AI Index: ASA 17/36/99

Date: October 1999

Distr: CO/GR/CH/CC

People's Republic of China:

Gross Violations of Human Rights in the

Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region

Prisoner Profiles

Please note the status of each prisoner in this document

1. Abdurazzak Shamseden and others are probable prisoners of conscience

2. Abidjan Obulkasim, Reshat Mehmet, Ismael Mehmet and Tursunjan Mehmet are prisoners of conscience

3. Abdulhelil is a prisoner of conscience

4. Nurhahmat Yusup is a possible prisoner of conscience

5. Abdukerim Mettersun is a possible prisoner of conscience

6. Abdukiram Abduveli is a possible prisoner of conscience

7. Jelil Aval, Aysa Yoldash, Turdi Obul and Obul Kasem Amat are political prisoners

8. Rahmatjan is a political prisoner

9. The prisoners from Baren are political prisoners

Abdurazzak Shamseden

Case Summary

Abdurazzak Shamseden

Hudiyumberdi Begzad

Abdurazzak Shamseden, was about 28 years-old at the time of his detention on 18 April 1998. He is a farmer and wood worker by profession and comes from Kepekyuzi (Kebaikeyuzi) village, near Gulja city (or Yiningin Chinese) in Ili prefecture. He has been described as a ''quiet'' man and was due to be married.

Abdurazzak was detained following an incident in Hudiyaryuze village on 18 April 1998 in which six Uighur youths where killed during a clash with security forces. He is thought to have been detained solely because one of the dead youths was his nephew. Abdurazzak is not known to have been involved in any political activities.

Elyas Jalal

In July 1999 Abdurazzak was known to be in detention and was reported to have had a court hearing, but no charge or sentence is known. He is believed to be in Gulja city jail in Yengi Hayat district.

Jur’at Nuri

Scores of other villagers were reportedly detained in the area following the 18 April incident including Abduhalik Abdureshit, Abdulhekim Abdulletip, Hudiyumberdi Begzad(also known as Atawulla Begzad), Elyas Jalal, Jur'at Nuri, Nurmuhammat Yarmuhammad,Tohtahun Yarmuhammedand Saydulla Kurban, all farmers from Kepekyuzi village. The current whereabouts and legal status are not known.

AI Concern

Nurmuhammat Yarmuhammad

Saydulla Kurban

Amnesty International is concerned that Abdurazzak Shamseden, Abduhalik Abdureshit, Abdulhekim Abdulletip, Hudiyumberdi Begzad, Elyas Jalal, Jur'at Nuri, Nurmuhammat Yarmuhammad, Tohtahun Yarmuhammed and Saydulla Kurban and others are reported to have been detained because of their relation or connection with suspected opponents.

Tohtahun Yarmuhammed

It is calling on the authorities to disclose the whereabouts and legal status of Abdurazzak Shamseden and the others detained in connection with the 18 April incident and, unless they have been charged with offences which are recognisably criminal by international standards, to release them immediately and unconditionally.

Abidjan Obulkasim, Reshat Mehmet, Ismael Mehmet and Tursunjan Mehmet

Case Summary

Four students from Kashgar, aged in their late teens/early 20s, were arrested in early 1995 for having discussed political and human rights issues during a birthday picnic in August 1994. All four were tried and convicted in Kashgar in mid-1995 and sentenced to prison terms ranging from five to 15 years'

Abidjan Obulkasim

Abidjan Obulkasim (or Abit Ubulkasim), now aged about 24, was a student at the Physics Department of the Kashgar Teacher Training College. He was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment and his sentence was reportedly increased by one year on appeal.

Reshat Memet

Reshat Mehmet (or Aichat Mehmet), also a student at the Kashgar Teacher Training College, now aged about 24, received a 12-year prison sentence which was subsequently increased by one year on appeal.

Ismael Mehmet, a student at the same college in Kashgar, now aged about 23, was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment, subsequently increased by one year on appeal

Tursun Mehmet, is thought to have been a student at the Minorities Institute of Xian University inShanxi province. He was sentenced to 5 years' imprisonment.

Tursun Mehmet

The four students had reportedly discussed political and human rights issues on a few occasions, including during a birthday picnic for Ismael Mehmet in August 1994. At their trial in mid-1995, they were accused of having formed a ''counter-revolutionary group'' and of ''planning'' to engage in ''separatist'' activities.

