fire before being shot dead.

Zhang Chunxian, Party chief of the region, said the terrorists were planning an even more brutal attack and the brave men and women sacrificed their lives to prevent it from happening.

Bekri, chairman of the region, said: "The incident shows that violent terrorists and extremists will attack anyone, regardless of ethnicity. They even attacked women and people that they know. Their acts are not due to ethnic or religious issues but are attempts to divide China, which will never be tolerated."

Communication between foreign and domestic separatists will be severed, he said.

On the afternoon of April 27, police allowed access to the crime scene following their investigation.

The house was gutted by the blaze. Relatives of the dead came to see the spot where their loved ones were killed.

"I cannot believe my brother was killed in this horrible way. No one has the right to do that," said Liu Cailing, sister of Liu Xuliang, Party chief of the community.

She insisted on seeing the burnt-out room where Liu died. "They (terrorists) need to be punished as soon as possible. People should never live in fear," she said.

Aniwar Ahat lost his son and a brother in the attack.

His son, Akbar Aniwar, 25, was an assistant police officer at Yingbazha and his brother, Tayir Ahat, was in charge of the community's security.

"The terrorists have no humanity or conscience. They destroyed my life. I hate them so much. My son only just began work last July. He said his goal was to marry a pretty wife," Aniwar Ahat said in tears.

"No one should tolerate and support terrorists and every one of them should be punished harshly by the law."

cuijia@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 04/30/2013 page1)