Photo taken on April 6,2021 shows the 32nd Press Conference on Xinjiang-related Issues in Urumqi,capital of northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Photo by Wang Zhen
Xu Guixiang: Dear media and journalists, good morning. After the three documentaries Fighting Terrorism in Xinjiang, The Black Hand--ETIM and Terrorism in Xinjiang, and Tianshan Still Standing--Memories of Fighting Terrorism in Xinjiang were broadcast successively by CGTN, the fourth Xinjiang-related anti-terrorism documentary The War in the Shadows--Challenges of Fighting Terrorism in Xinjiang was released by CGTN on April 2, 2021. The film deeply reflects the evil undercurrent surging in anti-terrorism and de-radicalization fight in Xinjiang. It discloses the facts of the case of “two-faced people” in Xinjiang for the first time, and makes known to public the incidents including the problematic textbooks in the language of ethnic minorities. It focuses on revealing that Xinjiang still faces severe challenges from terrorism and extremism in spite of the fact that there has been no violent terrorist incidents for more than four years in a row, refuting the fallacies fabricated by USA and some western countries, including the so-called “excessive anti-terrorism” in Xinjiang and “genocide”, and highlighting the legitimacy and necessity of continuing anti-terrorism and de-radicalization work in accordance with the law in Xinjiang. As soon as the documentary was released, it attracted great attention at home and abroad, and the responses from all sides are positive and enthusiastic.
In order to help the audience understand the grim situation of anti-terrorism and de-radicalization in Xinjiang, we hereby hold a special press conference on Xinjiang-related issues to further disclose the cases of Xi’erzhati Bawudong and Shata’er Shawuti involved in the documentary. Today, Wang Langtao, Vice-President of the Higher People’s Court of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is invited here to introduce related cases.
Next, I’d like to invite Wang Langtao, Vice-President of the Higher People’s Court of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region to give us some information.
Wang Langtao: Xi’erzhati Bawudong, male, Uygur, master’s degree holder. On June 25, 1966, he was born in Lop County, Hotan Prefecture of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. He used to be deputy Secretary General of CPPCC Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. He took the position of the director of the Department of Justice of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and Deputy Secretary of The Political and Legal Committee of the Party Committee of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. On June 5, 2018, he was held in isolation by the Supervision Committee of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region for suspected duty crime, was held in detention on November 23, and was arrested on December 6.
It has been found out by the court that the facts of the crime committed by Xi’erzhati Bawudong are as follows:
1.Facts of secession
Xi’erzhati Bawudong planned and implemented the activities of splitting the country for a long time under the cover of the identity of Party member and leading official in order to achieve secession. He instigated, supported and connived at separatists and religious extremists by means of political solicitation, religious support, economic assistance and legal protection under the guise of religion. He openly publicized religious extremism and ethnic separatist thoughts, promoted the rapid rise of religious extremism, and provided ideological soil and action environment for separatists and terrorist activities. He served as the protection umbrella for “three forces” for a long time in Moyu County of Hotan Prefecture, keeping the “kindling” for "independent nation building”. In order to split Xinjiang from China, he supported separatists economically, actively reserving funds for separatism, and colluding with overseas separatists forces.
2.Facts of treason and defecting to the enemy
In May 2003, at the position of the chief of Public Security Bureau of Moyu County Hotan Prefecture, Xi’erzhati Bawudong met with Tayi’er Abasi, a key member of ETIM, who came back to Moyu County from abroad, plotting “national independence”. Xi’erzhati Bawudong promised at the meeting that he would try his best to provide help. In 2006, Xi’erzhati Bawudong arranged Abulajiang Bake’er(convicted), the former hajib of Grand Mosque of Moyu County, to go abroad for a hajj, and meet with Tayi’er Abasi to keep contact with each other. In 2015, Xi’erzhati Bawudong was confirmed by ETIM to be one of the leaders after the “national independence” of Xinjiang owing to his “outstanding contribution”.
