Less than Nobel Actions: Beijing Attacks the Peace Prize

In a controversial move that is not likely to win Beijing any sympathy in the international community, Beijing has this week launched a furious statement on the Nobel Peace Prize, attacking both a noted nominee for this years award, and the system used to select her.

In a statement released this Tuesday, Beijing accused exiled Nobel Preace Prize nominee Rebiya Kadeer of being a separatist, a supporter of terrorism, and a member of the internationally prescribed East Turkestan Islamic Movement - an Islamic body opposed to Han Chinese rule in Kadeer's homeland.

"she connives with terrorist forces abroad and engages in anti-Chinese secessionist movements that are attempting to separate Xinjiang from China." Qin Gang, Sokesperson, Foreign Ministry, China

Controversially, Beijing used its statement against Kabeer to attacked the Nobel nomination process. calling into question the motives of those who nominated her and implying that they harbored an alternative – Anti-China - agenda in doing so.

"I would like to ask the intention of those who nominate her as a candidate." Qin Gang

According to Annelie Enochson, a member of the Swedish national parliament, Kadeer was nominated for her work to raise to protect human rights in East Turkestan.

"[She] has shown unparalleled courage in opposing the Chinese authorities' repressive policies...... Her fight has been like that of Dalai Lama and I know no other person now more worthy of the prize." Annelie Enochson, Member of Parliament, Sweden

From Rags to Riches to Prison Overalls

Despite being born into a poor family, Kadeer rose to become one of East Turkistan's wealthiest business people after she started a laundry service and used the profits to form the Akida Trading Company and to build the Rebiya Kadeer department store in Urumqi. In 1994 Forbes magazine listed her as being the 11th richest person in China.

She served as the Vice Chairperson of the Xinjiang (East Turkestan) Region Chamber of Commerce and the Vice President of the Xinjiang (East Turkestan) Women Entrepreneurs Association. She also founded the 1,000 Families Mothers Project, a not-for-profit initiative designed to enable ethnic Uyghur women to start their own local businesses.

Kadeer served on the 中国人民政治协商会  (Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference) as a representative for Xinjiang (East Turkestan), but was forced out in 1998 after she refused to condemn her husband, living in exile in the US, after he made statements that were critical of the Chinese government.

In 1999, she was detained under article 4 of China's state security laws and, in 2000, she was sentenced to 8 years imprisonment for "illegally providing intelligence to a foreign organization in an attempt to divide and overthrow the state."

"She was arrested for endangering national security and sentenced" Qin Gang

The charges against her related to a series of articles that she had cut from Chinese newspapers and posted to her exiled husband.

Kadeer was freed in March 2005 and sent into exile in the US. Officially, her release was on medical grounds and is in relation to a heart condition that she was suffering from. Her release came after a period of pressure from the US, which threatened to table a motion against China at the UN Human Rights Commission.

After her release, the US dropped the motion.

At the time of her detention, Kadeer had been attempting to meet with an American delegation investigating the treatment of Xinjiang (East Turkestan) by Han authorities.

Kadeer was awarded the Rafto Human Rights Award in 2004 for her work to publicize the names of prisoners who who received politically motivated death sentences. She shares her Nobel nomination with 161 others.

State Security Law of the People's Republic of China?

Article 4) Any organization or individual that has committed any act endangering the State security of the People's Republic of China shall be prosecuted according to law. "Act endangering State security" as referred to in this Law means any of the following acts endangering the State security of the People's Republic of China committed by institutions, organizations or individuals outside the territory of the People's Republic of China, or, by other persons under the instigation or financial support of the afore-mentioned institutions, organizations or individuals, or, by organizations or individuals within the territory in collusion with institutions, organizations or individuals outside the territory: (1) plotting to subvert the government, dismember the State or overthrow the socialist system; (2) joining an espionage organization or accepting a mission assigned by an espionage organization or by its agent; (3) stealing, secretly gathering, buying, or unlawfully providing State secrets; (4) instigating, luring or bribing a State functionary to turn traitor; or (5) committing any other act of sabotage endangering State security. State Security Law of the People's Republic of China

Chinese laws allows Beijing to classify publicly available information, including information previously released by the state or published in newspapers, as being a state secret.

tags: xinjiang  xingjiang  east turkestan  east turkistan  human rights  nobel peace prize  rebiya kadeer  

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