Deusdedit Ruhangariyo
Special to ICT
Around the world: Uyghurs face arrests ahead of China’s National Day celebrations, Spuzzum First Nation fights Canada’s rejection of spotted owl protections, and an Australian foundation works to help Indigenous businesses
CHINA: National Day brings more arrests of Uyghurs
More than 50 Uyghur villagers were detained in Xinjiang, China, in the days leading up to the National Day celebration as part of a security operation in two communities, Radio Free Asia reported on Oct. 11.
SUPPORT INDIGENOUS JOURNALISM. CONTRIBUTE TODAY.
Authorities detained 44 people from Siyek village in Hotan prefecture and eight residents from Térim village in the Kashgar prefecture in what a local official said was part of an effort to ensure a peaceful National Day.
The Oct. 1 holiday marked the 74th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.
The operation focused on Uyghurs who were under the age of 18 or had otherwise evaded capture in 2017, when members of the predominantly Muslim group were arrested en masse.
In 2017 and 2018, authorities rounded up nearly two million Uyghurs across the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous region and detained them in “re-education” camps, where some were subjected to severe rights abuses. China has consistently denied any abuse and said the camps were vocational training centers that have since been closed.
Before the widespread detentions of Uyghurs in Xinjiang in 2017, authorities apprehended individuals during notable occasions such as National Day, conferences, and international exhibitions.
CANADA: Logging wins over spotted owl protections
The Spuzzum First Nation blasted the federal government’s decision not to put a hold on logging activity in southwest British Columbia with emergency protections for the endangered northern spotted owl, CBC News reported on Oct. 12.
Chief James Hobart expressed the community’s anger after the Canadian Wildlife Service, a branch of the Department of Environment, notified officials that an emergency order would not be enacted to halt logging in two watersheds within Spuzzum territory in Fraser Canyon, about 80 miles northeast of Vancouver.
The emergency order had been widely anticipated since Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault deemed the logging activity an imminent threat to the northern spotted owl’s survival. Guilbeault had visited Spuzzum lands in February, where he saw the spotted owls and their reliance on old-growth forests.
A recent letter to the First Nation, however, indicated the government would instead be pursuing a “collaborative approach” with the provincial government and Indigenous communities, taking into account socio-economic and legal considerations, CBC News reported.
“Here’s a federal minister asking me, ‘What can I do?”’ Hobart said, recounting the meeting with Guilbeault in February. “We needed him to stick up for this. … I don’t think that anybody that had been out on the land with us could have gone there and accepted these words.”
Environment and Climate Change Canada stated that Guilbeault met his obligation under the Species at Risk Act by presenting his recommendation to the cabinet.
“The Government of Canada recognizes that more needs to be done to support the recovery of the spotted owl,” the statement said. “Collaboration with British Columbia and First Nations is the preferred approach for achieving the species’ recovery.”
AUSTRALIA: Foundation boosts Indigenous entrepreneurship
The First Nations Foundation in Victoria, Australia, is launching the First Nations Business Fireside Yarns series to help Indigenous entrepreneurs improve their businesses, National Indigenous Times reported on Oct. 13.
The series, aimed at empowering entrepreneurs with financial knowledge, kicks off with an inaugural event on Oct. 25 in Naarm (Melbourne), with a focus on “accessing capital.”
A panel of finance experts will include representatives from Indigenous Business Australia, National Australia Bank Business Banking, First Australians Capital, and Ochre Ventures.
The panelists will address various aspects of capital, including when it’s necessary to secure capital for business endeavors and how First Nations business owners in Victoria can access funding. Attendees will also have a chance to network with the panelists.
The First Nations Foundation, known for creating the world’s first Indigenous-led online financial literacy program, is dedicated to improving the financial well-being of Indigenous Australians, National Indigenous Times reported.
Foundation research revealed that only one in 10 Indigenous Australians is financially secure, and nearly half face severe financial stress. By comparison, one-half of non-Indigenous Australians are considered financially secure.
“Entrepreneurship is a promising pathway for our people to enrich their lives, strengthen their families and participate in the development of their communities,” said First Nations Foundation CEO Phil Usher, according to National Indigenous Times.
“Our Fireside Yarn is bringing experts together with First Nations entrepreneurs from across Victoria who are seeking capital for their business. It’s an opportunity for businesses to network and learn from the experts who work in this area of finance, and who have been through the process of raising capital themselves.”
My final thoughts
My final thoughts are in Xinjiang, China, where reports that more than 50 Uyghur villagers were detained in anticipation of National Day have raised significant concerns.
According to local officials, these detentions were carried out as part of a broader security operation in two communities within the Xinjiang region. This situation deserves careful examination and condemnation.
First, the arrests create human rights concerns. The detention of Uyghurs, an ethnic minority group in China, has been a contentious issue in recent years. Numerous reports and investigations have highlighted widespread human rights abuses, including mass detentions, forced labor, and cultural repression within the region. Detaining individuals based on their ethnicity or religious background is a clear violation of fundamental human rights.
There are also concerns about preventative detention. The timing of the detentions, occurring ahead of a significant national event like National Day, raises questions about the justification for such actions. Preventative detention, particularly when conducted on a large scale, should be subject to rigorous scrutiny to ensure that it does not infringe on civil liberties.
So what is the way forward? The international community should continue to exert diplomatic pressure on the Chinese government to address human rights concerns in Xinjiang. This includes calling for unrestricted access to the region for independent investigations. Diplomatic channels should be kept open to engage in constructive dialogue with China, and ongoing awareness campaigns should be maintained to keep the international community informed about the situation in Xinjiang. Global solidarity and support for affected Uyghur communities are vital for addressing this complex and sensitive issue.
Our stories are worth telling. Our stories are worth sharing. Our stories are worth your support. Contribute $5 or $10 today to help ICT carry out its critical mission. Sign up for ICT’s free newsletter.