3.Facts of illegal provision of information for foreign forces
In 2014, Xi’erzhati Bawudong took advantage of his position and leaked out the violent terrorist cases in Xinjiang to Abulimiti Ababaike and Abuduaimiti Ababaike (handled separately), instructing them to provide the above information to ETIM. In September 2015, over an overseas investigation tour, Xi’erzhati Bawudong provided information for foreign forces. In May 2016, Xi’erzhati Bawudong arranged Abuduwufu’er Abudukelimu, a member of World Uygur Congress, to meet the prisoners in prison for the information of prison management.
4.Facts of joining a terrorist organization
In 2013, Xi’erzhati Bawudong instigated Abulimiti Ababaike and Abuduaihaiti Ababaike to join ETIM. In July 2014, Abuduaihaiti Ababaike became a key member of an ETIM branch, responsible for raising funds and transporting personnel.
5.Facts of helping terrorist activities
In May 2013, Xi’erzhati Bawudong instigated Abulimiti Ababaike and Abuduaihaiti Ababaike to provide their equity dividend worth 1.2 million yuan and a set of real estate in Cairo, Egypt to ETIM.
6.Facts of using extremism to undermine law enforcement
In February 2007, Xi’erzhati Bawudong took advantage of his position, showed his support to Abulajiang Bake’er (convicted), the former hajib of Grand Mosque of Moyu County in the establishment of illegal marriage by reading “Nicah”, and instigated him to interfere in judicial and administrative affairs.
7.Facts of gathering people to disturb social order
In October 2016, Xi’erzhati Bawudong instigated Abulimiti Aihemaituoheti (convicted), the former hajib of Grand Mosque of Moyu County, to carry out illegal religious activities at his daughter’s wedding.
8.Facts of accepting bribes
From 2002 to 2017, Xi’erzhati Bawudong took advantage of his position and provided assistance to others in project contracting, real estate development, job promotion and adjustment, and passport handling, having received a total of 11.122429 million yuan from others.
9.Facts of abuse of power
In December 2004, in violation of the regulations, Xi’erzhati Bawudong took advantage of his position, arranging two criminals who were sentenced to four and five years’ imprisonment to serve their sentences in detention centers without being sent to prison. In 2005, in violation of the regulations, Xi’erzhati Bawudong told the head of the detention center of Moyu County to commute the sentence of the prisoner Kari Abula but met a refusal. Later, Kari Abula escaped from the detention center owing to the poor management. In order not to affect his promotion, Xi’erzhati Bawudong told the management staff of the detention center to conceal the fact of escape and issue false procedures for medical parole.
10.Facts of bending the law for personal gain
In May 2004, when dealing with a local criminal case, Xi’erzhati Bawudong took advantage of his position and only punished some of criminals for criminal responsibility, while others were not punished intentionally. In April 2018, the remaining 30 people in the case were punished for criminal responsibility in accordance with the law. In August 2005, Xi’erzhati Bawudong took advantage of his position, instructing the police not to pursue Abulaiti Naizai’erwake’s case of intentional homicide and taking a number of police to attend the banquet of Abulaiti Naizai’erwake to assure his immunity from public security organs. On January 6, 2019, the Intermediate People’s Court of Hotan Prefecture of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region sentenced Abulaiti Naizai’erwake to the crime of organizing criminal group, leading the criminal syndicate organization, and the crime of provocation and kidnapping in accordance with law.
After hearing, the court held that the defendant Xi’erzhati Bawudong, with the identity of Party member and leading official as the cover, colluded with overseas separatist forces, abetted, supported and connived at domestic separatists and religious extremists, planning to carry out activities of splitting the country with the purpose of secession. The circumstances were very serious, and his behavior constituted the crime of splitting the country. Xi’erzhati Bawudong betrayed his country, joined ETIM and sold the interests of the country and the people. The circumstances were especially serious, and his behavior constituted the crime of treason and defecting to the enemy. He illegally provided information to overseas forces and his behavior constituted the crime of illegal provision of information for foreign forces. He provided his bribery of 1.2 million yuan and a set of real estate for ETIM. The circumstances were serious and his behavior constituted the crime of participating in terrorist organization. He instigated and supported Abulajiang Bake’er, the former hajib of Grand Mosque of Moyu County, to interfere in judicial and administrative affairs. The circumstances were serious and his behavior constituted the crime of using extremism to undermine the implementation of the law. He invited religious personnel to carry out the illegal religious activities at his daughter’s wedding. The circumstances were serious and his behavior constituted the crime of gathering people to disturb social order. He took advantage of his position to seek benefits for others, accepted 11.122429 million yuan of bribes, which is a huge amount, and his behavior constitutes the crime of accepting bribes. As a judicial officer, he intentionally covers up a guilty person to protect him from prosecution. The circumstances were serious, and his behavior constitutes the crime of bending the law for personal gain. The crime is serious and he should be punished according to law.
