The Chinese Government has a habit of shooting itself in the foot when it comes to public relations, at least when seen from a Western perspective. Following closely to this script, it is now taking aim at a 62-year-old Chinese exile now visiting Australia. In the process, China is building her up as the nation's latest public enemy No1.
She is Rebiya Kadeer, the so-called mother of the Uighurs, the Turkic-speaking Muslims who live in the huge province that occupies the north-west corner of China. They call their land East Turkistan but China says it is the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region.
Almost 200 people were killed in riots in the capital Urumqi last month. Some reports said the violence started as a Uighur attack on Han Chinese immigrants. The riots appear to be payback for the death of two Uighurs during a brawl between Uighurs and Han at a distant toy factory.
The Chinese Government was not keen to acknowledge ethnic tension and blamed the riots on foreign invention, code for Kadeer who lives in Washington, DC. She is now labelled a criminal and a terrorist.
''Facts have indicated that the violent crime on July 5 in Urumqi was instigated, masterminded and directed by the World Uighur congress headed by Rebiya,'' a Chinese Government statement said.
For more, pick up a copy of today's Canberra Times
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