The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kyrgyzstan reported that it had broken up a band of terrorists called the "Uyghur Liberation Organization." Militant Uyghur extremists established the "Uyghur Liberation Organization" several years ago in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China to struggle against Chinese government oppression of its Uyghur population. Kyrgyzstan, which borders Xinjiang and where more than 50,000 Uyghurs live, has become the central stage for the Uyghurs to exact vengeance against Han Chinese and Uyghur "collaborators" with the Chinese state. On March 28, 2000 in Bishkek, Nigmat Bazakov a leader of Uyghur diaspora was shot to death near his home. According to Kyrgyzstan investigators, Bazakov was killed because he had refused to cooperate with the "Uyghur Liberation Organization" and proclaimed that he would not intervene in the internal affairs of China.

The death of Bazakov, who had enjoyed great authority in Kyrgyzstan, was the first chain in the bloody terror unleashed in Kyrgyzstan by extremists. Terrorists executed Uyghur Chinese government representatives who were on an economic mission and were investigating the visa situation of Uyghurs temporarily living in Kyrgyzstan. Terrorists had been on the watch for guests near their hotel and fired multiple shots into the car the guests were riding in. As a result, one of the Chinese officials was killed and two others were wounded. Two Kyrgyz bystanders were also wounded. The terrorists after their arrest stated that the Uyghur officials from Xinijang were oppressing their fellow Uyghurs in Kashgar and collaborating with the Chinese.

According to the Kyrgyzstan Minister of Internal affairs, ten members of the "Uyghur Liberation Organization" are in jail. They were arrested in possession of falsified passports from the USA, China, Turkey, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. In one arrest, a pistol, two hand-grenades, a sub-machine-gun made in Chechnya, handcuffs, camouflage uniforms, as well as satellite and cellular phones were confiscated. On June 20 in the Osh region of Kyrgyzstan, a Uyghur named Hayrullo Umin from Xinjiang, was taken as a hostage. The kidnappers demanded US$ 15,000 from his relatives in exchange for his life. During the hostage crisis, the captive lived in the basement of a house in a remote village and was made to wear a camouflage uniform, learn to fire pistols and pledge loyalty to the terrorist organization. After receipt of US$ 10,000, the Uyghur terrorists set Hayrullo Umin free, and escaped with the ransom money to international terrorists training camps in Pakistan.

Uyghur terrorists been involved in political crimes as well as economically motivated ones. Uyghur extremists are working in China, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. Some of terrorists had been fighting in Chechnya, Tajikistan and Afghanistan and train in the international terrorist camps. Extremists were divided into groups of five, and knew only the members of their groups. Identification documents and names were changed to allow the terrorists to cross borders undetected. The ages of detained extremists are from 20 to 35 years. Drugs and alcohol do not appear to have been used. Members of the "Uyghur Liberation Organization" continue to be sought in Central Asia through a collaboration among special agencies of China, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Aziz Soltobaev, student of American University in Kyrgyzstan, Economics faculty.