Comments on: The Uyghur Civil Rights Movement: No Uyghurs in our Hotel

By: Uygurs are victims | Mission & Justice

Uygurs are victims | Mission & Justice — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 08:00:17 +0000

[...] Urgent Notice – To all inns and bathhouses of the administrative district: 20/10/08 In compliance with a request from the local PSB substation, starting today, investigations will be carried out on the lodging circumstances of all individuals of “Tibetan” and “Uyghur” ethnicity residing at inns and bathhouses of the Haidian District. Reinforce inspection and verification of any lodger matching the description above and report all cases to the local dispatch station. Furthermore: every inn and bathhouse, when registering travelers, must double-check and accurately fill out the registration form. All who receive Tibetan or Uyghur individuals for lodging must immediately report to the local dispatch station. Officer to Contact: Wu Hu Cell Phone: 13801093916; Huayuan Dispatch Station On-Call Phone Numbers: 62014692 62032656 Minority individuals from “sensitive” regions being monitored in hotels is not something new – as far back as July, before the Olympics, there was a news report by Globe and Mail about how the unfortunate parties to a forced, mass Uyghur exodus from Beijing were invariably denied access to an inn or hotel after pulling out their ID cards identifying them as Uyghurs. See: http://www.thenewdominion.net/395/the-uyghur-civil-rights-movement-no-uyghurs-in-our-hotel/ [...]

By: The New Dominion » Some Xinjiang News Updates

The New Dominion » Some Xinjiang News Updates — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 14:16:17 +0000

[...] and community for Uyghurs based in China, whose observations on racism in China figured prominently in a post here, has been shut down. According to one of our commenters, this could be permanent, and apparently [...]

By: Bruce

Bruce — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 13:30:54 +0000

Am enjoying this site which I only began visiting recently! Many thanks for hosting it and opening such news items up to (heated!) discussion.

Two things strike me about some of the comments above:

*** The legalistic arguments might lead one to overlook the reality on the ground for a real-life Uighur. Having lived in China for over 20 years, it strikes me that the key thing here is that posting such a sign would likely 1) Act as a signal to dissuade some Uighurs from even asking for a room, and 2) Embolden some hotel staff to mention the policy in such a way as to discourage a Uighur from checking into the hotel. In my opinion, 1-2 probably have more impact on a typical Uighur’s daily life than the greater or less “legality” of the practice of reporting their presence to the police.

*** In general, one should try to overcome the impulse to compare what goes on in China and the US, particularly in the domain of human rights and interactions between different ethnic groups. They are radically different societies with hugely different histories, and I generally find the comparisons wanting. Perhaps more importantly, some Chinese feel very emotional when their society is criticized by foreigners, and it should not be forgotten that China is in a race to catch up with, and overtake, the US in many domains. This is a bit of a national past-time, if not simply an outright “America-complex.” Few Chinese, even those who don’t seem very patriotic, are willing to hear their country compared unfavorably with the US. Inevitably, such conversations often degenerate into a shouting match about China vs. America, an approach unlikely to shed light on sensitive matters such as how Uighurs are treated within the PRC, etc.

By: The New Dominion » Uyghurs Speak Out on Hotel Restrictions

The New Dominion » Uyghurs Speak Out on Hotel Restrictions — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 15:09:40 +0000

[...] my last post on the subject, I stated my belief that the way a people react to civil rights violations is just as important, if [...]

By: Global Voices Online » China: No Uyghurs in our Hotel

Global Voices Online » China: No Uyghurs in our Hotel — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 03:11:11 +0000

[...] new dominion blogs about the systematic discrimination against Uyghurs in China, such as denied access to inns or hotels. Posted by Oiwan Lam Print Version Share [...]

By: Porfiriy

Porfiriy — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 17:02:18 +0000

Hotels were denying Uyghurs from lodging at their inns during and around the Olympics. Outright refusing them from staying. Probably because of this rule; because hotel owners would rather avoid the inconvenience of reporting the guests.

By: xxx

xxx — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 13:09:44 +0000

it discriminates them for ‘caution’/'care’.

but it didn’t say “no uighur” though.

i.e. uighurs can check in the hotel, but they will scrutinize them and probably notify the police.

so your title isn’t right.

By: Swan

Swan — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 17:07:52 +0000

WOW thanks for all those comments they make interesting read. The jobs you guys are talking about are all in the private sector, any idea what happens in government jobs. I mean for example teaching jobs or in hospitals do they also say openly no Uyghurs apply.

By: Ralphie

Ralphie — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 11:45:12 +0000

wgj, you misunderstand how the law, specially the constitution, functions. Even though the Chinese constitution is universally considered bogus, it arguably has the similar structure and purpose as other constitutions, namely setting out the basic rights of the citizens as well as restrictions and duties of the government. Constitutions are not specific laws; they are broad enough to be the basis of all the other laws. There won’t be languages such as “Article 3, the right to be treated the same as other hotel guests; Article 4, the right to go to Beijing for the Olympics…” But there are languages in the Chinese constitution that clearly show the basis of legal rights such as “every citizen is equal before the court; citizens have the right to privacy; the government can only make laws that do not violate the constitution.” Again, it is totally another story as to whether the Chinese constitution is just a piece of paper or not. But you can’t say that the rights simply don’t exist.
You need to distinguish between a lack of right and a right that has been long violated. The mere fact that you are not allowed to do so doesn’t mean you actually don’t have the right. For example, if you go to the street in China and protest against the Chinese president, you will be arrested. The possible charge might be disruption of public peace. But this doesn’t mean that you actually don’t have the legal right. It is a situation where your constitutional right has been violated. The mere fact that almost nobody protested against the government without being arrested in the history of the Communist government rule doesn’t mean the right to protest actually doesn’t exist.
The right to privacy doesn’t mean the right to not let police know your whereabouts. It means the police cannot track your whereabouts without legitimate reason; it means the information of your whereabouts should always be protected unless there is some legitimate reason.
Your logic is the exact opposite to how the world functions. If the legal system adopts your line of analysis, namely there is no such right because the law doesn’t specially cover this situation, then the law itself is a joke because it simply cannot possibly cover every human situation. The law applies principles, not languages. If citizens don’t have rights unless they are specially listed, then I guarantee you, you might find it illegal for you to simply step out of your door, because I bet there is no law specially stating that citizens have the right to step out of their doors. Nor there is a law saying, when they step out of their door, they have the right to choose which foot first.

By: Porfiriy

Porfiriy — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 11:34:03 +0000

Oh and just FYI I learned through a friend that a Uyghur acquaintance of his owns an English training school and employs only Uyghurs – apparently this boss is getting a lot of flack from the government for this. So if your concerned that in Turpan Uyghur restaurants hiring only Uyghurs is unfair, rest assured that in some situations like this English school the government is valiantly mobilizing to combat discrimination. Now whether or not English learning centers with all Han teachers are getting pestered…