Published by: THE WORLD UYGHUR NETWORK NEWS January 21, 1998

Eastern Turkistan Information Center, Jan. 21, 1998

[ETIC, 21/01/98] Mr. Hashir Wahidi, the founder of the Uyghuristan Liberation Organization, passed away on January 21 in Almaty, Kazakstan. He could not recover from the injuries inflicted on him when, two years ago on January 29, unknown men burst into his apartment in Almaty and severely beat him up. He was left unconscious, and several documents from Mr. Wahidi's apartment had been stolen. In 50's, Mr. Wahidi was the first secretary of the Uyghur Autonomous Region's Komsomol (Young Communist Leage) organization. Later, he immigrated into USSR. In late 80's, Mr. Wahidi founded the Uyghuristan Liberation Organization. Mr. Wahidi is best known as a champion for the Uyghur national

independence from communist China. [Rabiyem Yakub, Rakhim Aitbayev]