At their trial, attended by about 100 people, the four students pleaded innocent. Abidjan Obulkasim spoke in his own defence, arguing that he had not committed any crime under the law and had been detained illegally for several months. He also objected to the judge referring to him as ''the criminal'' before he had been convicted.

Ismael Mehmet

In September 1995, the four students' sentences were announced at a sentencing rally held in a square near Aitgar Mosque in Kashgar. According to eyewitnesses, Abidjan Obulkasim was ill-treated by a soldier during the rally, in front of a crowd of about 1000 people.

The police had warned members of the public who attended the rally that they must not speak, shout, record the proceedings nor take photographs. Those who had cameras had them confiscated. The police prevented foreigners and tourists from entering the area.

The four students, who had their hands tied and placards hung round their necks, were taken to the square by soldiers. Eyewitnesses say that soon after the students arrived Abidjan Obulkasim shouted ''down with the Chinese Communist Party, long live the minorities!''; a soldier immediately forced him to kneel and repeatedly bashed his head violently on the ground.

When the soldier stopped, Abidjan's face was covered with blood and a guard put a gag in his mouth to prevent him shouting again. Several people in the audience loudly objected that the soldier's behaviour was not legal, but they were quickly surrounded by plainclothes police and taken into police custody.

In October or November 1997 the three students who received the longest sentences appealed to the XUAR High People's Court but their sentences were increased by one year as a result. They are reported to be held at Liu Daowan prison in Urumqi.

AI Concern

Amnesty International believes that Abidjan Obulkasim, Reshat Mehmet, Ismael Mehmet and Tursunjan Mehmet are arbitrarily imprisoned for the peaceful exercise of their right to freedom of opinion and association, in violation of international standards. It is calling on the Chinese authorities to release them immediately and unconditionally.

Abdulhelil

Case Summary

Abdulhelil, was born in 1970 and lived in the Bayanday area of Gulja city (known as Yining in Chinese) in Ili prefecture. He has an elementary-level education and was working as a street-trader to support his wife and children. On 5 February 1997 he was detained for having taken part in a demonstration in Gulja city that day. He is reported to have been severely torturedin detention[1].

Unofficial sources say Abdulhelil was detained immediately after the demonstration, beaten and later taken to the local jail. On arriving at the jail, he was made to face a wall with his arms raised against it while police officers beat his back. He was then taken for interrogation and tortured. Shortly after his arrest an official from the city of Gulja confirmed that he was being detained as a suspected leader of the 5 February demonstration. Little news has been available about him since his detention and the Chinese authorities have not disclosed any information about his situation. His legal status is not known; he is not known to have been charged or tried.

Prior to April 1998 Abdulhelil was reportedly held in Chapchal county jail, about 30 kilometres from Gulja, in Ili prefecture. He was then moved to other places of detention and was last known to be held in the Bingtuan [2] 4th Division prison outside Gulja. He has continued to be subjected to ill treatment. A former prisoner, who was held in the same prison in 1998, said he had seen a guard set a dog on Abdulhelil.

Background

At the end of 1994, the ''Ili Youth Meshrep'' was started by Uighurs in the city of Gulja in Ili Prefecture. Abdulhelil was one of its founders. The meshrep was set up with the agreement of the city authorities and was initially supported by several cultural institutions in the city. A meshrep is a traditional form of social gathering. It was revived in 1994 with the intention of revitalising cultural and Islamic traditions, encouraging moral values and tackling social problems such as drinking, smoking and drug-taking which was widespread among Uighur youth. During a meshrep one person leads the group, giving turns to those assembled to speak, play music, sing songs or recite poems.

For several months meshreps were organised regularly in villages in the Ili region. They seemed to achieve some success in reducing the youth drug problem and the idea spread to other areas in the XUAR until there were about 400 meshreps in the region.

In April 1995, a meeting of the youth meshreps of the Ili region elected Abdulhelil as leader. Immediately after the meeting police summoned Abdulhelil and other participants for questioning. They were not detained but in the following months the authorities appeared to became increasingly worried about the strength of the meshreps. On 13 August 1995 Abdulhelil was detained with two other Uighurs. This provoked a protest demonstration by young Uighurs in Gulja the following day and soon afterwards the meshreps were banned. While in detention Abdulhelil began a hunger strike; his health deteriorated very quickly and after only three days he was taken to the regional hospital for treatment. After a month in hospital he was allowed to go home, but remained under police surveillance.

