China replaces party boss in restive Xinjiang region

Beijing - China's Communist Party on Saturday replaced the unpopular political leader in the troubled western region of Xinjiang, the scene of deadly ethnic riots last July.

Wang Lequan, who held the post for 15 years, was replaced by Zhang Chunxian, 57, former party boss of the southern province of Hunan, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Wang was appointed to a new post as deputy secretary of a political affairs committee in the party's central committee, the report said.

No reason for the change was given, and it is not clear whether Wang will retain his position in the party's powerful politburo.

After ethnic riots in the Xinjiang capital Urumqi in July left at least 197 people dead, many had called for Wang to step down.

Wang's restrictive policies and frequent strike-hard campaigns against Xinjiang's ethnic Uighurs had already built up resentment within the Uighur community.

After the unrest, some in the region's Han Chinese community felt that Wang had failed in his duty to provide security and stability.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/320340,china-replaces-party-boss-in-restive-xinjiang-region.html.