Uyghur Muslim Suffering: Oil and Gas Reserves and Beijing Persecution

Xinjiang has not calmed down. This Uyghur autonomous region in northwest China, this always preaches the plight of Muslims, whose human rights are trampled upon by the Chinese Communist government. Twice the area was tried to be liberated, twice the Islamic republic stood there, but the new state was always successfully dissolved.

If you imagine Xinjiang a small area on the edge of the desert of Central Asia, you are mistaken. Xinjiang is a large area, the size of which is equivalent to three Sumatran islands, or together with Pakistan and Afghanistan combined into one. Since long ago, Xinjiang was an important area that was contested.

In the past, Xinjiang was the lifeblood of world trade, because it was on the Silk Road. Now, Xinjiang is a region rich in natural resources. The phrase 'where there is a call to prayer there is oil', is also proven here. The biggest oil and gas reserves of the People's Republic of China (PRC) are here, especially in southern Xinjiang (Tarim Basin), where Uyghur Muslims have long lived under a traditional government system called Khanate or Khaganate (see map).

With an area of ​​1.6 million square kilometers, Xinjiang is equivalent to 17 percent of China, and is the largest autonomous region in China. However, only five percent (80 thousand square kilometers) of land can be occupied. However, the area of ​​only five percent is equivalent to 100 times the land area of ​​Jakarta.

Most of the Xinjiang region is desert, grassland, lake, forest and hills. Xinjiang is at the foot of Tianshan Mountain which divides Central Asia. Xinjiang has relations with eight countries, namely Mongolia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.

Xinjiang is not included surrounded by the Great Wall built by dynasty in China for two thousand years. Therefore, the Uyghurs also made this fact an argument that their land was not part of China, moreover they were not Chinese. They define themselves as East Turkestan people.


The Xinjiang region, in history ruled by various kingdoms. Starting from Tocharians, Yuezhi, Xiongnu Empire, Xianbei country, Kushan Empire, Khagan Rouran, Han Empire, Liang, Qin, West Liang, Tang Dynasty, Tibetan Empire, Khagan Uyghur, Khan Kara Khitan, Mongol Empire, Yuan Dynasty, Yuan Dynasty, Khan Chagatai, Moghulistan, Qara Del, South Yuan, Khan Yarkent, Qing Dynasty, Republic of China, and finally the People's Republic of China (PRC).

The Qing Dynasty entered Xinjiang after Uyghur Muslims and other Muslim khan-khan in Central Asia, asked for help in facing the Dzungar-Mongol people, who were always disturbing. After the Mongol-Buddhists were crushed, the Qing Dynasty came to Han and Hui people to occupy the northern region (Dzugar Basin). However, they are not allowed to trade pigs and liquor into the Muslim-occupied south.

The Tarim Basin area, also referred to as Huiland, or Hui land, whose free translation is Muslim Land.

Just for the record, Hui was originally not an ethnic name. Formerly the term Hui was pinned to Muslims, Christians, and even Jews. But, over time this term narrows to refer to Muslims. Genghis Khan, for example, often refers to Muslims as "Hui-hui." Later, the term Hui narrowed again, especially for yellow Chinese Muslims. The Hui and Han people at this time, actually ethnically no different.

In the mid-19th century, the Qing Dynasty weakened due to war and rebellion. From the Opium War with Britain, from 1839 to 1860, the Taiping rebellion or civil war in southern China (1850-1864), and the Hui and Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang in 1864, affected by the Chinese Muslim rebellion in Gansu and Shaanxi, two provinces next east of Xinjiang (see map).

In 1864, the Han and Hui people were severely clashed, known as the Dungan Revolution or the Hui Muslim Revolution. This revolution was originally intended to give lessons to corrupt governments and oppressive officials of the people, because it was not heard the term jihad or the establishment of an Islamic state. But, later the Han (Taiping Warriors) came to Muslim areas like Shaanxi with the support of the Qing Dynasty and formed the Yong Ying militia. The Hui people responded by forming militias.

Chaotic conditions at that time continued when Khan Kokand from the region which is now Kyrgyzstan, along with his Turko-Muslim forces entered Xinjiang from Kasghar. Ironically, this Yaqub Beg-led force has formed an alliance with the Han militia, and surrounded Muslim forces in Urumqi. Yaqub ruled there six years. Russia also took part, and in 1871 surrounded the rich Ili Valley region, including Gulja, north of Xinjiang.

A dozen years later the Qing Dynasty regained consciousness. They sent troops to overthrow Yaqub Beg, and took Gulja from Russia. Furthermore, Diansti Qing combined the northern region of the Tianshan (Dzungar Basin) with the southern region (Tarim Basin) which was inhabited by Muslims, and in 1884 named it Xinjiang, which means a new limit. Xinjiang is a province.

But, because the Han and Hui people in northern Xinjiang were almost extinct because of the civil war, the Uyghurs in the south eventually spread north. So, all of Xinjiang is inhabited by the majority of Uyghur Muslims. Besides being home to Uyghurs, Xinjiang is also home to Kazakhs, Tajiks, Kyrgyz, Hui, Han and Mongols.