World Uyghur Congress leaders discuss time in China and tensions between Uyghurs and Han

As president of the World Uyghur Congress, Dolkun Aissa runs one of the most prominent Uyghur rights organizations in the world.

In his recently published book, China’s freedom trapsubtitle my escape lifeIssa recounts some of the key events in his journey and time since leaving China in 1994.

To learn more about his situation in China, VOA’s Natalie Liu interviewed Issa on March 14 on the sidelines of an event hosted by the National Endowment for Democracy in Washington.

In the following interview, which has been edited for clarity and brevity, Issa talks about his early experiences in what China calls the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region — but which he and other Uyghur activists prefer to call East Turkestan. He moved to Beijing in the 1990s, and what his future holds.

Voice of America: You were born in 1967. What was it like growing up in Xinjiang during those years?

Dorkun One: That was at the beginning of the Cultural Revolution in China, which lasted a long time. [officially] 10 years [until 1976]. I went to primary school in Aksu.We have two or three Chinese [language] There are classes every week, we [studied] as a foreign language at the time.

When I was in high school, I think we had six Chinese classes a week. We were taught Chinese by a Uyghur teacher.

In 1984, I entered university to study physics. At that time, the language of instruction was Uyghur—Uyghur professors taught Uyghur students in Uyghur. This policy changed in 2004.

Until 2004, the language of instruction for Uyghur students from primary school to university was Uyghur. In 2004, Uyghur professors had to [become proficient] Speak Mandarin to save your job.

Voice of America: Have you studied at Xinjiang University but not graduated?

Isa: that’s right.I didn’t graduate because in 1987, I founded a student cultural group… In 1988, we held a big demonstration to protest [daily] We felt discrimination… This happened during my last semester and I was kicked out of the university; that’s why I didn’t graduate.

Voice of America: You just mentioned that there was no discrimination in the language of instruction in schools at that time. What other types of discrimination are there?

Isa: The language of instruction at that time was Uyghur, but there were very few textbooks in Uyghur.

Voice of America: Why did you decide to continue your studies in Beijing? What year was that?

Isa: I went to Beijing in 1990 and stayed in Beijing from 1990 to 1994. In two years, I studied English and Turkish, [next] For two years, I ran a restaurant in Beijing.

Voice of America: What made you want to learn English and Turkish?

Isa: Because I want to continue my university studies, but I can’t. I studied at the First International Studies University, now Beijing Foreign Studies University.

Voice of America: It was a hard school to get into.

Isa: I’m not here for a diploma, just for a [language] Certificate; I paid the tuition myself, and there were four semesters.

Voice of America: How much do you have to pay each semester?

Isa: At that time, I remember it was 800 yuan per semester; I was making a lot of money at that time.

Voice of America: The authorities allow you to study in Beijing instead of saying: “You will never go anywhere in your life.” [due to your having led the demonstrations in Xinjiang].

Isa: At that time, they did not have such ability [stringent] limit. At that time, even ID cards were not that common.At university, you pay, register, and the next day, you can start [your classes].

Voice of America: You didn’t go to Beijing [from Xinjiang] in 1989?

Isa: No, I was in East Turkestan.

Voice of America: That year, many university students in Beijing were sent to undergo military-style disciplinary training (after student-led protests that year).

Isa: Our Xinjiang University also has this; [newly admitted] The students first conducted military exercises and then [Chinese] language class [before moving on to other subjects].

Voice of America: how do you feel [in general] About the Han people?

Isa: I only realized our rights when I entered college; before, I thought that as Uyghurs, we were second best [class] Citizens, the Chinese people come first [class] citizen; it is “natural” because [the Chinese Communist Party]policy.

Later, when I arrived in Beijing, I also felt discrimination. In hotels, they tend to welcome us at first because we look like foreigners, but when we show them our IDs, which say we are Uyghurs, we are turned away because Uyghurs are not allowed under police instructions people.I also saw Uighurs [derogatorily] Just “those selling kebabs”.

Voice of America: Can you see Uyghurs and Hans coexisting peacefully in the future?

Isa: The Chinese Communist Party has brainwashed the Chinese people so much, and a genocide is happening against the Uyghur people, but we don’t see much support from the Chinese inside China and in exile. When Xi Jinping comes to the United States or Germany, there are many Chinese students in these countries who enjoy democracy, rule of law, and freedom of speech, showing support for the dictators.

Voice of America: It is said to be paid by the Chinese Embassy.

Isa: Yes, but they still call Uighur terrorists and Tibetans “separatists.”

Voice of America: this [December 2022] The white paper protests were triggered by the tragic events in Urumqi, and a lot of Chinese people were saying, “If it can happen to Urumqi, it can happen to us.” They showed great solidarity. [with the Uyghur people].

Isa: Yes, that’s a good point and it gives us some hope. [It’s important for this to] continue.

Voice of America: Do you see other signs of hope?

Isa: I plan to stay optimistic. I have been asking Chinese democracy activists to educate the exiled Chinese against the “Han” [prejudice indoctrinated] by the Communist Party of China.