China considering anti-terror law for Xinjiang province
1 March 2014 5:34 AM IST
Authorities are keen to clamp down on unrest that has killed more than 100 people during the past year in the resource-rich region, where tensions have long simmered between a large Muslim Uighur minority and growing numbers of ethnic Han Chinese.
Work on the anti-terror law is planned to start this year, although finalising a draft may take several years, legislative official Bo Xiao told the China Daily. ‘The legislation is in the second phase of this year’s legislative work plan,’ said Bo, director of a regional law-drafting body, adding that discussion now centred on the feasibility and impact of the law.
China uses its Criminal Law to tackle what it calls terror-related crimes in Xinjiang, but regional officials consider this inadequate for some cases. Some have said Muslim extremists there receive help from militants in neighbouring countries.
While authorities adopt a tougher stance against dissent in Xinjiang, many Uighurs resent curbs on their culture and religion, though Beijing says it grants them broad freedoms.
Work on the anti-terror law is planned to start this year, although finalising a draft may take several years, legislative official Bo Xiao told the China Daily. ‘The legislation is in the second phase of this year’s legislative work plan,’ said Bo, director of a regional law-drafting body, adding that discussion now centred on the feasibility and impact of the law.
China uses its Criminal Law to tackle what it calls terror-related crimes in Xinjiang, but regional officials consider this inadequate for some cases. Some have said Muslim extremists there receive help from militants in neighbouring countries.
While authorities adopt a tougher stance against dissent in Xinjiang, many Uighurs resent curbs on their culture and religion, though Beijing says it grants them broad freedoms.
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