POST COLONIALISM AND EAST TURKESTAN

Ethnocentrism is termed when one culture sees itself as superior to another in a clash of cultures. Ethnocentrism comes from one group seeing itself as better than another group. It shows through both within the group (internal unity and loyalty) and between groups (preference, superiority, purity, and exploitation) discussions. At the core of ethnocentrism lies the assumption that the criteria of one's own ethnic or cultural group are universal. This approach is closely associated with attitudes such as racism, prejudice, xenophobia, narrow-mindedness, and, generally, an authoritarian personality. It is argued that this perspective is also linked to tendencies of insecurity, right-wing ideologies, and a propensity to vote for extreme right-wing positions. This leads to a lack of understanding and empathy towards another culture, and the sense of superiority breeds conflict and discord. In turn, this challenges cross-cultural understanding in international relations. Experiencing cultural differences in cultures that perceive themselves as superior can lead to various power dynamics, ranging from imposing one's beliefs or practices on another culture to forcing assimilation.

The language and religion of the dominant culture can sometimes be used as a form of pressure or suppression. If the dominant culture imposes its language and religion, it suppresses other diversities, making various forms of oppression easier.

• Dominant cultures can impose their language as the only accepted and primary language in education, government, media, and other official domains. This can suppress the use and development of other languages, gradually leading to their oblivion.
• The suppression of minority languages can result in the loss of cultural identity and heritage for those communities.

All these situations illustrate what a culture can do when it perceives itself as superior to other cultures.

An exemplary case for these situations could be the events happening in East Turkestan. Totalitarian countries like China tend to disregard minority rights and view minorities as second-class citizens. Governments in such countries use "fear" and "threat" elements to ensure compliance with rules. China is prominently known for violating minority rights, particularly concerning the Uighur Turks in East Turkestan.

East Turkestan, with an area of over 1,828,400 km2 and an estimated population ranging from 13 to 25 million, has been a perpetual target of various invasions and persecutions throughout history due to its strategic geographical location and abundant natural resources. In the second half of the 18th century, this Turkic land was invaded by the Chinese-Manchu empire, marking the beginning of Chinese oppression that continues to this day. Chinese authorities create artificial disputes and hostilities between East Turkestan Turks and weakened Western and Southern Turkistan to prevent potential assistance or alliances. They initially appear as friends to the East Turkestan Turks, offering them unconditional and unlimited gifts to make them dependent. Later, they incite and provoke them against central authority, leading to uprisings, ultimately succeeding in taking control of the region.

Around 1200 years ago, the great Turkic Khagan and Commander Bilge Khagan drew attention to the tactics of the Chinese with the following words:

"altun kümüş işgiti kutay bungsuz ança birür tabgaç bodun sabı sügiç agısı yımşak ermiş sügiç sabın yımşak agın arıp ırak bodugun ança yagutır ermiş yaguru konukda kisre anyıg bilig anda öyür ermiş:”

"The words of the Chinese people who give gold, silver, silk, and cloth without expecting anything in return are sweet; their gifts are soft (valuable). With these sweet words and soft (valuable) gifts, the Chinese people deceive distant nations and bring them closer to themselves. After bringing them closer (making them dependent), they then think of their mischief at that time."

Finally, with significant support from the Russians, the Chinese gained complete control over the region in 1950. Subsequently, they implemented plans, starting with a policy of "digestion," which aimed at eliminating the elites. In 1956, the Communist Chinese Government granted autonomy, and the region was renamed Xinjiang. The Chinese attempted to govern these lands by dividing them into 1 central city, 8 provinces, and 5 autonomous counties.

Chinese authorities gradually settled Chinese people and other non-Turkic nations under their rule in this region with a Turkic majority. The goal here is to reduce the East Turkestan Turks to a minority in their own homeland. Due to China's strategic position and rich natural resources, they have never wanted to relinquish East Turkestan, leading them to divide and fragment it into provinces and achieve their goals one by one. In 1952 alone, the number of intellectuals killed by the Chinese was 120,000.

In East Turkestan, human rights violations continue to occur in terms of civil, political, economic, and social rights. These violations include arbitrary arrests, torture, and execution, as well as the forced transfer of young Uighur women to western Chinese cities for harsh labor conditions. The policy of "bilingual education" has led to the elimination of the Uighur language, and there are restrictions on worship and travel.

Since 2002, Uighur language and literature courses have been eliminated from Xinjiang University, the largest university in East Turkestan. This policy has extended to the primary education level, resulting in the prohibition of the use of the Uighur language in all kindergartens, primary schools, and middle schools in Xinjiang, with a decision to conduct education only in Mandarin.

Efforts are being made to take Uighur Turks to detention camps to make them forget their identity, past, language, and religion. While Beijing denies the allegations, it promotes these structures built throughout East Turkestan to the world as "education centers," "rehabilitation centers," or "vocational training centers."

Edward Boyd, the founder of Earthrise, says, "I quickly found 80 camps. Most of them look alike because they use the same method." China's 'counter-terrorism security measures' extend beyond these camps.

Even rural villages with very low populations are under the scrutiny of security forces, and numerous spies are placed in these areas. In places where many spies are deployed, not even a bird is left to fly freely. The Chinese government, which strictly denies access to visiting journalists, allows selected media groups to visit camps surrounded by thick walls, equipped with security cabins, observation towers, and barbed wire, portraying them as "education centers," "rehabilitation centers," or "vocational training centers."

Chinese police in Kashgar detain Uighur Turks, covering their heads with black veils, and take them to unknown camps. Local residents state that those who are detained never return home. It is almost impossible to see young men in the streets except for security officials and occasional tourists.

In East Turkestan, atrocities, massacres, and oppression continue to escalate over time.

 

 

 

References

 

Alyılmaz, C. (2010). Doğu Türkistan. Journal of Atatürk University Institude of Turkic Studies, 157-170.

 

Bağ, M. (2020, Temmuz 8). “Chinese torture” of Uyghurs: what is happening in East Turkestan? Euronews Website:

https://tr.euronews.com/2020/07/08/uygurlara-cin-iskencesi-dogu-turkistan-da-neler-oluyor

 

Bakır, A. (2008). The Importance of East Turkestan History in terms of Turkish Cultural History. Journal of Turkic World Studies, 35-39.

 

Çınar, G. (Director). (2021). Katarsis X-TRA: Toplama Kamplarında Yaşananlar - Meryem Sultan. On October 22, 2021 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMACTeo7QuY

 

Eskişar, G. K. (n.d.). Ethnocentrism. Tübitak Science and Society Presidency Popular Science Publications, 16.

 

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