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https://theconversation.com/can-china-use-the-beijing-olympics-to-sportwash-its-abuses-against-the-uyghurs-only-if-the-world-remains-silent-175922>
"Many issues have cast a shadow over the Beijing Winter Olympics in recent
weeks, from China’s controversial “zero-COVID” approach to the looming
possibility of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.
One issue should be getting more attention: what I and other scholars are
calling the “Xinjiang emergency” – the mass detention of between one million
and two million Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslim minorities in China’s western
Xinjiang region.
To many observers, China attempted to sportwash its human rights abuses in
Xinjiang by selecting a cross-country skier of Uyghur origin to take part in
the lighting of the Olympic cauldron during the opening ceremonies of the
games.
Although the move attracted criticism from human rights activists, there’s been
virtual silence from governments and corporate sponsors on the Uyghur issue
since the Olympics began. Without any real action to put pressure on Beijing,
China’s propaganda machine will continue to deflect accountability, instead
touting the false narrative that Uyghurs enjoy a “peaceful, harmonious and
happy life”."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
