Posted on 09/25/2001 7:40:48 PM PDT by aculeus
ISLAMIC militants faced the execution squad yesterday, stupefied by drink and driven to their deaths on an open lorry past laughing crowds.
In the afternoon sunlight bathing the People’s Square in Kashgar, northwestern China, several dozen Islamic prisoners were lined up on blue lorries, dazed and barely comprehending.
Standing under a 100ft granite statue of Chairman Mao, the handcuffed Islamic prisoners swayed gently, steadied by white-gloved policemen. Their eyes were bloodshot, their unfocused gaze testament to their confusion. They did not realise they would face the executioner within the hour. As a final insult to their faith, they had been fed alcohol with their last meal.
These men had apparently been captured fighting for an independent Islamic state in the predominantly Turkic province of Xinjiang. For many years separatists have been trying to prise the largely Muslim area from Beijing’s grasp and establish a new nation, East Turkistan. The current confrontation between Afghanistan and the West has heightened Islamic fervour. Many local people sympathise with the Taleban and see little difference between the “infidels” in Beijing and Washington.
Elite troops loyal to Beijing have been posted here since last week, fearing a knock-on effect from Afghanistan. The crisis has also given China’s leaders an opportunity to crack down on separatists with renewed ferocity. And yesterday Beijing government officials turned the sombre moments before an execution into a political rally.
Hundreds of Communist Party members seated in neat rows, with the lorries of Islamic prisoners arrayed before them, applauded a series of blood-curdling speeches quoting President Jiang Zemin. Ringed by banners, flags and propaganda pictures, the prisoners silently peered through their alcoholic haze.
The ghoulish spectacle lasted a full hour, blocking the city’s main thoroughfare. Then, after a final rallying cry and a wail from a police siren, the lorry convoy started its grim journey. Thousands of onlookers lined Liberation Street, surging forward as the lorries sped past. Many laughed nervously when they came face-to-face with the prisoners heading to the execution ground. Only a few children, clutching their veiled mothers’ hands, recoiled from the crowd.
The prisoners said nothing. Each had a large sign hung about the neck. Written in the local Turkic language, not in Chinese, the signs spelt out the men’s crimes, including “disturbing public order” and other catch-all charges.
“Two of those prisoners will die now,” a man wearing an embroidered cap said. “The rest will go back to prison.”
At the main intersection near People’s Square, the convoy split and most of the vehicles headed to the local police station next to the crumbling city wall.
I jumped into a taxi and followed the other half of the convoy, now down to one lorry, its cargo now the two condemned men, and a few police cars.
Crowds still lined the road miles away. Many onlookers were probably told by their bosses to attend the event in a move calculated by party officials to intimidate. The more frightened chickens, the better.
We passed several mosques in this ancient oasis city on the Silk Road. A petrol station attendant said: “This is not the first time I have seen one of these lorryloads.”
The paved road lined with trees and mud huts was heading to the edge of the desert. Where the city finally ended, the lorry abruptly entered a military training ground.
Across the Kashgar desert the two condemned prisoners could take a last look at the mountain range dividing China and Afghanistan. Their hands were still tied behind their backs as they were led off the lorry.
I did not observe the moment of the execution but arriving shortly afterwards I spoke to an eye-witness.
“They got a bullet in the back of the neck,” he said.“It was all over in just three minutes.”
According to local custom, the bullet will be sent to the family of the deceased as a warning to future generations.
The main course: Pork Tartare.
Yeah, let them eat Spam. But I find above quote from article both fascinating and depressing. It's amazing that there are still so many primitive tribesmen in the world....I wonder whether they have TV or even the Internet? Or what good it would do if they did.
Does the American left know how insensitive and un-PC their friends in China are?
The Chinese communists are no better.
The story makes me think of the scene in "North by Northwest" where the bad guys get Cary Grant drunk.
A wise people, the Chinese. I wonder - do you suppose they would consider adding music to the event? I suggest "How dry I am" sung by a choir of moslem prisoners. Failure to participate would be - umm - discouraged. Video tape sales could be lucrative - heck, I'd gladly spring for several copies!
The comment of making a "new" country called east Turkestan is ludicrous. It existed and was taken over by the communists in the same way that they tok over Tibet.
I think this is a bunch of slanted journalism.
But, after 911, I no longer trust the stability of the region or a valid and legitimate nationalist movement consisting of Muslims to be safe from takeover by al Quaida types. I am sure there has been some infiltration by now, but the communists have exagerated it for propaganda purposes to smear anyone against their regime as a bin Laden associate.
For the actual situation look at the case of a Uighur business woman who was incredibly successful, was profiled on the Wall Street Journal and also held up as an example of how the Uighurs could succeed by the communists.
Yet she is now in prison because she sent newspaper articles to her husband in the US who was testifying before congress.
Common enemy maybe? Both have border disputes with India.
China's nexus with Islamic nations, which are breeding grounds for Islamic fundamentalists and terrorists, goes far beyond Pakistan. It is a well know fact that the communist nation actively provides military aid to middle-eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia and Iran. China wants to project itself as a cost-effective supplier of military hardware and technology-most of which is stolen from the western countries. Therefore, the Islamic nations which previously relied on western countries to fulfil their military requirements will now look towards China, which has absolutely no reservations about selling dangerous weapons systems to fanatical Muslim countries. China hopes that by aiding these Islamic nations it will form an alliance which can oppose the countries like India, US, UK, etc. who are in the way of realizing the Chinese hegemonistic dreams.
For example, the murderous fanatic may be brought into the presence of a menstruating sow, where he will witness the preparation of an injection of an extract of the sow's menstrual blood.
I think such an injection would defile the would-be martyr and exclude him forever from Paradise. Many would talk to avoid such an injection.
Only because you see ISLAM as the enemy, and not the radical fringe of Islamic extremism.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.