Despite the ban, the meshreps continued secretly. In Gulja and other places in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region an increasing number of arbitrary arrests took place over the following 18 months. Discontent apparently grew in Gulja in proportion with repression and on 5 February 1997, a demonstration was held in the city, followed by sporadic protests and rioting for two days. Many people were killed or injured, troops were brought into the city, a curfew was imposed, the airport and the railway station were closed and the city was sealed off for two weeksIbid pps.17 to 22..

AI Concern

Amnesty International believes that Abdulhelil is arbitrarily imprisoned for the peaceful exercise of his right to freedom of opinion and association, in violation of international standards. It is calling on the Chinese authorities to release him immediately and unconditionally.

Nurhahmat Yusup

Case Summary

Nurhahmat Yusup, aged about 25, is a Uighur from Kashgar. In July 1996 he was reportedly detained after going to People's Square in Kashgar and replacing the flag of the People's Republic of China (PRC) with the banned flag of ''Eastern Turkestan'' (the name used for the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region by Uighurs promoting independence from the PRC).

According to unofficial sources, police then searched his home and found a banned tape of poems from a well-known Uighur poet. The tape had at first circulated legally but was later banned by the authorities when the poems were found to be ''reactionary''. Possession of the tape itself was considered an offence.

Nurhahmat Yusup was reportedly later charged with ''counter-revolutionary'' offences, though the exact charges against him are not known. At his trial in September 1997, despite representation by a lawyer, he was sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment. After his trial his family was allowed to visit him in prison. He is reported to be held at Liu Daowan (Xinjiang No.1 prison) prison in Urumqi.

AI Concern

Amnesty International is concerned that Nurhahmat Yusup is reported to have been sentenced to a heavy term of imprisonment for the peaceful exercise of his right to freedom of opinion and expression.

j It calls on the authorities to disclose information about his trial, the exact charges and the evidence against him and, if he is imprisoned in violation of international standards, to release him immediately and unconditionally.

Abdukerim Mettersun

Case Summary

Abdukerim Mettersun, aged about 28, is a Uighur from Lop (Luo Pu), near Khotan. He was reportedly detained by police in August 1995 and taken to the detention centre of the Lop county Public Security (police) Bureau, on suspicion of handing out ''nationalist propaganda'' to Uighur students. He is known to have been detained there for more than three years without being questioned or charged and was last confirmed to be held without charge at the end of 1998. Since being detained he has requested a defence lawyer, but his request has not been met.

At the end of 1998, the Lop county Public Security Bureau detention centre reportedly held some 280 untried political detainees who had been detained for periods varying from a few months to nearly four years without being charged.

Among those reported to be held without charge in the detention centre were Ansary Bary, aged 32, held without charge since 1995 for speaking out against the government; Abdullah Ahun, a 65 year-old Uighur from Dol village who was taken into the detention centre in mid-1998 and held hostage in the place of his son, Tohti Niyaz, who had escaped; Ablimet, aged 30, detained for ''expressing dissatisfaction with the government''; Memit Tursun, aged 22, detained for ''reading a newspaper''; Mohtar, aged 29, and Rozi Mamet Tohti, aged 19, both detained for ''speaking out against the government''; Abdul Hemitgaz, aged 24, detained for ''taking part in an organisation''; Ili Mamet Tursun, aged 19, detained for ''swearing at Han Chinese''; Abdul Baset,from Lop county, reported detained there in 1998 for political reasons.

Lop County Public Security Bureau detention centre reportedly extends over a large area, having two levels below ground which are unlit, and one above. Cells hold between one and ten people.

AI Concern

Amnesty International is concerned that Abdukerim Mettersun, Ansary Bary, Abdullah Ahun, Tohti Niyaz, Ablimet, Memit Tursun, Mohtar, Rozi Mamet Tohti, Abdul Hemitgaz,Ili Mamet Tursun and Abdul Basetare reported to have been arbitrarily detained for political reasons and held without charge for periods varying from several months to several years.

