On 26 June, a brawl broke out between workers from Xinjiang and local workers in Shaoguan, Guangdong Province. It was an ordinary case of public order and was properly handled. The World Uyghur Congress, an overseas East Turkestan organization, used that incident to vilify China's ethnic and religious policies in an attempt to create publicity and stir up trouble.

Some people inside China acted in collusion with the World Uyghur Congress. They played up the Shaoguan incident. On the evening of 4 July, messages appeared on the internet, calling for a gathering at the People's Square and South Gate in Urumqi at 5pm on 5 July, to answer the call from the World Uyghur Congress for a demonstration. Text messages were sent in large numbers to ask people to gather in Urumqi. The World Uyghur Congress incited troublemakers through the internet and other channels to "be braver" and to "do something big". The chairman of the World Uyghur Congress, Rebiya Kadeer, clamored for "a big event in Urumqi on 5 July" and urged people to "follow closely the developments and collect relevant information".

Over 200 people gathered at the People's Square in Urumqi at about 6:20pm on 5 July. They were later persuaded to leave by the police. At about 7:40pm, 300 people blocked roads at Renmin Road and South Gate. They were asked to leave by the police. At about 8:18pm, some people started beating, smashing and looting. They pushed over guard rails and smashed three buses before they were dispersed by the police. At around 8:30pm, rioters set ablaze a police car at Longquan Street, Jiefang South Road. They also chased and beat passers-by. Seven to eight hundred people moved to Big West Gate and Small West Gate along the square. They continued their sabotage activities along the way. The situation was gravely escalated. Rioters divided themselves into different groups and took different routes, wreaking havoc in streets, alleys and the area connecting the city and the countryside. They tried to kill any Han person within sight, and smashed or set fire to stores and vehicles.

To protect people's life and property and safeguard law and order in Urumqi, the government of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region speedily deployed police to those places where the situation was grave. The police acted resolutely in accordance with the law. They sent in small teams to rescue people across the downtown area and search for criminals. By now, the public security authority has arrested and detained over 1000 suspects in accordance with the law.

The violent crimes involving beating, smashing, looting and arson have inflicted heavy losses of life and property. At 220 sites, the rioters set fire to buildings, smashed or burned vehicles, and killed people. The cruelty of their deeds was abhorrent. According to initial figures so far, 1721 people were injured and 192 killed. About 627 vehicles were destroyed. Approximately 633 buildings with a total floor space of 21,353 m² were affected, including 291 shops and 29 private residences ruined with a total floor space of 13,769 m².

Facts have fully shown that these are premeditated and organized crimes of violence. The World Uyghur Congress headed by Rebiya Kadeer made an issue of an incident in Shaoguan, Guangdong Province and directed these highly violent crimes.

We are aware of the attention that the world has shown to the incident. International journalists were invited to Xinjiang by the Government Chinese and, on the whole, the world is getting an open flow of information.

Spokesperson of Chinese Embassy in Mauritius

16 July 2009