Civilians join the battle to beat terrorism
Print Edition
CIVILIANS subject to extremist threats in Xinjiang are continuing to join forces with the government and police in the fight for peace and prosperity, according to officials.
When three men armed with knives attacked a group of people playing chess and cards on Sunday afternoon, local people in Hotan Prefecture rushed to defend their neighbors with shovels and sticks. Two of the attackers were killed in the melee. The third was seized by armed law enforcers.
After the Urumqi bombing on May 22 that killed 39 civilians, China launched a year-long campaign against terrorists, extremists and separatists.
On Monday, 13 people were executed in Aksu, Turpan and Hotan prefectures for terror and violence offences.
On the same day, three more people were sentenced to death by Urumqi Intermediate People’s Court for a deadly attack in Beijing’s Tian’anmen Square in 2013.
Members of the public have also been doing their bit to combat terrorism.
Police in Pishan County captured three suspects following a tipoff, but several others evaded capture. Villagers volunteered to join the hunt and captured three terrorists carrying explosives.
“The fight was pretty hairy, but if we had backed down more people would be hurt in future,” said one of the triumphant villagers.
And after the May 22 attack, Pishan residents turned in 11 people, after learning that the attack suspects were from their county.
“Although I’m an ordinary civilian I’ll try my best to have them caught and protect our peaceful life,” the villager said.
President Xi Jinping has called for “nets spread from the earth to the sky” to fight terrorism, stressing long-term stability as the goal for the region and urging ordinary people all over Xinjiang to support the campaign.
Police have received more than 300 tipoffs, based on which nine gangs were identified, 60 suspects arrested and 160 explosive devices seized, according to Xinjiang public security department.
Pan Zhiping, a researcher on terrorism with the Xinjiang Academy of Social Sciences, said the terrorists have antagonized the public, who are only too willing to become part of the anti-terror campaign.
“Public participation is key,” said Pan.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