It is calling on the authorities to investigate their situation without delay and, if they are still detained as reported, to release them immediately and unconditionally.

Abdukiram Abduveli

Case Summary

Abdukiram Abduveliis a 43 year old Uighur from Kucha county in Aksu district. He was taken into police custody in November 1990 but not charged until 1 July 1991 and not sentenced until 5 May 1993. He was sentenced, on political charges, to 12 years' imprisonment and four years' deprivation of political rights.

His trial was closed to his family and the public and Abdukiram Abduveli did not have a defence lawyer. From the court verdict, issued by the Urumqi City Intermediate People's Court in May 1993, it appears that the charges against him may have been manipulated in order to ensure his conviction. The gathering of sufficient ''evidence'' against him may account for his being detained for such a long time prior to being sentenced.

According to the court verdict, Abdukiram Abduveli was found guilty on two political charges; ''organising a counter-revolutionary group'' and ''carrying out counter-revolutionary propaganda and agitation''. The first charge referred to his alleged involvement in organizing a political party called the ''Islamic Reformist Party''. Abdukiram Abduveli and four other Uighurs had allegedly formed the party on 20 October 1990 and had reportedly decided to hold the first meeting of the party on 15 February 1991. Abduveli was arrested on 17 November 1990, before the group had undertaken any activities. The other alleged organizers were not detained until 1992.

Although no details of the evidence against him are given in the court verdict, the verdict states that ''witnesses' statements and material evidence'' were presented in court as proof of Abduveli's ''crimes''. On 24 July 1991, eight months after he was taken into police custody, Abduveli had been charged solely with ''carrying out counter-revolutionary propaganda and agitation''. The second charge was brought against him much later, presumably after the arrests of other alleged members of the Islamic Reformist Party in 1992. The addition of the second charge at such a late stage must raise strong doubt about the nature of the evidence against him on both charges.

The charge, ''carrying out counter-revolutionary propaganda and agitation'', brought against Abduveli referred to his religious activities. He was accused of having travelled during 1988 and 1989, giving explanation of the Koran and advocating the spread of Islam. The court verdict claims that he advocated violence through statements he made such as ''when the time is ripe we will lose blood'', ''if you do not want to lose blood you are not Muslim'' and ''we must clean people's mind of poisonous Marxist theory and replace it with the Koran, Hadith, and the Prophet's teachings''. Abdukiram Abduveli is due for release in November 2002. His current place of detention is not known.

AI Concern

Amnesty International is concerned that Abdukiram Abduveli is serving a heavy sentence imposed on political charges after unfair trial proceedings. It is concerned that he was illegally detained for several months before being charged and that the evidence against him appears to have been manipulated in order to ensure his conviction. Amnesty International is calling on the authorities to review his case without delay and grant him a new, fair and open trial in accordance with international standards, failing which he should be released.

Jelil Aval, Aysa Yoldash, Turdi Obul, Obul Kasem (Obulkasim) Amat

Jelil Aval

Case Summary

Jelil Aval, 44, a peasant from Akto county, Baren township, is currently serving a life sentence for alleged ''counter-revolutionary'' activities carried out in 1992.

Seven other Uighurs were sentenced to between one and fifteen years' imprisonment at the same time as Jelil Aval. Of the seven, Aysa Yoldash, Turdi Obuland Obul Kasem (Obulkasim) Amatare believed to remain in detention.

Background

The eight men, most of them peasants from Baren township, Akto county, near Kashgar, were detained in October 1992. The accusation made against them was of trying to re-establish the disbanded ''Eastern Turkestan Islamic Party'' whose leaders had been accused by the authorities of leading a ''rebellion'' in Baren township in April 1990[3]. According to the court verdict, the group met five times to plan taking ''action to follow in their predecessors footsteps'' by carrying out ''sabotage''. However, they were arrested before they could put any of their alleged plans into action.

According to the court verdict, Jelil Aval and MollahMohamed were detained by the police at the home of Hoshur Aval. Hoshur Aval was shot dead by the police after he allegedly fired at them.

In July 1993 the eight men, including Jelil Aval, were tried by the Intermediate People's Court of the Kilzilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture. All were charged with ''organising and leading a counter-revolutionary group'' and some were additionally charged with ''counter-revolutionary sabotage'' for allegedly buying arms, ammunition and bomb-making equipment.

