G. Hotta writes: "From ethnic turmoil in Urumqi, to the prisoners at Guantanamo, the Uyghur people find themselves in the global spotlight. But what remains in the dark are Uyghur history, issues and viewpoints. To give context to events that are still un-folding, the Uyghur experience is traced through the lives to two Uyghurs in exile: mainly Alim Seytoff and Uyghur rights activist Rebiya Kadeer.

"Sandwiched between Russia, China and Central Asian nations, the Uyghurs hope to shape their own destines in the midst of powerful political forces. The shifting alliances surrounding them and their aspirations for self-determination are also the reasons that the Uyghur prisoners of Guantanamo--although deemed non-enemy combatants and ready for release--find themselves homeless and in search of a safe-haven. And for Alim Seytoff, these same political winds shape his life. Seytoff now lives in Washington DC and is Vice-President of the Uyghur American Association, whose members are from the largely Muslim, Turkic-speaking people in Sinkiang, China. As recent events have turned the spotlight on the Uyghurs, Seytoff now finds himself a spokesperson in exile.

"In June 2009, two Uyghur workers were killed and others injured in a brawl that erupted in a toy factory over the rumor of Chinese women raped by Uyghur men. Protests over their deaths in Urumqi led to confrontations between Uyghurs, Chinese and the police leaving over 180 dead, shops torn apart, and over 1,500 injured. As word of the turmoil spread on the Internet, the words 'race' and 'Han' (non-minority Chinese) were used, signaling that there's more than just political obstacles to cross." Read more

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