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Chinese Uyghur Concentration Camps

  • Writer: The Ripple Effect
    The Ripple Effect
  • Oct 10, 2020
  • 3 min read

Updated: Jan 10, 2021

Location: Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China

Timeline: Documents leaked in 2017. Camps currently ongoing.

An estimated 1.8 million Uygjuhs may have been or are being held in these Chinese concentration camps without a significant cause (Ex. Held under the report of “suspicious behaviour”).


Location of 380 suspected concentration camps (Source: ASPI, 2020)



Leaked Documents detailing plan for Concentration camps


The awareness of Western media on the issue was ignited due to the leakage of several documents to the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, an organization of reporters from 100 countries and territories. The leaked documents will be included at the end of this article for viewing, and both English and Chinese will be included. (In the process of writing this article, Google translate has been used to check the accuracy of the English translation and it has been found to be 100% accurate).


A summary of the documents:


1. Ensure that the training venue is "absolutely safe".


This includes strict measures to ensure no escape, noise, earthquakes, fires and epidemics. Police must not enter the student area with guns and must not allow escape, trouble, attacks on staff, etc. Strict physical barriers to prevent escape such as gates, security cameras, security checks and more are necessary. Constantly monitor student activity in order to prevent escape during toilet breaks, eating periods, etc. Surveillance cameras must cover all blind spots. "Roll out secret forces" in order to observe behavioural issues and prevent "trouble". Students should not be able to contact the outside world aside from prescribed activities.


2. Improve the quality of education and training


3 main studies focus on Mandarin language, law and skills. Classes will be taught in Mandarin and the national language should be gradually used to communicate. Regularly testing is required to ensure the student has met "graduation" requirements. Encourage students to confess and repent on the deeply illegal, criminal and dangerous nature of their past behaviours. Educate on "mannerisms" such as compliance, obedience, unity and friendship. Students should have timely haircuts and shaves, regular change of clothes and bath once or twice a week to set good habits. Students should be able to have a phone call with family at least once a week and a video call once a month to put family at ease and make student feel safe.


3. Implement a classification and points management system

Set up three levels of management areas based on their strictness and place students accordingly. Points system will reward students by reclassifying them based on improvement. When students enter or leave the training center, their information will be collected. Behaviour management will involve regulated "wake up time, roll call, washing, going to the toilet, organizing and housekeeping, eating, studying, sleeping, and so forth". A point management system will be based on "ideological transformation" and be linked to rewards, punishments and family visits. Encourage students to "obey management, earnestly study and truly transform."


4. Evaluate for completion

Students will be evaluated for completion of their training. Finished students will be sent to a vocational skills improvement class for 3-6 months. Every effort should be made to fix employment for graduated students.


5. Strengthen organizational leadership and job guarantee

Build a strong team and staff assessed to be low quality will be replaced. Strict secrecy is required by all staff. It is forbidden to bring video devices or phones to training or management areas. Data should not be shared with the outside.


(Document missing final page)


Link to full Chinese and English translation documents:


 

What can we do to help?


1. Learn more

There are many great resources that provide reliable evidence on what is occurring at the concentration camps. Here are a few organizations to refer to:

2. Donate

Donations can go towards providing humanitarian relief, interviewing survivors and sponsoring struggling Uyghurs or orphans.

Here are some organizations to donate to:

3. Support campaigns by:

  • Signing petitions to stop the Beijing 2022 Olympics if camps are to continue (https://www.norightsnogames.org/petition/)

  • Urge your local government to co-sponsor the Uyghur Forced Labour Prevention Act (More information at: uhrp.org)

  • SHARE THIS ARTICLE!

 

Citations:

"The Xinjiang Data Project". Xjdp.Aspi.Org.Au, 2020, https://xjdp.aspi.org.au/. Accessed 11 Oct 2020.

"China Cables | China’S Operating Manuals For Mass Internment - ICIJ". ICIJ, 2020, https://www.icij.org/investigations/china-cables/. Accessed 11 Oct 2020.

"WHAT YOU CAN DO". Uhrp.Org, 2020, https://uhrp.org/what-you-can-do. Accessed 23 Oct 2020.

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