Published by: THE WORLD UYGHUR NETWORK NEWS July 23,1997

Eastern Turkistan Information Center, 7/23/97

[ETIC, 7/23/97] "The Voice of Eastern Turkistan" newspaper published in Russian by the United Eastern Turkistan National Front in Almaty reported that on July 14, the Chinese People's Armed Police units conducted a massive "Criminals Detention" operation in Kargalik city of Khotan province of Eastern Turkistan. The paramilitary police surrounded the local market and kept all the people in the area under detention for several hours. The people were checked out one-by-one and all the "suspicious elements" had been detained.

According to the local people, the disguised secret police agents are selling fake or unfunctional guns and bombs in the markets of Eastern Turkistan trying to catch potential buyers.

It is also reported by the newspaper that, according to the resolution of the Chinese authorities, some of the inter city Chinese truck drivers in Eastern Turkistan will be given guns for self protection.

[Gulamettin Pahta, New York City]