Kunming terrorist attack - Assignment Example

Draft Kunming terrorist attack which happened on 1st march at a train station in southern China was blamed on separatists from Uighur tribe I the far west. The attack, which was perpetrated using machetes and large knives led to death of 33 people 4 of whom were terrorists. Out of the assailants two were identified as women including one who was shot dead by the police. Although the identities of the culprits have not been confirmed yet, evidence from the scene of crime show the attack was carried out by separatists from Xinjiang forces; this is largely seen as a result of the government’s heavy handedness in dealing with Muslim separatists of Uighur.

On Sunday 2nd March 2014, police rounded up members of the Uighur population in the city for questioning, a move that was not taken well by the members of the Uighur community as they claim there is no way they could have identified the individuals since they were in black. Most of the attacks of this nature usually happen in Xinjiang where there there are common clashes between members of Uighur community and the police, therefore this was a special case since it took place more than 1, 500 kilometres away from the region.

The UN security council condemned the attack and said there was no justification for any acts of terrorism and those responsible for the act should be brought to justice. The attack comes near the opening of the annual legislature where the government would delivers its report on its one year performance, therefore the incident was likely to dent the report.In another report, United States has finally called the attack a terrorist attack after accusations from the Chinese government on the failure to call the attack ‘ an act of terrorism’ which was carried out by eight attackers and left more than 130 people injured.

The united states embassy in China had initially referred to the attack as ‘horrific, senseless act of violence’ which was seen as not strong enough by Chinese authorities. Xinjiang, which is the region largely inhabited by Uighur people who are Muslim minority, has been increasingly experiencing unrest due to immigration by the Han majority to the region, for instance, in 2009, ethnic violence in the region left more than 200 people dead. For a long time, the government has blamed Uighur activists for the violence while on the other hand the Uighur activists blame the government’s excessive control for the violence in the region.