Deusdedit Ruhangariyo
Special to ICT
Around the world: Chinese officials increase efforts to control Uyghur mobility, Māori theater and circus converge for a worldwide tour, and a new fund in Australia boosts Aboriginal businesses.
CHINA: Officials cordon off village to control Uyghurs
The village of Chuluqai in Xinjiang, China, is under lockdown with electric gates and barbed wire fencing in what appears to be a growing effort by the Chinese government to regulate the movement of the mostly Muslim Uyghur people, Radio Free Asia reported on Sept. 19.
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Security personnel reported the village’s 13,000 inhabitants are under continuous surveillance, with a single entry point for residents and vehicles, and a single entry point for both residents and vehicles, Radio Free Asia reported.
Chinese officials said the village in Ghulja county was cordoned off ostensibly for peace and security reasons, despite widespread claims of human rights violations against the Uyghur minority.
A recent report by Agence France Presse disclosed similar restrictions faced by rural residents in Arslan Bagh village in the Kashgar prefecture, with officials telling residents to remain indoors and locking homes for monitoring.
“I don’t know how many more villages are left to be enclosed,” an officer told Radio Free Asia when contacted for comment.
NEW ZEALAND: Production merges Māori theater, circus
An unprecedented fusion of Māori theater, circus performers and the Māori language will make its global premiere in Canada – the birthplace of the Cirque du Soleil, Te Ao Maori News reported on Sept. 26.
“Te Tangi a te Tūī” (The Song of the Tūī), conceived by influential Indigenous theater figures Tainui Tukiwaho and Amber Curreen, draws inspiration from the calls of a native bird to examine change, loss and renewal.
The show, produced by the acclaimed Te Rēhia theater company and the Dust Palace Circus Theatre, merges traditional Māori performance with circus acrobatics.
It will premiere at The Cultch in Vancouver on Oct. 19 and run through Oct. 29. The show is also set to run in New Zealand at Te Pou Theatre March 1-10, 2024.
“Touring internationally is always fun but where we are going and who we are performing to is what really matters,” said director and co-writer Tukiwaho, according to Te Ao Māori News.
Tukiwaho said the story is rooted in his teenage years and the knowledge he acquired about the tūī bird during that period.
Producer Rachael Dubois said the cast and crew members are enthusiastic about sharing the unique work from Aotearoa in New Zealand.
“Canada is a country that leads globally in contemporary circus,” Dubois said. “We are looking forward to meeting First Nations audiences and artists in Vancouver and exchanging stories and culture … The fact that an audience can immerse in both te reo Māori and the gravity-defying cirque performances means the show is a feast for eyes, ears, and soul.”
AUSTRALIA: New fund boosts Aboriginal businesses
The Western Australian government has unveiled grants exceeding $3 million for small to medium-sized businesses primarily owned by Aboriginal people, National Indigenous Times reported on Sept. 21.
The new Local Capability Fund will give businesses specialized support to provide products, services, and projects to both the government and private sectors, officials said.
“This has resulted in more than 2,000 employment opportunities and nearly 250 apprenticeships,” said Stephen Dawson, a minister assisting the minister for state and industry development, jobs, and trade, according to National Indigenous Times.
The Aboriginal Business Round is part of the Local Capability Fund. To qualify, businesses must have at least 50 percent Aboriginal ownership, be registered with either the Aboriginal Business Directory Western Australia or Supply Nation, and have a minimum of 12 months of operational history.
The dedicated focus on Aboriginal businesses aims to enhance their economic strength and resilience while also increasing Indigenous representation in both public and private sector contracts. This initiative aligns with the government’s broader strategy to boost the competitiveness of local businesses in contract bidding processes.
Since its inception, the fund has provided $22.7 million in support to over 600 businesses, resulting in contract awards totaling more than $1 billion.
My final thoughts
My final thoughts are in northwestern China’s Xinjiang region, where authorities have completely enclosed a village of 13,500 people, imposing 24-hour surveillance and restricting their mobility to a single gate for both residents and vehicles – a blatant violation of fundamental human rights.
These actions undermine the principles of freedom, privacy, and dignity that should be accorded to all individuals, regardless of their background or location.
Such oppressive measures are deeply concerning and run counter to the values of equality and respect for human rights that are upheld by the international community. It is imperative that we voice our collective condemnation of these actions and call for immediate redress.
To move forward, authorities in Xinjiang and the broader Chinese government must respect the rights and freedoms of all individuals living within their jurisdiction.
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