Recruiter behind Xinjiang plot had ties to terrorist organization

Twelve people were given the death penalty on Monday for their involvement in a terrorist attack in which 37 civilians were killed, according to a court statement.

Fifteen others received death sentences with a two-year reprieve for the parts they played in the outrage in Shache county in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

Others received prison sentences ranging from four years to life, while two were given probation.

The intermediate court in Kashgar prefecture announced its verdicts for 58 people, including one woman. They were arrested after a gang armed with knives and axes attacked a police station and government offices at Elixku township on July 28.

Some gang members moved on to nearby Huangdi, attacking civilians and smashing vehicles on the way.

Police said the mob used roadblocks to stop cars, then slashed passengers and forced some to join the attack.

Officers gunned down 59 attackers and arrested 215 others. They also confiscated long knives, axes and banners bearing the words "holy war".

Osman Abulat, Yusup Abulat, Juma Kadeer, Memetiming Amar and eight others were sentenced to death for organizing, leading and participating in terrorist groups, intentional homicide, illegally producing explosives, arson, kidnapping and endangering public security.

The court found that Osman had joined a group led by Nuramat Sawut, from Elixku, who had close connections with the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, a terrorist organization. Nuramat was the mastermind of the attack in Shache.

Osman took on the role of recruiting supporters, and forced some to take part in the terrorist attack. He attacked a number of drivers, killing three.

Nuramat, who was fatally shot by police, had been promoting separatism and religious extremism by distributing audio and video materials since 2013. Through this process, he built up a terrorist group and became its leader.

Yusup, a member of the group, killed five people. Juma smashed vehicles and set them on fire and, with other gang members, killed two people.

Members led by Memetiming also set fire to passing vehicles, and were in possession of a large quantity of explosives that they planned to use against officers.

Police said 31 vehicles were attacked, six of which were set on fire.

Nine of those tried were sentenced to life, and 20 - including at least one woman - were imprisoned for between four and 20 years.

The court said it dealt leniently with those who turned themselves in or showed remorse. Ali Turson, who was involved in the killing of a number of people, was given life after he surrendered.

Memeturson Amar, who helped his brother to escape after the attack, was found guilty of harboring a criminal. However, the court heard he had tried to persuade his brother not to take part in the attack, and after being caught he expressed regret, so he was given a lenient sentence of three years with a four-year reprieve.

The trials of others alleged to have taken part in the attack will take place later.

The Kashgar government admitted last week that it failed to fully implement all the measures introduced by the central and regional governments to maintain stability, and so held some responsibility. It vowed to learn from the painful lesson of Shache and tackle the problem at the grassroots level.

cuijia@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily USA 10/14/2014 page6)