What happened to china ? protest in china JULY 2009

China's remote Xinjiang region, hit by violence that officials say has left scores dead, has seen a recent surge in unrest involving ethnic Uyghurs.

The Uyghurs are a mainly Sunni Muslim group found throughout Xinjiang, a vast and arid territory that straddles the ancient Silk Road trading route and forms China's western borders with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan.

With a distinct culture and Turkic-based language, Uyghurs are guaranteed equal rights and limited autonomy under China's constitution, however ethnic tensions run deep. Some Uyghurs feel threatened by the steady influx of migrants from China's overcrowded east.

Millions of Han Chinese, the country's dominant ethnic group, have migrated into Xinjiang over the past 60 years, prompting complaints that they dominate local politics, culture and commerce at the Uyghurs' expense.

The dissatisfaction has turned violent at times, including a major flashpoint in 1992 when several buses were bombed in Urumqi.

BEIJING, China -- Chinese President Hu Jintao changed plans to attend a summit of major economic powers in Italy, instead returning home to address ethnic violence raking northwestern China, state-run media reported Wednesday.

Tensions have been simmering in Urumqi, the capital of China's far-west Xinjiang region, where violent demonstrations over the weekend have left at least 156 people dead and more than 1,000 injured.

The unrest in Urumqi was brought under control with a massive presence of soldiers and anti-riot squads, the government said Tuesday. Curfews were in force in major districts of the capital.

Several small protests erupted despite the heavy police presence and were quickly defused.

More than 1,400 suspects had been detained by Tuesday morning, the Xinhua news agency said, citing government officials conducting the investigation.
Taking Hu's place at the Group of Eight economic summit this week in Italy will be Dai Bingguo, China's state councilor, Xinhua said.

Xinjiang is home to many Uyghurs. China's constitution guarantees ethnic minorities equal rights and limited autonomy. However, ethnic tensions run deep. Minority groups such as the Uyghurs complain that they are subjected to discrimination by the majority Han.

There is speculation that Sunday's protest, which took place in the predominantly Uyghur-populated Bazaar district, may have been a reaction to ethnic violence in southern China.

The violence took place late last month at a toy factory in Guangdong province, where many migrants, including Uyghurs, have moved in search of work. A massive brawl reportedly broke out between workers of Uyghur and Han nationalities. Two Uyghurs reportedly died.

Police have detained 15 suspects in connection with that incident, state-run media reported Tuesday.

RE : CNN