UN expert seeks access to Uighur minority in China

New York - A United Nations expert on minority issues on Tuesday called on China to let her carry out a comprehensive and independent assessment of Xinjiang province's tensions between Han Chinese and the Uighur Muslim minority. "A thorough analysis of the events that took place must go to the heart of ethnic tensions in the region that underlie the terrible tragedy and appalling loss of life experienced by both communities," Gay McDougall said.

McDougall first requested to visit Xinjiang province after ethnic clashes erupted in the region in July, but Beijing did not reply. She is an independent expert on minority issues, appointed to implement the UN Declaration on Minorities.

She said from her Geneva office that unless the cause of the violence in July, in which dozens of Uighur people died in clashes with Han ethnics, is studied and understood in a transparent manner, the situation may drive the two communities farther apart.

The Chinese government executed last month nine Uighurs for their role in the July violence. Several other Uighurs were sentenced to death this month by China for the July clashes.

The UN rapporteur on torture in Geneva, Manfred Novak, raised grave concern on Tuesday about Cambodia's decision to deport 22 Uighurs to China, who had requested asylum in Cambodia.

Novak said in a statement that the Cambodian government had deliberately prevented an objective determination of the refugee status of the Uighurs. He said the Uighurs risk torture and death if they are sent back to China.

"I am calling on the Chinese authorities to treat the 22 persons humanely upon return in accordance with international standards, to grant access to them in case they are detained and to afford them due process guarantees, if charged with criminal offenses," Novak said.