UAA congratulates Congressional human rights advocates
Thursday November 9, 2006, 6:00 pm EST
Contact: Uyghur American Association 1 (202) 349 1496
The Uyghur American Association (UAA) on behalf of its members wouldlike to congratulate Congressman Tom Lantos and Congressman FrankWolf on their re-election to the US Congress on November 7, 2006.Both men – each with their highly dedicated and professional staff –have worked tirelessly to promote human rights throughout the world,and the UAA is particularly grateful for the representations theyhave made on behalf of the Uyghur people.
The UAA is also delighted at the prospect of future co-operation withCongresswoman Nancy Pelosi, who is set to be the new Speaker of theHouse. She too has proven herself to be a staunch advocate for theuniversal protection of internationally recognized human rights. Thisdevotion is shown most clearly in her continued and vocal support forthe Uyghur and Tibetan peoples.
“Congresswoman Pelosi is an exceptional woman who in addition to herother attributes also cares passionately about human rights, saidMs. Rebiya Kadeer, President of the UAA. “I am confident Uyghurs,Tibetans, Mongolians and anyone else living in fear under China’srule will take heart that she has risen to such deserved prominence.
Like Congresswoman Pelosi, Ms. Kadeer is also mother to a largefamily – six of Ms. Kadeer’s 11 children are in the US while theother five are still in East Turkistan, the Uyghurs’ traditionalhomeland which the Chinese government designates the Xinjiang UyghurAutonomous Region (XUAR).
However, three of Ms. Kadeer’s sons are in detention in EastTurkistan, with two – Alim, 31 and Kahar, 42 – facing prisonsentences on tax evasion charges; while a third – Ablikim, 33 – isthought to be facing serious political charges.
“The Chinese government’s persecution of my children is the Chinesegovernment trying to stop me speaking out about the persecution ofall Uyghur people, said Ms. Kadeer. “But with human rights championssuch as Congressman Wolf and Congressman Lantos in the USadministration, and with Congresswoman Pelosi now so prominent, I’mcertain there will be many more people speaking out about thepersecution of the Uyghur people.