Published by: THE WORLD UYGHUR NETWORK NEWS May 1, 1997

[ETIC, 4/28/97]

* At noon of April 13, a planted bomb exploded at the pigs market of the

16th production military region located in Uchturpan county of Aksu wilayet

killing 6 and heavily injuring 7. The government suspects the Uyghurs in

planting the bomb, but no evidences were found so far.

* A 12 years old Uyghur girl from Kartal village of Aksu was raped and

brutally killed. Her mutilated body was found on April 18. The

victim's parents and friends suspected 4 Chinese soldiers from the 18th

production military region of the Tarim 3d division. They complained

to the administration of the military region, but were accused in lying

and were driven away. Shortly after, the girl's mother committed

suicide by hanging herself. Sexual assaults on young girls are

extremely rare in Eastern Turkistan, and this event shocked the Uyghur

community in the region.

[Abdullah Pamir]