In accordance with the relevant provisions of The Criminal Law of The People’s Republic of China and The Criminal Procedure Law of The People's Republic of China, the defendant Xi’erzhati Bawudong shall be punished for the crime of splitting the country, the crime of treason and defecting to the enemy, the crime of illegal provision of information for foreign forces, the crime of participating in terrorist organization, the crime of helping terrorist activities, the crime of using extremism to undermine the implementation of the law, the crime of gathering people to disturb social order, the crime of accepting bribes, the crime of abusing power, and the crime of bending the law for personal gain. With all the crimes added together, Xi’erzhati Bawudong was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve, and was deprived of political rights for life, and all his personal property was confiscated. During the hearing, all his litigation rights are protected in accordance with the law. After the sentencing, Xi’erzhati Bawudong pleaded guilty and repented without appealing.
Next, I’d like to invite the Vice-President Wang Langtao to give us the general introduction to the case of Shata’er Shawuti
Wang Langtao: Shata’er Shawuti, male, Uygur, a college graduate. On November 15, 1947, he was born in Tuokexun County, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. He used to be the Deputy Party Secretary of Education Commission of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the Deputy Party Secretary and Director General of Education Department of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the leader of Basic education curriculum reform leading group of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Shata’er Shawuti was held in detention on May 5, 2017, and was arrested on May 19.
It has been found out by the court that the facts of the crime committed by Shata’er Shawuti are as follows:
1.Facts of secession
From the year of 2002 when Shata’er Shawuti served at the position of the Deputy Party Secretary of Education Commission of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the Deputy Party Secretary and Director General of Education Department of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and the leader of Basic education curriculum reform leading group of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region successively, with the purpose of secession, he took advantage of the opportunity of hosting the compilation and publication of textbooks in ethnic languages for primary and secondary schools, repeatedly adopting the methods of individual instruction and convening meetings, organized Alimujiang Maimaitiming (Deputy Director of Education Department of XUAR then, convicted), Abudurezhake Shayimu (Chief General and Deputy Editor in Chief of Education Press of XUAR then, convicted), and Tayi’er Nasi’er (Chief General and Deputy Editor in Chief of Education Press of XUAR then, convicted) to select Yalikun Rouzi (Editor of Uyghur textbook Editorial Department of Education Press of XUAR then, convicted), Wayitijiang Wusiman(Editor of Uyghur textbook Editorial Department of Education Press of XUAR then, convicted) and other people with separatists thoughts to join the textbook compilation group. In the course of textbook compilation, the people above gradually formed a Secessionist criminal group headed by Shata’er Shawuti.
In the first half of 2003, in order to achieve the purpose of secession, Shata’er Shawuti called Abudurezhake Shayimu, and Nu’erbahati (Deputy Chief of Basic Education Office of Education Department of XUAR then) at his office on the pretext of communicating the requirements for the compilation and publication of textbooks, demanding in violation of the purpose and guiding ideology of textbook compilation that the contents of advocating the thoughts of national division, violence and terror, religious extremism, etc. should be included in the compilation of the textbook under the guise of the so called foregrounding “local characteristics, ethnic characteristics, reflecting the ethnic history and culture” in order to achieve the secession purpose of “desinicization”. Abudurezhake Shayimu, at the incitation of Shata’er Shawuti, intentionally arranged Yalikun Rouzi and Wayitijiang Wusiman to take the post of editor, editor in charge and other important positions. After he left his office, Abudurezhake Shayimu demanded Tayi’er Nasi’er, his successor, to continue the implementation of Shata’er Shawuti’s textbook compilation requirements. He also demanded that Yalikun Rouzi and Wayitijiang Wusiman continue to take the post of editor, editor in charge and other important positions. Tayi’er Nasi’er accepted and carried out the demand.