Several of the defendants, including Jelil Aval, had previously been detained after April 1990 for taking part in the Baren ''rebellion'', but had been released after periods varying from a few weeks to over a year. The 1993 court verdict states that Jelil Aval was detained in July 1990 but was released on bail on 6 August 1991 suffering from bad health. According to the 1993 court verdict, Jelil Aval and six other defendants were represented by lawyers at their trial. However, the verdict states that ''from the beginning to the end of the prosecution's accusations'' Jelil Aval ''refused to confess anything and did not defend himself''; and his defence lawyer ''refused to defend Jelil Aval because he did not present his version of what really happened and during the Judge's investigation he behaved stubbornly''.

Aysa Yoldash, is also reported to have behaved in the same way during the trial, ''pretending in court that he was dumb and stubbornly refusing to confess'' or to defend himself, so that his lawyer ''gave up defending him''.

Those believed to remain in detention are:

Jelil Aval, 44, illiterate, peasant, carpenter from Baren township, detained 10 October 1992, charged 27 April 1993, tried 8 July 1993 by the Khizilsu Kirghiz Autonomous Prefecture Procuratorate, verdict issued 3 August 1993, sentenced to life imprisonment with deprivation of political rights for life for ''counter-revolutionary activity''. Last known to have been detained at the Artush City Public Security Bureau jail.

Aysa Yoldash, 49, a peasant educated to junior school level, from Baren township, detained on 10 October 1992, charged 27 April 1993, tried 8 July 1993 by the Khizilsu Kirghiz Autonomous Prefecture Procuratorate, verdict issued 3 August 1993, sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment and deprivation of political rights for five years on the charge of ''organising and leading a counter-revolutionary group''. Last known to have been detained at the Artush City Public Security Bureau jail.

Turdi Obul, 29, illiterate, peasant from Baren township, detained 10 October 1992, charged 26 April 1993, tried 8 July 1993 by the Khizilsu Kirghiz Autonomous Prefecture Procuratorate, verdict issued 3 August 1993, sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment and 4 years' deprivation of political rights. Last known to have been detained at the Artush City Public Security Bureau jail.

Obul Kasem (or Obulkasim) Amat, 47, worker in a printing factory, educated at Technical college, from Kashgar city, detained 11 October 1992, charged 29 April 1993, tried 8 July 1993 by the Khizilsu Kirghiz Autonomous Prefecture Procuratorate, verdict issued 3 August 1993, sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment plus three years' deprivation of political rights. Last known to have been detained at the Artush City Public Security Bureau jail.

Those presumed to have been released are:

Mollah Mohamed,50, a peasant educated to junior school level, from Baren township, detained 10 October 1992, charged 27 April 1993, tried 8 July 1993 by the Khizilsu Kirghiz Autonomous Prefecture Procuratorate, verdict issued 3 August 1993, sentenced to five years' imprisonment plus two years deprivation of political rights; not known whether released as due.

Tohti Hoshur,34, illiterate peasant from Kashgar prefecture, sentenced to one year imprisonment and one year deprivation of political rights.

Hashim Yusuf, 47, educated to primary school level, from Baren township, sentenced to five years' imprisonment, plus two years deprivation of political rights.

Abla Musa, 25, illiterate peasant and street vendor, from Kashgar prefecture, sentenced to five years' imprisonment plus three years deprivation of political rights.

A ninth man was indicted with the eight others, but his name does not appear on the court verdict and his subsequent fate is unknown:

Memtimin Ceyit,47, technical college graduate, formerly employed at an external trade office until retired on grounds of ill health, from Kashgar, charged with illegally buying guns and ammunition.

AI Concern

Amnesty International is concerned that Jelil Aval, Aysa Yoldash, Turdi Obul, Obul Kasem (Obulkasim) Amat are currently serving harsh sentences imposed after a grossly unfair trial. The organization urges the Chinese authorities to carry out a full review of the cases and the trial proceedings. It urges the authorities to grant them a new, fair and open trial, in accordance with international standards, failing which they should be released.

The organization also seeks confirmation of the release of Mollah Mohamed, Tohti Hoshur, Hashim Yusuf, Abla Musa and requests information about the fate of Memtimin Ceyit.

