2 Chinese Policemen killed, 7 wounded in Xinjiang

Hostility between the Muslim Uighur ethnic minorities in Xinjiang, China and Chinese police became apparent today after an activist reported violence in the area; the first incident since said attacks during the Olympic games. Two Chinese policemen were said to be dead, and seven wounded. Apparently, eight people of the Uighur ethnic group were involved in what was said to be a "fierce gunfire." China has said that the Uighurs are trying to lead an Islamic separatist movement in Xinjiang. The ethnic group is trying to distinct themselves by way of culture and language, from the majority of Chinese. However, Chinese officials confute this claim saying that "People of various ethnic groups coexist in harmony and equality, and that the situation is generally good." The Xinjiang region has been involved in three deadly attacks during and before the Beijing Olympics. In the 1960's and 1970's the Chinese government tried to abolish the Uighurs religion and culture because they were said to be "remnants of feudalism.”
When examining this article, I began to think of similar ethnic conflict from the past, particularly the genocide in Rwanda. In both situations, there seems to be ethnic conflict between two groups that began small, and then erupted as time progressed. Also, in both instances, the government failed to recognize the problem, or tried to “look around the issue.” Though the situation in Xinjiang has not yet reached the chaos that sparked in Rwanda, it still remains a problem that in turn needs to be solved before more lives are taken. The Chinese government seems to be shielding the public from what really seems to be happening with the Uighurs and the Chinese majority. It surprises me that the U.S. does not see fit to future investigate the situation being that the conflict arose both before and during the Olympics.

http://www.newsobserver.com/1635/story/1197219.html