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China has eliminated 1,588 terrorists and arrested nearly 12,995 people over terrorism-linked charges in Xinjiang since 2014, the government said in an official report released on March 19.
The document says that authorities have “destroyed 1,588 violent and terrorist gangs, arrested 12,995 terrorists, seized 2,052 explosive devices, punished 30,645 people for 4,858 illegal religious activities, and confiscated 345,229 copies of illegal religious materials”.
Additionally, the report gave a breakdown of 30 attacks since 1990, with the last one recorded in December 2016, saying 458 people had died and at least 2,540 were wounded as a consequence of attacks and other unrest.
Another thing adressed by the report is the so-called detention camps issue. The government describes the camps as re-education and training facilities, and says they allow to prevent radicalization. According to the report, the people placed in the camp are:
- People, who have been unintentionally involved in terror-related activity;
- People, who have participated in terror-related activity, but their actions have not led to casualties or real impact. These persons ‘voluntarily’ agreed to participate in the re-education course;
- People, who have already completed their sentense over terrorism-related charges, but remain ‘dangerous’ for the society.
The US-led bloc and mainstream media say they are internment camps.
China’s CCTV also released a report on the same topic:
