Chinese Muslims target of propaganda effort

'Our lives are getting better'
One news report showed farmers, some still gripping their shovels, huddled in a field as a communist cadre wearing a skullcap, or doppi, led a study session about the importance of ethnic harmony.

"Our lives are getting better and better each year," said one of the farmers, whose voice was dubbed into Mandarin Chinese because he spoke the Turkic language of the Uighurs. "We won't let the three evils ruin everything."

But on the streets of Hotan, it was difficult to find people who would say the same things. Most Uighurs declined to discuss the issue because they feared they might be overheard by informants or plainclothes police who were following an Associated Press reporter.

One vendor, who identified himself as Habib, said he disliked the Han Chinese. "Was the July 5 incident a bad thing? I don't know," he said with a grin and a laugh.

A college student, who identified herself as Gulinisa, said she was tuning out the propaganda. "I just can't stand to watch the TV anymore," she said. "It makes me so mad."

Many Uighurs believe the real underlying grievances — discrimination and restrictions on their religion — were being ignored and that pent-up anger will explode again. They also complain the propaganda campaign delegitimized their concerns.

The government has long used a two-pronged approach to Xinjiang: push for rapid economic development while crushing any signs of dissent. It has been mostly successful on both fronts. The region's economy has grown by an average annual rate of 10.3 percent in the past 30 years, the government said. Large-scale uprisings have been relatively few in the past decade or so.

Some believe government is insensitive
Xiong Kunxin, a professor of ethnic policy at Central Nationalities University in Beijing, said he agreed with the government's view that the recent rioting was an act of terrorism, partly whipped up by outside forces. But he also believed that internal cultural, religious and political factors played a role.

He said local officials are often insensitive to the Uighurs' culture. He said he visited a village near Hotan, where the Muslim farmers were told to raise pigs during the Maoist era. The local officials were trying to follow instructions from Mao, who wanted to increase agricultural output, he said.

Xiong said the government needs to undertake a comprehensive review of its policy for minorities.

"I am optimistic about the future for ethnic minorities in China, but we should not be blind to the severity and complexity of the long-term ethnic minority problems," he said. "These are problems that affect the entire country."

More from msnbc.com Joblessness spurs surge in disability claims Cosmic Log: ‘Ardi’ is science’s top 2009 breakthrough Rudolph, the dog, teaches kids lesson Air ambulances leave some with sky-high bills  Gift of giving takes on a whole new meaning   Al-Qaida leader’s wife calls women to join jihad Send your holiday pictures to troops

MORE FROM ASIA-PACIFIC

Asia-Pacific Section Front

China holds engineer on trade secrets charge Urban land grab sparks China unrest Biblical bedroom billboard rouses ire 17 dead in South Korea tourist bus crash NYT: China’s nuclear growth stirs fears Asia-Pacific Section Front   Add Asia-Pacific headlines to your news reader: