11-year-old attends mother’s funeral

• Source: Global Times
• [07:23 July 13 2009]
• Comments

Li Wensheng, one of about 60 teachers from Urumqi Vocational University who were organized by the city government to provide counseling for victims' families and to help them deal with funeral services and compensation claims, said Ren's sentiment was typical of many people stricken by grief.

“There are no winners in these ethnic conflicts,” he said.

“Both Han people and Uygurs were the victims of the ruthless rioters incited by overseas agitators who wanted to create hatred among ethnic groups in Xinjiang.”

According to figures released by the government Saturday, of the 184 people confirmed dead, 137 were Han people, 46 were Uygurs, and one was an ethnic Hui Muslim.

At a temporary missing persons desk at the Global Hotel, government representatives spoke to Han, Hui and Uygur people who had lost loved ones.

A taxi driver surnamed Li, who grew up in a Uygur community in Urumqi, said many of the misunderstandings between Han and Uygur people were based on ignorance.

“People naturally fear the unknown, but the lack of understanding sometimes causes problems,” he said.

Li said he grew up with Uygurs, went to schools with Uygurs, and like all young men, sometimes fought with Uygurs.

“I played and fought with both my Han and Uygur classmates, and we often became good friends afterward,” he said.

“Once we got to know each other better, it didn't matter what ethnic groups we came from,” he said.

Muhtar Yitilis, a Uygur officer with Urumqi's special fire squad that fought countless fires and saved dozens of lives on July 5, said he and his Han colleagues were like brothers after so many years working together.

“My relatives have never thought it strange that I work with Han people,” he said.

“In their eyes, we're all heroes who save people's lives.”