Public calls for efforts to restore order in Xinjiang

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-07-08 05:40

URUMQ: The public in the riot-plagued Xinjiang on Tuesday called for playing their individual roles to prevent ethnic conflicts between the Han and Uygur people as tension hovered over the region where more than 156 people were killed in the riot Sunday.

A businessman called Rishat telephoned Xinhua Tuesday, saying he suggested everyone remain calm and play a role in restoring the disrupted social order.

"We should set up a donation foundation to help those injured in the riot," said Rishat, of Tartar nationality.

The proposal gained support from the people of Uygur, Han and Uzbek.

"There is no good for chaos. Stability is the most important thing," said a businessman surnamed Su. "Now the government is striving to maintain social order. All the people should stay calm and rational. It is unnecessary to hurt each other."

"I'm willing to donate for the treatment of the injured," he said.

Mirshat,a government staff of Uzbek nationality, said he felt sad in seeing the clashes. "No one can benefit from the confrontation," he said."The more tense the situation is, the more we need to control ourselves. There is no excuse for extreme activities."

A fresh chaos hit Urumqi Tuesday afternoon, nearly two days after a riot that killed 156 people and injured more than 1,000 others.

Several thousand protesters, mostly Han Chinese, marched along Youhao Street and Guangming Street toward Erdaoqiao, mainly inhabited by Uygurs, in downtown Urumqi. Holding clubs, knives, axes and hammers, the protesters shouted "protect our home, protect our family members".

They were stopped by units of the Armed Police before reaching the destination.

The city has imposed a traffic control from 9:00 p.m. Tuesday to 8:00 a.m. Wednesday to avoid further chaos.