Maimaiti Yiming, Cotton Planter of Yiwu County, Hami City

My name is Maimaiti Yiming and I am a normal farmer. I am working on over 100 mu of cotton field in Yizhou District, Hami (City) and I am also running a restaurant in Yiwu County. I am enjoying a happy life now.

In daily time I and my two sons work on the cotton field together, using sowing machine to sow seed, employing scientific methods in managing the field and in harvest season employing workers to pick up ripe cotton. The planting is easy and we are happy to do the work. In recent years, by planting cotton, I increased income, moved my family from an old house to a new apartment and also bought private cars for my two sons. The life is getting nicer and nicer each day. I am also planning to open a cotton processing factory with the money earned by planting cotton, so that I could make more income by processing cotton and make cotton products. On the other hand, I can also help my fellow villagers in working diligently and making more money. This is my expectation, for which I believe it will be realized surely.

Recently, I read from news that some western and American anti-China forces and companies smeared and slandered Xinjiang, made up the rumor and lie that there was “forced labor” in cotton planting in Xinjiang and claimed to stop using cotton produced in Xinjiang. This is just sheer nonsense. I plant cotton with my total own free will and choice and the workers came to my field to pick up cotton in the same way. A skillful cotton picker can earn about 300-400 yuan and some even could earn as much as 500 yuan for a single day. Of course if one picks up more, he/she is sure to earn more. The working hours are flexible and I provide them with free delicious food and cozy lodging. All of them think that this is a really nice job and every one is eager to do the work in the harvest season. They often make contact with me long before the harvest season to make agreement on coming to my field to work. I just could not figure out: where does “forced labor” come from, as claimed by these companies?

Cotton makes us rich and wealthy and improves our living condition. It makes our life nicer and nicer each day and that is the truth and facts. I want to tell these western and American forces and companies: you know nothing about Xinjiang at all! You know nothing about the diligent and hardworking Xinjiang people. Take back your foolish prejudice, your rumor and lie and your smear and slander! All these are futile. Xinjiang people’s happy life is the best proof to refute your shameless rumor and lie!