Said Aqil: Chinese Ambassador Visits PBNU Over Uighur

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Chairman of the Islamic organization Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) KH Said Aqil Siradj, said that Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia Xiao Qian would visit the PBNU office in the near future.

"Ambassador Xiao Qian will come to PBNU office to explain the condition of Uighurs there," said Said Aqil at the vice presidential office on Thursday, January 10, 2019.

Said Aqil explained that he shared the same opinion with Vice President Jusuf "JK" Kalla about the case of Muslim Uighurs. According to Said Aqil, NU would condemn the Chinese government should oppression in the name of religion run there. "But if it's on the name of political separatism, that's their domestic affairs," he added.

Said Aqil also mentioned that Vice President JK said that several Uighurs had come to Poso and supported the leader of the terrorist group Mujahidin Indonesia Timur, Santoso. "Some were arrested in Bekasi over terrorism. And now are still being imprisoned. So, we agree on that," he remarked.

Said Aqil hoped that the Uighur issuecould be solved through dialogue, such as the clash in Aceh and Poso where JK carried out mediation.

The meeting between Said Aqil and the Chinese Ambassador was conducted on December 24, 2018. Xiao Qian with his entourage visited the PBNU office and explained the oppression against Uighur Muslim in Xinjiang was prompted by separatism.

The United Nations' human rights committee previously stated that around one million Uighur Muslims were detained by Beijing authorities without proper legal proceedings. According to a committee member, Gay McDougall, the Uighur autonomous region was transformed into something resembling more of a concentration camp.

The detainees were forced to swear loyalty to Chinese President Xi Jinping. Based on other reports, Uighurs were also forced to shout out the slogan of Communist Party. Additionally, the UN received reports of oppression against detainees.

FRISKI RIANA