Daily commentary about China by TIME correspondents.

17 Uighurs Exiled in Limbo....But With Beaches

So the 17 Uighurs captured in Afghanistan and finally declared non-combatants last year after seven years in Guantanamo are to go to Pulau, the only country (it was a U.S. dependency until 1994) that would take them. Palau is a tiny group of islands way out in the Pacific.  I have friends who lived there and they would constantly wax lyrical about its beautiful beaches, clear waters, wonderful diving and great seafood. Not to mention friendly inhabitants. Another four Uighurs were released in 2006. The only country that would take them was Albania, where they now apparently run a pizza joint. I don't have friends who have lived there but it doesn't exactly have a reputation as the Pearl of the Adriatic, to put it mildly. Not a tough call on which one I'd choose, but that isn't really the issue, which is the craveness of the U.S. government in sending them into exile in the first place instead of letting them settle in America (they might not want to, of course, considering their past experiences, but at least they should have had the choice). Apparently, the decision was taken because of fears that there might be a backlash in the U.S. against their release even though they had been cleared. Where ever they are, Albania or Palau, most of these guys will be miserable, marooned forever in a foreign country without any chance of returning home to their families and friends.

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  • 1

    Pulau !! That's a great place to be. Sun. Beach. Palm trees. At least the sand will make the Uighurs feel at home.

    Here is how China is ready for international trade, and becoming the financial center of the world:
    http://tinyurl.com/n9efjz

    45 minutes and all that documentation to do what I can on the web with a few clicks. May be 10 seconds. This is why everyone should use RMB as reserve currency. It takes too long and too much trouble to steal your money.

  • 2

    Mr. Elegant,

    These Uighurs were found in a training camp for terrorists. Other people in the camp were training for terroist activity to be committed against countries including the US. These Uighurs were training to commit the same acts but against China. The US cannot prosecute them because the Uighurs, although terrorists, are not committed to attacking the US. It's the same grey area preventing the US Navy from attacking pirates off the coast of Somalia, they can chase them away but they can't prosecute them. So . . . if Osama bin Laden escapes from Pakistan to China or if any other terrorist bent on attacking the US escapes to China, shall China not prosecute them or render them to the US? That is what the US is doing to China. I imagine the US would expect more understanding if the situation were reversed.

  • 3

    These poor Uighurs at last can get some fresh air and freedom. I hope they can get back their dignity and lead a happy life. It is very sad that China wants to make a huge fuss about them. They were people who were not happy with the occupation of their country by China (as almost all the Uighurs are) and happened to go westwards (towards Turkey) in search for a better life (from their testimony).
    I commend Palau, Bermuda and Albania for giving these innocent people another chance to life.
    China is like the insecure fat girl in high school who bitches even if you look at her. China can never earn the respect of the world and become a superpower with its dictatorship, choking its own people's creative ideas, encouraging a system of no accountability, being out of touch with the common people and the lies it feeds to its own people.
    China's (including internet police) comments and concerns about this matter should not be taken into consideration.

  • 4

    Oh by Lord,
    The China-bashing clan takes every opportunity.

  • 5

    rabten,
    please tell me why the US does not want these "poor Uighurs" who were found in terrorist training camps?
    If you study tiny little bit history, you will find out that Xinjiang was Chinese territory 2000 years ago, long before the Uighurs migrated from Turkey...Those area have huge buddhism heritage and never been an independent country for the last 2000 years for long. can you find the name of their country in any history book?...
    look at your language, what's wrong with "insecure fat girl"? there are millions of them in America. So, you look down upon them...you call them bitch. where is your "loving heart"? I guess you don't even love people around you, how can you love someone half a globe away?? You are just a stupid jerk.
    It is the comments and concerns of people without a working brain about this matter that should not be taken into consideration.

  • 6

    The China-basing clan always assumes that the Chinese people are on the opposit side of the so-called Chinese dictatorship; and that the so-called dictatorship has no accountability at all; and that the so-called dictatorship is completely out of touch with their people ...

    How native!

    Looks like the scene of the former Soviet Union as described by the earlier 007 movies.

    If there is anyone on this planet who are indeed completely out of touch with the Chinese people, it should be those who affliated themselves with the China-basshing clan.