Rahmatjan

Case Summary

Rahmatjan was 16 years old when he was sentenced to 18 years' imprisonment on 22 July 1997. The Uighur boy was among 29 people sentenced in public at a sports stadium in Gulja city (Yining in Chinese) for alleged offences committed during protests and rioting in the city in February 1997[4].

Rahmatjan was accused of being involved in an assault causing death and of damaging property during protests on 6 February 1997. Reporting on the sentencing rally, theIli Evening Newsof 24 July 1997 said that during the ''Ili event'' Rahmatjan had been one of several people who had beaten two ''innocent persons'', identified in the newspaper with Chinese names, one of whom died. Rahmatjan was also accused of having joined others in overturning a minibus.

However, some unofficial sources claim that the boy was actually detained when police searched the house where he lived with his mother, and found a package containing explosives. According to the sources, the package had been left there by a friend and neither the boy nor his mother knew what it contained. By the time police searched Rahmatjan's home, the man who had left the package had been sentenced to death and executed.

On 22 July 1997, Rahmatjan was sentenced at a public rally along with 28 other defendants: seven Uighurs were sentenced to death; three others were sentenced to death suspended for two years; seven received life imprisonment and ten others prison terms of up to 18 years.

Rahmatjan's place of detention is not known.

AI Concern

Amnesty International is concerned that Rahmatjan, a juvenile, received a long prison sentence after an unfair political trial. The conflicting accounts about the reason for his arrest reinforce concerns that the charges of which he was convicted may be unfounded. The organization is calling for a full investigation into the circumstances of his detention and trial and urges the authorities to grant him a new, fair and open trial, in accordance with international standards, failing which he should be released.

POLITICAL PRISONERS FROM BAREN TOWNSHIP

Tohti Islam

Case Summary

In April 1990 over 6,000 people were reportedly detained across the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region for "fomenting rebellion" after violent clashes between police and civilians occured in Baren township, a rural county in the Akto district south of Kashgar.

Among those Uighurs currently serving heavy sentences for allegedly taking part in the Baren incident at that time areIbrahim Ahmed(also known as Urayim Amet), Jamal Muhammed, Tohti Islam, Turgun Abduyim (also known as Turgun Abdulkarim), Sulayman Eysa(Isa), Turgunjan Muhammed, Kurban Juma, Rahmanjan Ahmed, Harizhan Memet, Mehmut (Memet) RoziandMuhammed Emin Omer.

Jamal Muhammed

Following the incident, official sources described the unrest as a "counter-revolutionary rebellion" provoked by "separatists" and stated that members of a pro-independence and "Islamic" political party were involved. Officials also claimed that 16 civilians and six police officers died during the clashes in Baren.

A severe crackdown on "separatists" followed and in September 1990 the regional authorities promulgated regulations setting strict limits on religious activities and prohibiting religious teaching outside officially approved religious establishments.

Those people believed to remain in detention since April 1990 include

Ibrahim Ahmed(Urayim Amet), a farmer from Khorgan village, was aged 28 at the time of his detention. He is married with three children. He was accused of being a founder of the Eastern Turkestan Islamic Party and was detained outside Baren in April 1990. He was later sentenced to life imprisonment and was last known to be in a prison in Urumqi;

Ibrahim Ahmed

Jamal Muhammed, was 32 when he was detained on 4 April 1990. He was accused of being a leader of the Eastern Turkestan Islamic Party and an organizer of the protests. He was sentenced to life imprisonment and was last known to be in a prison in Urumqi;

Tohti Islam, from Khorgan village, was aged 18 at the time of his detention in April 1990. He was sentenced to 19 years' imprisonment reportedly for being a messenger for the Eastern Turkestan Islamic Party and for failing to report the Party to the authorities; last known to be held in Wusu (Xihe) prison;

Sulayman Eysa

Turgun Abduyim (Turgun Abdulkarim), born in 1964 in Khorgan village. He was reportedly detained from hiding, nine days after the April 1990 protests. He was sentenced to 18 years' imprisonment and was last known to be held in Nashim Bulak labour camp in Wusu;

