Word: becquelin
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...says, adding, "I don't think they seriously are claiming responsibility." Says terrorism expert Rohan Gunaratna: "The threat is to change the mood rather than to mount an attack in the Olympic venue. However, attacks elsewhere, small to medium, are likely in the lead-up and during the event." Becquelin, who wrote his Ph.D. dissertation about the situation in Xinjiang, said the group had previously released several videos but that "they've never presented any evidence that they are operational...
...chafed under what critics describe as oppressive rule that reduces them to second-class citizens. Beijing, meanwhile, has trumpeted the threat from what it describes as secessionist groups bent on forming a breakaway state named East Turkestan. Some 60 people have been arrested this year alone for "terrorist activities," Becquelin notes, and as recently as July 9, two Uighurs were executed for allegedly plotting attacks; 15 others received lengthy prison sentences...
...human rights activists like Becquelin, a much broader approach is needed to address the root causes of Uighur discontent. "The Chinese government must stop conflating violent and nonviolent opposition in Xinjiang and cease its oppressive policies," he says. "Then, and only then, will it be possible to start working towards a solution...
...occurrence of these cases is largely confined to poor or ethnic areas of China" says Becquelin, noting that in such areas the central government often seems to fear that if restrictions on population growth are lifted there will be an immediate population explosion. That would be highly unwelcome economically - with [Communist Party] cadres fearing that the new mouths would either be trapped in poverty at home or join the flood tide of rural migrants swamping the cities...
...child policy has been a failure and should be scrapped. Precisely because this is one of the Communist Party's most unpopular policies, "it would be very damaging to the Party to have to admit publicly that it was neither a particularly good idea, or even necessary," says Becquelin. Given that background, he concludes, it seems as though incidents of this kind will continue to occur for some time to come...