China has denied claims by an exiled Uighur leader that almost 10 000 people disappeared following the riots in Urumqi, dismissing them as ”fabricated”.
Rebiya Kadeer, who heads the exile group the World Uighur Congress, alleged in a speech in Tokyo yesterday that snatch squads had targeted Uighurs.
But a spokesperson for the Xinjiang regional government, Hou Hanmin, said the figures were inaccurate and ”completely fabricated”.
Hou said: ”How many prisons and holding cells do you think we would need in Urumqi to hold 10 000 people? She was not there that day, so she has no place to talk about what happened.”
Hou said Kadeer had no proof and ”no matter who she tells, no one will believe her”.
The government has accused Kadeer and other exiles of orchestrating the violence. She denies this and says security forces shot dead peaceful protesters.
Urumqi officials today released a ”most-wanted” list with the names and photos of 15 suspects they are seeking in connection with the violence. One was Han Chinese while the others appeared to be Uighur.
The notice said suspects who surrendered within 10 days would be treated leniently.
”The ones who refuse to turn themselves in will be dealt with severely according to the law,” it said. – guardian.co.uk