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Beijing Review Exclusive
Special> Focus on Xinjiang> Beijing Review Exclusive
UPDATED: July 13, 2009 NO. 28 JULY 16, 2009
Attacks From Abroad
China condemns attacks on its foreign missions by supporters of Xinjiang separatists
By YU YAN
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HARD EVIDENCE: Video snapshots from China Central Television show damage to the Chinese Embassy in The Hague, the Netherlands, on July 6. Supporters of Xinjiang separatists attacked the embassy, leading to the temporary closure of its consular section 

 
 

China expressed great indignation over recent attacks on its foreign missions in some countries by supporters of Xinjiang separatists.

The country strongly condemned the attacks on its foreign missions in the Netherlands and Germany by "East Turkistan" elements and other unidentified people, Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said at a regular press conference in Beijing on July 7.

"We urge the Netherlands and Germany to abide by the relevant international convention and take measures to ensure the safety of Chinese diplomatic missions and institutions as well as the safety and dignity of Chinese diplomats," Qin said.

After the July 5 riot in Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the Chinese Consulate in Munich, Germany, and the Chinese Embassy in The Hague, the Netherlands, were attacked by supporters of Xinjiang separatists.

The Chinese Consulate in Munich was attacked on July 6, when two unidentified people threw Molotov cocktails at the consulate building, resulting in slight damage to the building and the Chinese national flag.

The Chinese Embassy in the Netherlands was attacked on the same day. About 150 supporters of Xinjiang separatist began to gather outside the embassy at noon, according to embassy officials. The demonstrators then started burning Chinese national flags and tossing bricks and stones they brought along, breaking almost all glass windows in one embassy building facing the street. The violence left the embassy roof and walls damaged to varying degrees.

According to the Embassy, Chinese diplomats had warned the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands and local police about possible riots, asking them to reinforce protection for the Embassy. However, at the beginning of the demonstration, there were only a few police officers keeping order. The local police did not increase staff and take action until the separatists started violent attack.

Zhang Daxing, Charge d'affaires of the Chinese Embassy in the Netherlands, made a representation on July 7 with Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen on the matter.

Foreign Minister Verhagen officially apologized to the Chinese Embassy in the Netherlands for the violence, and the Dutch Government said on July 7 that it would pay for repairs to the Embassy.

On July 7, the Chinese Embassy in Ankara, Turkey, and the Chinese Embassy in Norway also suffered attacks by supporters of Xinjiang separatists.

On the same day, Uygur protesters led by Rebiya Kadeer, now head of the separatist World Uygur Congress and who is believed to be behind the July 5 riot, marched through Washington, D.C. to the Chinese Embassy. Kadeer spoke to Uygur supporters at a rally in downtown Washington. About 100 people chanted slogans as they marched to the Chinese Embassy. The demonstration lasted for three hours and was kept under control by the local police and security department.

All these attacks soon happened following the riot in Urumqi on July 5 that left 156 dead and more than 1,000 others injured.



 
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