Faizel Patel – 01/04/2021
Radio Islam’s Asia Pacific correspondent says there is some hope for the Muslim Uighur minority after the United Nations begun negotiations with Beijing for a visit “without restrictions” to Xinjiang.
According to US and Australian rights groups, At least one million Uighurs and people from other mostly Muslim groups have been held in camps in the north-western region which accuse Chinese authorities of forcibly sterilising women and imposing forced labour.
Naidoo says China has repeatedly bridled at criticism of its treatment of the group.
“The UN’s high commissioner for human rights Michelle Bachelet also pointed to instances of arbitary detentions, ill-treatments, sexual violence and so on. This has really put the matter on the agenda of the UN. In fact there was a vote that was taken some months ago which was almost unprecedented in the UN’s criticism of China’s internal policies.”
Naidoo says Secretary-general António Guterres has indicated that China wants to come to the table and negotiate on the plight of the Muslim Uighur minority
“There was an indication also from Guterres that the Chinse had indicated to him that they want the UN mission to take place. But there’s enormous concern and one hopes here that the UN might eventually get some kind of strong hand in being able to deal with this matter.”
Naidoo also shared news about airstrikes by the Burmese military and further incursions by China in Taiwanese airspace.
Listen to the Asia Pacific Report with Kiru Naidoo
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