The Uygur are a Turkic/Muslim ethnic group numbering some 7 million who live mainly in economically and strategically important north western border region known as Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

A Caucasian race and speaking Turkic language Uygur have long harbored sentiments of independence and there were several isolated incidences of violence perpetrated in 1990s by individuals or small groups claiming to represent this cause. More realistically today Uygur generally seek nothing more than greater autonomy and cultural integrity within PRC

The Chinese have repeatedly claimed that there existed several well organised and active "separatist/ terrorist" organisations whose objective were for Uygur to gain independence from China and establishment of state of East Turkestan.

They have attributed some 400 terrorist acts to these groups which they claim have resulted in 200 deaths and 400 injured to these groups since 1990.

On basis of this "organised" and "ongoing" terrorist activity PRC has very heavily cracked down on any form of dissent, rights of association, free speech and religious freedom. Amnesty International, among other groups and commentators, has claimed numerous incidence of unlawful detention, prison sentences and even executions in name of "War on Terrorism".

It is also claimed, by some who are knowledgeable in "Uygur Question", that like some other states in Central Asia and elsewhere, China have used events of "9/11" and subsequent "War on Terrorism" to mask ongoing and premeditated attacks on this ethnic group. By bringing their policies concerning Uygur under banner of The "War" they have been successful in achieving their objectives without international scrutiny, and further, in fact, likes of US have turned a "blind eye" to these activities as a trade off for Chinese support.

It is good to send aid to quake victims. But it cannot stop terrorists and nukes.

What people of Bam didn't suffer in hands of leaders of 'rogue state' of Iran, was inflicted on them by an earthquake. So city of about 80,000 souls had her population reduced by half by fateful hand of 'nature.' But I am not going to talk of miracles. Like unearthing of a man in a closet after two weeks. No, doctors had better explain that.

I am only interested in how this member of infamous 'Axis of Evil' suddenly became beloved country after disaster.

Not that this was only sin of Iran. Back in day, country had taken hostage of Americans. This Islamic state had also been guilty of gross human rights violations. And it is fingered to be hiding nukes--make it weapons of mass destruction. This is besides several alleged terrorists' hideouts in that 'outlaw regime.' But now, thank God for earthqake. Because what man would neither achieve by declaring Year of Peace nor by praying for peace in Rome, is going to be brought about by maddening of earth.

There was general sympathy for Iran after quake. All country's enemies came to her rescue. Even one of her obdurate enemies sent large sums of money, relief materials and disaster management experts to Iran. That country even planned to send a high level representatio to Iran, but this was randomly rebuffed.