The photo taken on Aug. 2, 2009 shows a letter written by family members of Rebiya Kadeer to relatives of the victims in the riot in Urumqi on July 5. Family members of Rebiya Kadeer have asked her not to organize violence or undermine the peaceful life in Xinjiang, in letters made public on Monday.
Following is the full text of a letter to families of the victims in July 5 riot, which was written by Rebiya Kadeer's family living in China on July 24. The letter was originally written in Uygur language:
We are Rebiya Kadeer's younger brother Memet, son Khahar and daughter Roxingul.
On July 5, 2009, a violent riot happened in the beautiful city of Urumqi, home to all of us, with more than 200 innocent people dead, several thousand others injured, hundreds of vehicles burnt and severe damage to people's properties. Evidence proved the riot was organized by the World Uygur Congress (WUC), led by our mother (sister) Rebiya Kadeer, and implemented by a group of separatists within the Chinese borders.
After our mother (sister) Rebiya Kadeer was on parole for medical treatment and left for the United States in 2005, she was involved in separatist activities with "three forces" (separatism, terrorism and extremism) abroad, provoked by some anti-China forces. After an incident between Uygur and Han workers of a factory in Shaoguan of southern Guangdong Province broke out on June 26, she exaggerated the facts and distorted the truth on the Internet, raising the death toll from two to more than 50, and posted counterfeit pictures, which triggered the riot. Our mother (sister) Rebiya Kadeer and the WUC could not shrug off their responsibility to the riot and they must be punished.
Six hours before the riot happened on July 5, we received a phone call from our mother (sister) Rebiya Kadeer, warning us there would be a "big incident". We are very angry and ashamed after the riot happened. Those who committed crimes should take the responsibility. We were not involved in the riot. We are innocent and we are victims as well. As her family members, we are very angry about the riot organized by our mother (sister) to separate the country. We feel sorry for the victims and their families. You must be still in deep sorrow of losing your loved ones though more than half a month has passed. We can do nothing but to apologize. In addition, we hope all Uygur brothers not to believe what our mother (sister) said. We, from different ethnic groups, should be friend one another and contribute to the making of a stable, beautiful and happy Xinjiang.
Khahar (son of Rebiya Kadeer)
Roxingul (daughter of Rebiya Kadeer)
Memet (younger brother of Rebiya Kadeer)