In April 2004, in order to continuously include the contents of advocating the thoughts of national division, violence and terror, religious extremism and other thoughts of splitting the country into the “problematic textbooks”, Shata’er Shawuti organized Alimujiang Maimaitiming, Tayi’er Nasi’er and other people to meet in his office and put forward the requirements for the compilation of textbooks again. Afterwards, Alimujiang Maimaitiming and Tayi’er Nasi’er, at the incitation of Shata’er Shawuti, repeatedly arranged Yalikun Rouzi and Wayitijiang Wusiman to further implement Shata’er Shawuti’s “desinicization” instruction of splitting the country through the form of meeting and other channels. From 2003 to 2009, Yalikun Rouzi and Wayitijiang Wusiman included a large amount of contents of advocating the thoughts of national division, violence and terror, religious extremism and other thoughts into the textbooks.
After investigation, in the textbooks, there are 84 texts in total with the contents of advocating the thoughts of national division, violence and terror, religious extremism and other thoughts. Among them, 41 texts are from 2003 edition, and 43 texts are from 2009 edition (23 texts from “problematic textbooks” of 2003 edition). More than 25 million copies have been printed and distributed in Xinjiang for 13 years, and 2.32 million Uygur students and tens of thousands of educators use the textbook, which has caused extremely serious consequences. It has been found out that under the influence of the above textbooks, Abudushalamu Abuduwaili, Mutailifu Ku’erban and other people (all convicted) participated in serious violent criminal activities of striking, smashing, looting and burning, which hit Urumqi on July 5, 2009, Abulizi Rexiti (convicted) participated in violent terrorist criminal activities which happened at Urumqi South Railway Station on April 30, 2014, Atikanmu Rouzi (convicted) joined the secessionist criminal group headed by Yilihamu Tuheti, formerly a teacher of Minzu University of China, and became a key member of the group, and Mi’erkamili Sidike and other people (all convicted) participated in organizing and leading terrorist organizations and illegally manufacturing explosives.
2.Facts of accepting bribes
From 1989 to 2016, Shata’er Shawuti, taking advantage of his positions or the opportunities provided by his positions, provided assistance to others in business expansion, procurement projects, contract, school running qualification, enrollment plan approval, job transfer, relatives’ further education, etc., and received cash and property from others for many times, with a total value of 15.0527692 million yuan.
After hearing, the court held that the defendant Shata’er Shawuti, taking advantage of his position of organizing and compiling textbooks, appointed directly and organized Alimujiang Maimaitiming, Tayi’er Nasi’er, Yalikun Rouzi, Wayitijiang Wusiman and other people with the thought of splitting the country like him to take up their share in the compilation of the textbooks, and formed a secessionist criminal group headed by Shata’er Shawuti. His behavior has constituted the crime of secession. He is the organizer, leader and ringleader of the criminal group and should be severely punished in accordance with law. As a state functionary, the defendant Shata’er Shawuti took advantage of his positions or the opportunities provided by his positions to seek benefits for others and repeatedly accepted other people’s property with a total value of 15.052792 million yuan, which constituted the crime of bribery.
In accordance with the relevant provisions of The Criminal Law of The People’s Republic of China and The Criminal Procedure Law of The People's Republic of China, the defendant Shata’er Shawuti shall be punished for the crime of splitting the country and the crime of accepting bribes. With the crimes added together, Shata’er Shawuti was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve, and was deprived of political rights for life, and all his personal property was confiscated. During the hearing, all his litigation rights are protected in accordance with the law. After the sentencing, Shata’er Shawuti pleaded guilty and repented without appealing.
Xu Guixiang: This is the end of today’s press conference, thank you.
