Ismail Ablimiti, Research Institute of the Department of Industry and Information Technology of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region

Recently, I learned from the media that Pompeo made a series of untrue remarks about Xinjiang, China. Pompeo’s remarks deliberately slandered the human rights situation in Xinjiang, wantonly discrediting China’s efforts to combat extremism and terrorism and maliciously attacking the Chinese government’s policy of governing Xinjiang. His behavior seriously violated the basic norms of international law and international relations, seriously interfering in China’s internal affairs, which wiped out the development achievements of Xinjiang and ignored the real feelings of the people of all ethnic groups. This exposed Pompeo’s ugliness and sinister intentions again. As an civil worker of ethnic minority who was born and raised in Xinjiang, I firmly oppose and strongly condemn Pompeo’s remarks and behavior.

Pompeo’s claim that forced labor is implemented on the Uygurs and other ethnic minorities is a total fallacy. In fact, workers of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang choose their occupations according to their own wishes and sign labor contracts with relevant enterprises in accordance with the labor law and other laws and regulations. Their rights of labor remuneration, labor safety and health, insurance and welfare are protected in accordance with the law. They have the free right to choose the place of employment, whether it is in Xinjiang or in other provincial region in China. There is no so called “forced labor” at all.

As to Xinjiang issue, Xinjiang people have the most say. Previously, I worked in a village in Markit County of Kashgar Prefecture for two years. I came to this deep understanding that harsh natural conditions are an important factor restricting economic development and the improvement of residents’ production and living standards and that weak industrial foundation, serious shortage of jobs, low agricultural income and employment difficulties will lead to the spread of poverty. Under such circumstances, the fundamental way to get rid of poverty is to transfer employment and expand employment channels. In addition to labor remuneration, they can also transfer the using right of their own land and learn certain labor skills to broaden their horizons. During our stay in the village, according to the requirements of villagers’ desirable employment place and job choices, we took the initiative to contact the enterprises in need of employees and provide employment information for the villagers, so that the masses could find opportunities to make money and get better-off. They could earn at least 3000 yuan a month at first and more than 6000 yuan after mastering the business and becoming a skillful employee. When they have a fixed income, they voluntarily stay in the enterprise to work. Some of them will take their relatives and friends to work together when they return from home to work during the holidays. At present, there are more and more villagers in the village who make money, broaden their horizons and improve the quality of life by going out to work. The villagers who go out to work are all out of their own will and are not restricted. There is no forced labor as Pompeo said.

At present, Xinjiang is in its best development period in history. Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, great changes are taking place in all the places around Tianshan Mountains. Unprecedented achievements have been made in economic and social development, improvement of people’s livelihood, ethnic unity, and protection of human rights. These changes are obvious to all in the world, and can not be wiped out by Pompeo’s nonsense.