Sulayman Eysa (Isa),is from Baren; he was reportedly detained by troops while leading a group of people near the Baren Commune bridge. He was sentenced to 18 years' imprisonment and was last known to be held in Wusu prison;

ain Kurban Juma

Turgunjan Muhammed,born in 1973, from Ara Mahalla village, Akto county, Baren, was detained in April 1990. He was sentenced to 17 years' imprisonment and was last known to be held in Wusu prison;

Kurban Juma, born in 1974, from Baren township, was sentenced to 16 years' imprisonment reportedly for organizing villagers to try to prevent the advance of government troops and for disarming a soldier involved in suppressing protestors. He was last known to be held in Wusu prison;

Rahmanjan Ahmed,from Baren, was accused of being a member of the Eastern Turkestan Islamic Party and was reportedly badly injured by government troops during the protests in April 1990. After the protests he was detained and sentenced to 16 years imprisonment. His current state of health is not known. He was last known to be held in Wusu prison;

Turgunjan Muhammed

Harizhan Memet, a caterer from Baren, was reportedly detained in April 1990 in Hanterak village. He was later sentenced to 14 years' imprisonment and was last known to be held in Wusu prison.

Turgun Abduyim

Mehmut (Memet) Rozi,born in 1964, was accused of being a member of the Eastern Turkestan Islamic party. He was reportedly detained on 5 April 1990. He was later sentenced to 14 years' imprisonment and was last known to be held in Wusu prison;

Rahmanjan Ahmed

Muhammed Emin Omer, was born in 1960. He is from Akto county and has a wife and three children. He was detained in April 1990 shortly after the protest of 5 April. He was accused of being a member of the Eastern Turkestan Islamic party and was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment.

Others who may remain in detention are:

Abdurahim Turdi, a repair worker from Baren, born in 1960, detained April 1990, sentence and place of detention unknown;

Mehmut Rozi

Mukaram Haji Nenim (Henim), 22, female, reported detained in Kucha in 1990; believed sentenced but subsequent legal status unknown;

Rozi Hashim,born in 1970, from Baren; detained April 1990 protests; believed sentenced to an unknown term and last known to be detained in Artush prison, when he was said to be in poor health.

Aziz Kurban, born in 1960; detained in April 1990; last reported to be held in an Urumqi prison, but his sentence is not known.

Huseyin Kurban, detained in April 1990; subsequent sentence unknown.

Muhammed Emin Omer

Ahad Allaverdi, born 1960, detained in April 1990; reported to be detained in Shihezi prison, but his sentence is not known.

Rozi Juma- a caterer, born 1964, detained in April 1990, subseqent sentence unknown.

AI Concern

AI is concerned thatIbrahim Ahmed, Jamal Muhammed, Tohti Islam, Turgun Abduyim, Sulayman Eysa, Turgunjan Muhammed, Kurban Juma, Rahmanjan Ahmed, Harizhan Memet, Mehmut Rozi, Muhammed Emin Omerand others detained in connection with the events of 5 April 1990 in and around Baren township, are political prisoners who received heavy prison sentences after unfair trials.

Amnesty International is calling for a review of the cases. AI would welcome full details of the charges brought against Ibrahim Ahmed et. al., the evidence against them and of the trial proceedings followed in their cases. It calls on the authorities to grant them a new, fair and open trial in accordance with international standards, failing which they should be released. The organization would welcome confirmation of the places of detention of Ibrahim Ahmed et. al. and calls on the authorities to ensure that they are not subject to ill-treatment.

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(1) For more information on the 5 February 1997 demonstration, see "People’s Republic of China: Gross Violations of Human Rights in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, pages 17 to 22.

(2) The Bingtuan is the Xinjiang "Construction and Production Corps"; see "People’s Republic of China: Gross Violations of Human Rights in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, pages 7 and 8.

(3) For more information on the Baren uprising, see "People’s Republic of China: Gross Violations of Human Rights in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, ASA 17/18/99, pages 64 to 65, and "People’s Republic of China - Secret Violence: Human Rights Violations in Xinjiang", ASA 17/50/92.

(4) Sporadic protests and rioting occurred for several days after the 5 February 1997 demonstration. Many people were killed or injured, troops were brought into the city, a curfew was imposed, the airport and the railway station were closed and the city was sealed off for two weeks. For more information on the 5 February 1997 demonstration, see "People’s Republic of China: Gross Violations of Human Rights in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, pages 17 to 22.