Xinjiang's strict lockdown arouses public grievances

 Reporter : Fu Mingzhen / Editor : Yuan Mingqing / Publisher : Sound Of Hope

Ref :https://www.soundofhope.org/post/415219

Translation, editing : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

 Image : Web Screenshot. Courtesy of NTDTV. See also https://www.ntdtv.com/b5/2020/08/25/a102926323.html

The various lockdown measures implemented by the Chinese Communist Party during the epidemic in Xinjiang have caused miserable people. Some people in Xinjiang describe Xinjiang as a "prison" of high-pressure control. In this case, public grievances are boiling.

After another confirmed case of covid appeared in Urumqi, Xinjiang on 15 July, the authorities immediately implemented closed management of the community. Subsequently, the blockade measures were extended to other cities in Xinjiang. In the state of city lockdown for more than a month, the local residents were very depressed.

Photos and videos from the Internet show that citizens are required to stay at home or quarantine together and are prohibited from going out. The gates of some households were covered with seals, or sealed with stones or nails, and some communities even arranged official personnel to guard them. If someone leaves, they will be handcuffed on the street. Some citizens also disclosed that the community distributes drugs and compulsory measures such as door-to-door supervision and photo upload confirmation to require them to take drugs to fight the epidemic.

A citizen living in Urumqi told Radio Free Asia, "There are three medicines I know, Lianhua Qingwen, Chinese medicine granules, and canned Chinese medicine. The compulsory drinking of canned Chinese medicine is required three times a day. Here. A friend of mine vomited and had diarrhea after taking the medicine. (The community) also publicly threatened that if the medicine is not taken according to the standard, it will affect their trips out of Xinjiang and the children's education."

In addition, various "exotic flowers" epidemic prevention and management have caused problems for people's livelihood.

Mr. He, a resident of Xinjiang who did not want to be named, told Radio Free Asia that although Xinjiang carried out strict prevention and control during the last outbreak, public opinion has received greater and more negative responses to the new round of "shock-style" epidemic prevention management.

He said: "Last time was because of the New Year, it was in winter. Tourism and agriculture are basically idle or low peak periods. Now July and August, various industries have been hit hard. Many people have loans. No fruit can be harvested. The civil service system is also very tired, because there has been no stopping work."

The Xinjiang epidemic is mainly concentrated in Urumqi. Mr. He mentioned that the epidemic prevention measures in Xinjiang are stricter than those in Wuhan, the hardest-hit area, and even areas without cases are also locked down.

Regarding the Xinjiang government's "iron-fisted" epidemic prevention measures, residents of a residential area in Urumqi chose to open a window to collectively vent it. The result was classified as an illegal act or "inflammatory activity", and some people were also interviewed by the public security. In addition, netizens who have posted information on the Internet also said they have received warnings from the authorities asking them to delete the posts.

Mr. He condemned the authorities for not only failing to solve the problem, but also suppressing the influence of online public opinion. He described Xinjiang as a "prison" controlled under high pressure.

Mr He added, "Xinjiang’s network blockade and public opinion monitoring are at the top of China. If you don’t comply with their regulations, you will be admonished. In the past, Xinjiang made relatively few voices. First, they would be warned. Second, after nearly four years, residents are generally domesticated due to the high-pressure policy. Third, under the propaganda of the media, many people feel that Xinjiang is special and have anti-terrorism or special needs, and then acquiesce in approving official unreasonable policies."

The Urumqi residents mentioned above all said that most people in the epidemic have lost hope. Now everyone’s general idea is to leave here as soon as the epidemic is over. 

In the face of boiling public complaints, on 24 August, the Urumqi Epidemic Prevention and Control Work Headquarters announced that it would gradually adjust the prevention and control policies of some epidemic-free communities and allow limited non-aggregate personal activities.

Apple Daily reported that the Urumqi government, suspected to be trying to reassure the people, has also disclosed the phone numbers of major city and district (county) party and government leaders, and welcomes locals to "call anytime to report difficulties."

However, the Apple Daily reporter tried to call several Urumqi officials, but the line was either busy or the line was deliberately disconnected by the officials. In the end, none of them could be contacted smoothly.