Protest for a free Tibet

Yesterday, some 100 people demonstrated for a free Tibet in front of the BOIC-headquarters (Belgian Olympic Committee) in Brussels. This brought me into contact with another Chinese minority, who also deserve some attention.

Not a big deal, no big purposes and no violence. It is always interesting to see these people demonstrating, because it never has any sense of hate. Some 6 youngsters were urging the crowd to shout out loud "Stop killing in Tibet", "We want freedom, we want justice", "No olympic torch in China" and so on. Purpose of this manifestation was asking that the olympic torch should not pass through Tibet, because this would be seen as a provocation. The demonstration ended with the Tibetan national hymn.

Two people caught my special attention. In stead of waving the Tibetan flag, they waved a blue Turkish flag, the flag of Uyghuristan (the Chinese province Xinjiang). Now this is something most people don't know; that there is also a muslim minority in China, the Uyghurs, whose country is also an 'autonomous' region. Like Tibet, it also saw a big migration of native civilians (Uyghurs) to other parts of China (or other countries) and an immigration of ethnic Han-Chinese civilians into the region. Uyghuristan is rich in oil and gas, so this shouldn't be surprising.

The guy I spoke to, Marat, is living in Brussels. "We are less known, and also less present in both Brussels and Europe, but we are here to support Tibet and their struggle, because more or less the same things are happening in Uyghuristan (East Turkestan)," he says. Marat speaks French to me, but his native language is Uyghur, a language closely related to...Turkish (and most other Central-Asian languages).

I thought it was interesting, because it isn't really fair that the world is supporting Tibet, while it remains blind for another autonomous region with (almost) the same problems. Uyghuristan was also occupied in 1949, and its people was (is) also oppressed. The now called 'Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region' (XUAR) hosts a minority of Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz and other people of central-Asian origin.

I will do more research about XUAR, and post a separate article about this.

Brussels International

Hi,

After two weeks of writing for Brussel Deze Week, I can say that Brussels is still a fantastic city, hosting more communities than you can imagine.
Did you know that there are even Uyghurs living in this capital? I will help you: Uyghuristan is the western part of the former Central-Asian Turkestan, which is now part of China. A hot topic.

I am following the Tibetan community of Brussels. You won't see me displaying Tibetan flags on my blog, or walking around with some 'Free Tibet' Button. No, my way of showing my opinion is by writing...articles. Mostly, I haven't got 'An Own Opinion' (mind the big 'O'). Journalism is the art of balancing, of being angry without losing the other side out of sight. Having an opinion, but being able to listen to the other side.
With my article about the Tibetan community, I am aware that I might be getting attracted by the idea of 'freeing Tibet'. I feel it is more an act of subtility, of gently showing this community to my readers, together with achievements, threats, but also with weaknesses. So you won't spot me with a flag, button or whatever can be used to make a statement. My articles are a statement, as a journalist. My personal opinion is something else. I try to convergate them. If I can help people while being a journalist, I help. But that doesn't mean that I will attach myself to one part.

I made the idea of posting more while working in Brussels. It doesn't always have to be about the Balkans, or something like that...

Regards,

Christophe

Publishing for Brussel Deze Week

Christophe Degreef will work for the Brussels weekly Brussel Deze Week starting from March 25th 2008 until mid-june 2008.

Items, ideas, opinions about everything related to this blog and Brussels are welcome on christophe.degreef@gmail.com