Residents of various ethnic groups support Xinjiang's anti-terrorism efforts

Special: Xinjiang

Residents from different ethnic groups in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region -- some of whom are victims of terrorist attacks -- expressed their support of anti-terrorism efforts and shared their experiences at a press conference Monday.

Ajigul Turhun, whose father was brutally murdered in the violent Baicheng terrorist attacks in 2015, is a native of Baicheng County of Aksu Prefecture. Her father was a herdsman and breadwinner of the family.

"The terrorist attack cost me my beloved father and a happy family," she said. "I detest them from the depths of my heart. Terrorists must be severely punished."

Dilshat Asan, the witness of a foiled plane hijacking in Hotan in 2012, also recalled his experience with terrorists at the press conference.

On June 29, 2012, terrorists tried to hijack flight GS7554 just 10 minutes after it took off from Hotan, about 1,400 km away from its destination, the regional capital city of Urumqi.

Dilshat Asan stepped forward with other passengers on the plane to help subdue the terrorists. After more than 10 minutes of life-and-death struggle, the hijacking was foiled by brave aircrew and passengers.

"Terrorists tried to emulate the 9/11 attacks in the United States," he said.

Incomplete statistics show that from 1990 to the end of 2016, the "three forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism at home and abroad committed thousands of terrorist acts in Xinjiang, resulting in the deaths of many innocent people and incalculable property losses, said Xu Guixiang, a spokesperson with the regional government.

Witnesses, victims and their families attending the meeting said that there have been no terrorist attacks in Xinjiang for five consecutive years, which is the greatest aspiration and expectation of people of all ethnic groups in the region.

They added that various anti-terrorism measures taken by Xinjiang protect the people from terrorism and extremism to the maximum extent. People of all ethnic groups cherish a stable and peaceful happy life and hope that terrorist attacks will never happen again.

"Western anti-China forces will never succeed in trying to 'stigmatize' the issue of counter-terrorism. Any force that attempts to undermine Xinjiang's prosperity and stability is doomed to a complete failure," Xu said.