The Best Hug
Mrs. Rabiya Kadeer and Mr. Sidikh Haji hugged each other at the Ronald Regan
International Airport on March 17, 2005. The couple had been separated for
almost 6 years since Rabiya Kadeer’s imprisonment by Chinese authorities.
My Thoughts on Rebiya Kadir's Release
by Turdi Ghoja
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The Best Hug Mrs. Rabiya Kadeer and Mr. Sidikh Haji hugged each other at the Ronald Regan International Airport on March 17, 2005. The couple had been separated for almost 6 years since Rabiya Kadeer’s imprisonment by Chinese authorities. |
Needless to say, like millions of my countrymen around the world I am thrilled by her
unexpected early release. But, I do not feel any sense of gratitude towards the Chinese
authorities. I still have not forgotten that they imprisoned her for 6 long years without
justification nor do I have reason to believe that the human rights situation in East Turkistan or
China has improved.
The motive and timing of her early release has been a subject of discussion in the press and
website forums in the past couple of days. International human rights groups and most people
who follow China closely think justifiably that it is a public-relations maneuver rather than a sign
of real improvement in human rights in China. After all, she was released just before the
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's visit to Beijing and as the annual session of the United
Nations Human Rights Commission starts, and China is well known for the art of playing
political-prisoner diplomacy.
Some Uyghurs expressed on Internet forums their concerns that the Chinese Government might
be up to something more sinister than what meets eyes. Their concern or fear is linked to the
Uyghur detainees at the Guantanamo. They may have their reasons to be suspicious, especially
after reports re-emerged last week suggested that sending them back to China is still on the table
as an option should the effort to find a host nation for them fails. China's imprisonment of Rebiya
Kadir is seen by many Uyghurs including myself as not just a punishment for her and her family
but also a veiled threat to Uyghurs in general and Uyghurs in abroad in particular. Its message for
the Uyghurs at home was that if they can imprison a person with such a stature for such flimsy
reasons, the rest of them better keep their eyes open while sleeping. The message we got as
activists outside of China is that we may be outside of their border but we are not outside of their
reach since our relatives still live at their mercy back home. If her arrest was about intimidating
Uyghurs, it is only fair to suspect that her release is not about pleasing Uyghurs and locking that
message in a box and throwing the key away in front of the world.
However, I have my own theories about China's motivation. We learned last month that Rebiya
Kadir is among the candidates for this year's Nobel peace price. Imagine she wins the Nobel price
and its impact on the Uyghur cause, remembering that it is the Nobel price that made Dalai Lama
the worldwide celebrity and gave the Tibetan cause an unprecedented exposure that they enjoy
today. It is not a pretty thought to the Chinese. A Nobel price is the ultimate recognition,
attention grabber or advertisement, whichever you want. It could also be a ticket to Hollywood.
After all, her eventful life sounds more like a Hollywood movie than a real life story. After the
prestigious Rafto award, she may have a real shot at the Nobel. Now what would the Chinese do
if they think a sympathy vote may increase her chance?
If that is their motive or a part of it, I hope they will be proven wrong. With right kind of PR, she
still could keep the momentum going and take a good shot at the Nobel. If she wins, it would be
a vindication for all Uyghurs around the world. I pray for that day to come!
Turdi