Abstract
The key players in terrorism have to hold the key aspect of nationalism. The Uighur nationalist group which traces its origin in China has different ideologies, objectives and they have been involved in various attacks in the past. In 1952 the Uighurs were serving the role of the titular nationality after the formation of the Xinjiang Autonomous region. Ten years later, there was an exodus which made the group scatter in the Soviet Union. The group began setting in different parts of the world in the 1980s.While they were in Diaspora, the Uighur community leaders indulged in various activities which would emphasize the cause of their homeland. The Uighur community has been facing various challenges as they strive to fight for their cultural rights. The United States had allegations that the Uighur had a role in the Twin Towers attack. The Uighur has a well-organized militant group, and they have an objective of claiming for their cultural rights.
Keywords: Terrorism, nationalism, militant, regime
Introduction
Terrorism is a unique kind of war that is attributed to having analogies at both a historical and contemporary point of view and where the key players embrace the aspect of nationalism. This statement is not any different from the Uighur nationalist group given the incidents that the group has indulged in since the inception of the diaspora sect. This paper seeks to delve into the genesis, ideologies, objectives and attacks that the Uighur nationalist group has been involved with in the past. The Uighur nationalist group traces its origin in China, Xinjiang to be precise.
Imperial powers were the norm of Xinjiang section of China starting with the Qing Dynasty. The dynasty would later collapse, and the Xinjiang region would be led under two short regimes during the period of the 1930s-1940s (Guang &Debata, 2010). Muhammad Amin Bughra and his brothers Abdulla and Nur Ahmad would be the first Eastern Turkestan’s, Turkish Islamic Republic. Many Uighur nationalists acknowledge this leadership as the first ETR that was established in 1933. This regime, however, came to an end in the fall of 1934. Rebellion in northern Xinjiang region back in 1944 resulted into the inception of the second ETR. A decade later, the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region was formed with the Uighurs serving the role of the titular nationality. In 1962, the ethnic Uighurs experienced a major exodus that would result in the ethnic group be scattered in the Soviet region. However, there is almost nil information about any political mobilization that may have occurred during the Cultural Revolution that was present at the time. In the period of the 1980s, the Uighurs began settling in different parts of the world, in Asia, Europe, North America and the Middle East.
It is worth noting that the Uighur community leaders of the early generations of ETR indulged in activities that would emphasize the cause of their homeland while in diaspora. The activities included publication of books, meetings with international leaders, event organizations and establishment of associations (Kuşçu, 2013).
The history of the Uighur nationalist group’s rights in Xinjiang has had vicious to and fro Chinese domestic politics. There has been a dramatic effect on the treatment that they get because of the prevailing current ideologies which involve the regular fighting of the CCP. The Uighur people pay a heavy price because of trying to maintain their religious and cultural identity. Unfortunately, the PRC’s attitude towards the Uighur’s freedom of religion had a significant change in the events that took place in the United States of America in September 2011.With the Twin Towers’ terrorist attack, there was a remarkable shift in the attitude towards people of any ethnic or religious division (Kuşçu, 2013). The Uighur group was also put under the category of troublemakers who had a goal of destroying the nation state unity.
The Uighur has militants who rely on weapons that are relatively unsophisticated. The militants seem to have great mastery in the most challenging problems which the extremist organizations encounter. They have an excellent ability to conduct sophisticated attacks with an extensive coordination like those in Kunming and Urumqi. The two attacks are majorly the hallmarks of the organization’s strength. They have the potential of restraint which is a clear indicator of their capability. The group waits for appropriate moments, and they look for symbolically valuable targets before attacking (Guang & Debata, 2010).
The Uighur nationalist group has an objective of fighting for their cultural rights in China. It is reasonable to fight for this right rather than working towards claiming the independence. The group should adjust their objective by considering the current international situation and the Country’s limited resources.
In conclusion, the Uighur nationalist group which traces its origin back in China has different ideologies. Some countries perceive it as a Muslim terrorist group which organizes various attacks. The group should adjust their ideologies so that they can match with those of their country.
References
Kuşçu, I. (2013). The Origins of Uyghur Long-Distance Nationalism: The First Generation Uyghur Diaspora in Turkey. OrtaAsyaveKafkasyaAraştırmaları, (16), 73-94.
Guang, T., & Debata, M. R. (2010, November). Identity and Mobilization in Transnational Societies: A Case Study of Uyghur Diasporic Nationalism. In the China and Eurasia Forum Quarterly 8(4), 59-78.