    They can't face the reality that in fact many (if not most) Chinese people are quite happy with the dirction their country is moving along; and that in fact the so-called dictatorship does have a certain level of accountability given that they have to respond to what the Chinese people need in order to maitain social and political stability or otherwise be through away instantly; and that the so-called dictatorship is doing a much better job in keeping in touch with the Chinese people (comparing with the China-bashing clan)
    in a sense that it is doing its part in nuturing a stronger and more prospect China which is what the majority of the Chinsee people want as opposed to impose a so-called democratic system (western style) regardless of social, economic, and environmental cost, which is what some members of the China-bashing clan want to do.

    Many members of the China-bashing clan don't even understand what dictatorship means, what democracy means, what accountability means, and how these different things relate to each other. But they somehow have developed the capability to pick up the vocaburaries coming out of the western mouthpieces ...or... perhaps any politically correct propoganda machines.

  • 7

    Take a look at this piece: http://tinyurl.com/njaewg

    The author has not address one very important legal issue here: Precedence. When two pieces of legislation which are in conflict with each other, which one should be considered, and which should be ignored.

    In this case, it is the right to defend oneself from immediate harm, and the responsibility for Chinese to obey and respect their leaders. It is the responsibility to obey that must take precedence, not the right to defend. The whole Chinese culture and stability depends on being obedient to ones betters. And CCP members and government officials are obviously "better" than any normal, common Chinese. Officials and party members are leaders. Their position and the person must be respected, and offered unfailing obedience, and sometime sacrifice. In this particular case, the common, normal Chinese should have sacrificed her personal safety, honor, and right to defend to uphold the power, authority and good name of the government official and party member.

  • 8

    Uighurs - China Success Chinese Sacrifice.

    By: Jordan C. Fan, Prophet of Environment.

    (Prolog: Uighurs are really nomadic aliens, like gypsy, whose loyalty to Islam not China. China is already kind enough to let them pass Chinese land. Yet, Uighurs felt ignored by Chinese & want to share their limited prosperity w/o constructive contributions but protests & riots which create damages to resource & Environment. Stop Wicked Western Press.)

    Please Allow Me To Clarify The Uighur Issues. In Ordr For China To Be Successful, Chinese Must Make Sacrifice. I, Myself as Prophet of Environment has made the most sacrifice. Don't forget that the Uighurs and many other tribes in Chin's Xinjiang region or elsewhere, like gypsy, are only nomads. The Uighurs are really aliens believing their loyalty should be completely devoted to Islam. Their loyalty are neither to China nor the Chinese government. Due to rumours and false propaganda from Islamic terrorists, the United States and their allies, Uighurs felt that they have been ignored by the Chinese government and want to share China's current “growing prosperity” without any contributions to its success. Most of you should already know that prosperity in China is really just a myth. Many Han Chinese people are currently suffering due to exploitation by private industries and businesses. Many laborers work much longer work hours for only slightly higher income. Some were not pay for their work and were cheated by crooked employers. Many other Hans are unemployed. While many of those Han Chinese were willing to take those abuses from their employers with cooperation and without complains for the good of the country, many ethnic minorities were dissatisfy for their already improve living standard.

    Among some of those minorities are the Uighurs. While China is already kind enough to let them pass through Chinese land as nomads, they still do not appreciate but continue to create chaos. If they are causing anymore troubles they might as well get, the hell, out of China. The Uigurs should now go to other places if they feel left out when the growing prosperity of the Han leaves them more alienated. By definition as nomads, they simply don't belong to any country. China should expel all of them ASAP! Protests and riots will create too much damages to natural resource and Environment therefore must be stopped immediately. Also, go to Hell will those false Western propaganda and wicked American journalists.

    In order for China to be successful, all Chinese must make more scrifice and stop complaining. By now, all of you could easily see that the entire China with more than 1.3 billions people even when they are all combined have no match to My Great intelligence and Power. Even the entire world has combined, they still cannot challenge Me. I always have the perfect solution for the most difficult problems. I am the indisputable leader of China and the world. As Messenger and Prophet of Environment, I roll the dice and make all judgements and decisions. I am the only person who can save this world.

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