|
Uighur villagers compelled to spy on neighbors
[AFP] Villagers in a remote part of the Xinjiang region are being forced by local authorities to spy on their neighbors, watching constantly for behavior deemed "suspicious" or opposed to Beijing's rule over the mostly Muslim Uighur region.In a policy put in place almost two years ago, residents of Kizilsu village in Peyziwat (in Chinese, Jiashi) county in the Kashgar (Kashi) prefecture must now sign a "Joint Responsibility Contract" that threatens collective punishment for villagers found not in compliance with 30 specific regulations, sources said. The contract, issued by the village office of the Communist Party and the village government, divides residents into groups responsible for watching for prohibited activities such as unusual travel to or from the area, the teaching or promotion of Islam, and the spread of politically sensitive information to outsiders. Residents must also report fellow villagers who sell land or make unusual purchases, refuse to watch or read official news media, or suddenly quit smoking or drinking alcohol. Efforts are frequently made by investigators to ensure the policy is properly enforced, an employee at a local state-owned firm said, adding, "social stability is now being very well maintained in the village." "All residents know they must strictly observe these regulations,No one is left in our village now who wears religious dress," another source said. Posted by: ryuge 2016-05-02 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=454470 |