Residents stay vigilant as Urumqi recuperates

• Source: Global Times
• [08:13 July 10 2009]
• Comments

By Wu Gang in Urumqi and Qiu Wei in Beijing

A group of Chinese Muslims call for unity among ethnic groups yesterday during a goodwill march in Urumqi. They also handed out water and shook hands with riot police. Foreign journalists have been given unprecedented access in the aftermath of deadly unrest in the city, in what China has hailed as a new era of openness to the outside world. Photo: AFP

There are fewer police on the streets of Urumqi, but their presence is still greatly felt in the wake of deadly riots earlier this week in the city.

The recovery process is underway, but it’s slow going for the thousands of people affected by the violence that changed many lives forever.

Friends and loved ones of the 156 killed and more than 1,000 wounded are undoubtedly still reeling from their loss. But some signs of normality have returned, with public transportation such as buses and taxis back in full service.

And some businesses in the capital of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region have begun to reopen their shops, many of which were severely damaged by rioters.

“More armed troops were called in earlier, but most of them are not on guard today as restrictions were lifted in many parts of Urumqi,” a police officer who declined to give his name told the Global Times yesterday.

However, “People’s Square and the Erdaoqiao zone remained no-go areas,” the officer added, referring to the places that saw the worst of the riots that began Sunday.

And security precautions were still running high yesterday in key venues of the city, which has a population of about 2.3 million.

“The security checkups at Urumqi Railway Station were strict. Identity cards were requested from passengers,” the officer said. “This measure was meant to prevent terrorist attacks, including suicide bombings.”

All the measures and tension had some residents questioning the mayor’s quick declaration Wednesday that order had been restored. They cited the fact that some residents still could be seen carrying bats and other makeshift weapons.

Zhang, a 32-year-old man working with a travel agency in Urumqi, told the Global Times yesterday he had been off work since Monday.

“I am not optimistic that the gloomy situation will get better soon,” Zhang said.

“I hate to have to stay vigilant like this, with my eyes wide open for fear of any assault when I am on the street,” he said. “The riot will leave a scar on many Han and Uygur people. It takes time to move on.”