Authorities warn Uyghurs not to talk about ‘re-education’ with UN team
May 11, 2022The Chinese government has issued a new directive that forbids Uyghurs in the Xinjiang region from discussing the network of internment camps or accepting calls from international phone numbers ahead of an expected visit by the United Nations human rights chief, a police office in the region told RFA.
The officer, who works in Kashgar (in Chinese, Kashi) and declined to give his name, told RFA that police received special government notices on how to prepare for the visit this month by Michelle Bachelet, the U.N.’s high commissioner for human rights.
The policeman said he was a Chinese Communist Party member and was playing a leading role in disseminating the notices during political study sessions and enforcing their mandates.
“The political study sessions are being held on Wednesdays, and prefectural and autonomous regional notices are being studied as they arrive,” he said.
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Officials issued a notice prohibiting Uyghurs from speaking about “re-education” or internment camps, but added that if the topic arose, they should only mention positive aspects of re-education, namely that it is a pathway to living a good and normal life, the Kashgar officer said.
Uyghurs have been told not to speak spontaneously when the U.N. team arrives and asks questions, he said.
“We were told not to speak about re-education and the current situation, and that we should speak positively about life here,” the police officer said.