New York Uyghur event takes place despite Beijing’s objection

Over the weekend, Chinese diplomats had written to various missions at the U.N. warning them not to attend event

NEW YORK – On the sidelines of the U.N.  General Assembly session, a forum revealed that the Chinese government is reportedly transferring large numbers of Uighurs from detention camps to formal penal facilities while announcing the closure of those camps.

Over the weekend, Chinese diplomats had written to various missions at the U.N. warning them not to attend the event.

Beth Van Schaack, the U.S. ambassador-at-large for global criminal justice, called the letter from China’s U.N. mission another act in a series of attempts to suppress the Muslim minority.

She welcomed the international community’s increased attention to Xinjiang, particularly the alleged atrocities against the Uighurs.

“Thank you also for being here, notwithstanding the PRC’s (China’s) continued attempts to intimidate and to silence those speaking out on human rights,” she said.

“I’m also pleased to see that their efforts have only increased international scrutiny on the situation within Xinjiang, and particularly the atrocities against the Uyghur people.”

 Sophie Richardson, China director of Human Rights Watch, underscored the importance of the forum and expressed concern about China’s attempt to prevent participation.

She said the panel’s task is to discuss facts that the Chinese government does not want to disclose and that the Uighurs cannot express.

Belén Martinez Carbonell, executive director for multilateral affairs in the European Union’s external relations department, said the oppression of the Uighurs is a very important issue.

 He said this issue should not be absent from the General Assembly.