China wages 'people's war' on terrorism(2)

GOVERNMENT'S DETERMINATION

The string of violent attacks has exposed the brutality of the terrorists' conduct.

In order to better handle such emergencies, many provinces and regions in the country began conducting anti-terrorism drills beginning in March.

During the drills in Beijing, special vehicles and police helicopters were present at the scene.

In Fujian, Anhui, Sichuan and Jiangsu Province, most of the exercises were staged in railway stations and kindergartens with scenarios such as knife attacks and hijackings.

Meanwhile, in cities like Beijing, Guangzhou and Urumqi, citizens have been rewarded for providing terror and crime tips. China's first counter-terrorism militia was also unveiled to the public in Shenzhen last May.

Calling terrorism the common enemy of the people, President Xi Jinping urged the public to build a "wall of bronze and iron" to fight against terrorism.

"(We must) make terrorists become like rats scurrying across a street, with everybody shouting 'beat them!'" Xi said at a group study session on national security and social stability by the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee in April.

In May, China launched a year-long crackdown on terrorism with Xinjiang as the major battleground. Some suspects and fugitives involved in terrorist activities have already given themselves to police, sources said.

PEOPLE'S WAR ON TERRORISM

In Xinjiang, slogans of fighting terrorism are posted on urban and rural streets and lanes. In many primary and middle schools, guards and male teachers stand watch when students enter or leave the school.

Urumqi has set up concrete road barriers and steel fences on both sides of several streets.

"Cars cannot go through easily due to the road barriers. Terrorists affect our business and life, " said a man named Asya, who runs a noodle restaurant in Huishanyuan Community in Urumqi. "If they dare come here, the whole neighborhood will fight with them."

In June, a group of terrorists at a chess and cards room were seized by civilians and police in Hotan Prefecture. In August, more than 30,000 volunteers helped local police chase the suspects in Karakax County.

"Terrorist attacks hurt people who love their homeland," said Pan Zhiping, professor with the Central Asia Research Institute with Xinjiang University.

Pan said more civilians from different ethnic groups join the counter-terrorism campaign. Their behaviors once again show that terrorists are the enemies of all people.

"The war on terrorism should be led by the government and widely participated in by the public," said Mei Jianming, who added as long as the country mobilizes resources at all levels, the war can be won.

But as the situation becomes more complicated, China vowed to introduce a counter-terrorism law at national level.

The war on terrorism should be waged in accordance with law, and people's legitimate rights including freedom of expression and privacy should also be protected, Mei said.