Last Updated: Wednesday, 17 May 2023, 15:20 GMT

Two Uyghurs shot dead at China-Vietnam border

Publisher Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
Publication Date 19 January 2015
Cite as Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Two Uyghurs shot dead at China-Vietnam border, 19 January 2015, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/54e1a3cf9.html [accessed 19 May 2023]
DisclaimerThis is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

January 19, 2015

Chinese police have shot dead two Uyghurs who authorities say were allegedly trying to illegally cross into Vietnam.

State media said the shooting occurred at the border town of Pingxiang in Guanxi Province late on January 18.

Officials were searching for a third person who escaped.

Meanwhile, the Public Security Ministry said a task force on human smuggling across China's southwestern borders had uncovered 262 cases since May.

It claimed the smuggling is "mainly organized abroad and controlled behind the scenes" by the separatist East Turkestan Islamic Movement in efforts to spread religious extremism.

Uyghurs live in the western region of Xinjiang, which some of them call East Turkestan.

Authorities have blamed recent terror attacks on Uyghur separatists and have launched a widespread crackdown.

Activists say the Turkic Muslim minority is experiencing repression by Beijing, resulting in resentment.

Based on reporting by Reuters and AFP

Link to original story on RFE/RL website

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