Image:ap/elizabethdalziel
As some of Urumchi’s mosques opened for prayers today, surrounded still by thousands of armed troops, many local businesses and shops were forced to close by the communist authorities. Outside the city’s White Mosque around 100 paramilitary thugs were busy ordering Uyghurs to move on. Trucks with loudspeakers blasted crude propaganda towards the building calling for a so-called harmonious society and social order.
The communist Chinese regime is also maintaining a censorial hand on foreign media covergare of events in Urumchi, with reports that its paramilatary troops have been ordered to prevent overseas journalsists from operating on the streets.
According to a report in today’s Boston Globe:
“Authorities have been adamant that foreign photographers not shoot pictures of the thousands of security forces guarding the city. On Friday, police told three foreign photographers that they were not allowed to take photos of Uighurs (pronounced WEE-gers) or security forces and ordered them to leave the area”.
