User:Tewpiq/East Turkistan Government in Exile

The East Turkistan Government in Exile (ETGIE) was established on September 14, 2004 in Washington D.C. by East Turkistani immigrants under the leadership of Anwar Yusuf Turani. ETGIE is a government organization which claims that its mission is to seek independence for East Turkistan from the People's Republic of China by providing information to the international community about East Turkistan, developing contacts with the press, fostering alliances with like-minded groups and individuals, and sharing the culture of East Turkistanis throughout the world. ETGIE makes it clear that it does not see the people of China as the oppressor, but sees the problem to be the Chinese occupation of East Turkistan.

Hu Jintao Statement
The East Turkistan Government in Exile represented the people of East Turkistan in the rally against Chinese President Hu Jintao upon his visit to the United States on April 20, 2006 in front of the White House. Prime Minister Anwar Yusuf Turani spoke to hundreds of rally participants concerning the constant persecution of the people of East Turkistan under the People's Republic of China.

Public Awareness Advocacy

 * Press Release of the official establishment of ETGIE on November 22, 2004 at the National Press Club in Washington D.C. Topics included in this press conference were the history and current political situation of East Turkistan, purpose of the establishment of ETGIE, and the legitimacy and structure of the government.
 * ETGIE regularly issues press releases in the native Uyghur language to educate the people of East Turkistan of their history and situation, and to show them the right path towards their independence. Most recently, ETGIE has issued a press release concerning the life of Abdul Eziz Mekhsum, a Uyghur patriot who spent 50 years of his life in the dungeons and prisons of China for the independence of the East Turkistani people.  Additionally, ETGIE recently issued another press release in which the government addressed the issue and its position on the twenty-two innocent East Turkistani Uyghurs held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.


 * ETGIE has taken more of a viral approach through the World Wide Web in an attempt to increase public awareness of East Turkistan.  ETGIE has two YouTube channels with over 150 videos concerning the East Turkistan situation.
 * Prime Minister Anwar Yusuf Turani traveled to Salt Lake City, Utah in an effort to increase public awareness of East Turkistan by speaking and performing his music in front of 2000 people at the annual WorlDance concert held at Kingsbury Hall on November 3, 2011.

International Conference at Yalva, Turkey
The East Turkistan Government in Exile took part in an international conference sponsored by the Turkic Cultural and Folklore Association at Yalva, Turkey from July 12, 2005 - July 15, 2005. During this conference, multiple organizations banded together to promote the cause of East Turkistan by discussing the history, culture, current political situation, and the future of nation.

China's Reaction


The People's Republic of China opposed the formation of the East Turkistan Government in Exile by connecting it with the East Turkistan Islamic Movement that was deemed a terrorist organization by the United States at the request of China prior to the Iraq invasion. To follow up on their warning of the East Turkistan Government in Exile, China sent a special delegation to the United States. There was no immediate reaction by the United States towards China's warning. The apparent reason of Chinese opposition to the establishment of ETGIE is the Chinese claim that East Turkistan (Xinjiang) has been a part of China since the times of the Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-A.D. 24) Furthermore, ETGIE claims that China is using Uyghur activists against the East Turkistan Government in Exile in attempt to destroy its credibility and weaken the independence movement.

Ever since the creation of the East Turkistan Government in Exile, China has pressured other countries into not recognizing ETGIE, as seen with Turkey's detainment of ETGIE's Prime Minister Anwar Yusuf Turani at the Atatürk International Airport and his forced withdrawal from the country on July 9, 2005 even though he had received a visa before passing customs. Consequently, the government in exile took part in an international conference held in Bursa, Turkey without Prime Minister Turani.

Status
As the successor of the former independent East Turkistan Republics established in Kashgar (12 November 1933) and Ghulja (12 November 1944) in East Turkistan, ETGIE claims that it is the only legitimate government organization abroad which represents the voice of the people of East Turkistan who want nothing but complete independence from China.

Constitution
The government officials of ETGIE completed the final draft of its constitution prior to the establishment of the government on September 14, 2004. The constitution was officially announced at the National Press Club in Washington D.C on November 22, 2004. The constitution "has been written according to the common national volition of East Turkistani emigrants who have been living in exile since the occupation of East Turkistan by Communist China in October, 1949 and aims to provide measure, to insure that the people of East Turkistan and their children live in liberty and, to show the true path of what the people of East Turkistan must go through after they attain their independence."

The National Anthem of the Republic of East Turkistan

Government Structure
Government Structure: President, Cabinet, and Parliament

President: Hussayin Qari Turkistani; Vice-President: Mohammet Zunun Islami; Cabinet: Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, Interior Minister, Minister of Culture, Minister of Justice, Minister of Finance, Minister of Religion, Minister of Education, Minister of National Defense, Spokes-Person

Government Officials


 * Prime Minister: Anwar Yusuf Turani
 * Assistant Prime Minister: Erkin Ezizi Qaraxan
 * Foreign Minister: Turkel Anwar Artish
 * Interior Minister: Abdulla Tursun Abdulhaq
 * Minister of Culture: Sultan Muhemmet Sayrami
 * Minister of Justice: Edibe Abliz Qeshqeri
 * Minister of Finance: Turghun Hudaberdi Samani
 * Minister of Religion: Bilal Ibrahim
 * Minister of Education: Mehbube Uyghur Qizi
 * Minister of National Defence: Abdul Eziz Mehsum Turani
 * Minister of Information: Jelil Qaraqash Uyghur
 * Spokes-person: Erkin Eziz Qarahan (Turkey)
 * Spokes-person: Nursadik Mustafa (Europe)
 * Spokes-person: Abdullah Tursun Qarghaliq (Asia)
 * Spokes-person: Abaidolla Juma (Central Asia)

Parliament: Consists of 61 members.