The letter was written to Mr. Ruan Yunfei 冉云飞, a well-known Chinese writer and blogger, by someone from a very small minority group in Xinjiang after the Urumqi Incident. It provides a unique perspective into the ethnic relations in the region. It is unique because the author is neither Han nor Uighur and the voice from smaller minority groups in Xinjiang is seldom heard. The … [Read more...] about (Letter from may) Translation: Letter from Xinjiang – Reflections on the Xinjiang Problem
General
Uighurs and population control in Xinjiang
Amid all the debates regarding how and to what extend Uighurs benefited or suffered from preferential policies or discriminations in Xinjiang, there is much confusion in one particular subject. Namely, are Uighurs subject to the (in)famous population control regulation (AKA family planning)? And if so, what kind of restrictions do they face? This post tries to answer these … [Read more...] about Uighurs and population control in Xinjiang
Translation: phone conversation with my Uighur college classmate after the riot
Note: this post is a translation of an article titled "phone conversation I had with my Uighur college classmate after the riot". There have been allegations in recent days that most of the deadly violences were carried out by outsiders of Urumqi (i.e., not residents of the city). This article contains some details of such allegations. … [Read more...] about Translation: phone conversation with my Uighur college classmate after the riot
Michael Jackson – A Brief Commemoration
While we at Foolsmountain have been preoccupied with discussing XinJiang the last few days, I think we can take a brief aside to commemorate the amazing life that was Michael Jackson. Michael is one of those few figures whose influence knew no boundaries - neither political, religious, national, ethnic, gender .... Not just the "king of pop", Michael was also the king of … [Read more...] about Michael Jackson – A Brief Commemoration
Two restraints + one leniency = a backfiring minority policy on all
Note: This post is a selective and partial translation of an article written by a second generation Han "settler" born and raised in Xinjiang. That article is titled "一个兵团二代的网文：告诉你真实的乌鲁木齐" (A net article by a 2nd generation Bingtuan kid: let me tell you the real Urumqi). It is a long and detailed account of the author's memory of growth of and growing up in Urumqi as well as … [Read more...] about Two restraints + one leniency = a backfiring minority policy on all