Xinjiang police launch new crackdown on knives and separatist propaganda
Explosives and separatist propaganda on banned list too amid crackdown after recent violence; rewards offered for tips on militants
Xinjiang police launched a new crackdown on the possession of knives, explosives and separatist propaganda yesterday, and offered rewards of up to 100,000 yuan (HK$125,400) for clues leading to the arrest of separatists.
The ban on knives longer than 22cm - their blades must be no longer than 15cm - appeared to be a first of its kind for the restive western region.
Residents were ordered to hand over all banned materials within 10 days or face "severe punishment", the region's public security bureau said.
Regional Communist Party secretary Zhang Chunxian reiterated that stability was the top political priority. The region has witnessed a new outbreak of violence and unrest in recent days, with 35 people killed in one incident alone.
Authorities have blamed the incidents on "terrorist" and separatist elements, which they say have had help from overseas.
Pan Zhiping , a Central Asian affairs specialist at the Xinjiang Academy of Social Sciences, said the ban on knives would be difficult to enforce in Xinjiang, where residents often carry blades for everyday use.
"The length limit of 22cm is rather tight as such knives are not uncommon for household uses," Pan said. "This shows the pressure on keeping stability in Xinjiang is very serious now."
