Lithuanian Media Publish a Signed Article by Ambassador Shen Zhifei Entitle "The Counterterrorism Efforts of the Chinese Government is Not to be Demonized"

　　2019年6月21日，驻立陶宛大使申知非在立主流媒体立陶宛论坛网发表题为《中国政府在新疆的反恐行动不容被妖魔化》的署名文章。全文如下：

　　位于中国西北边陲的新疆，是中国五个少数民族自治区之一，这是一个美丽富饶的地方，但也曾经是宗教极端主义和暴力恐怖主义严重泛滥的地方。

On June 21st, 2019, the Lithuania Tribune, published a signed article by H. E. Mr. Shen Zhifei, Chinese Ambassador to the Republic of Lithuania, entitled "The Counterterrorism Efforts of the Chinese Government is Not to be Demonized". The full text is as follows:

Situated in northwest China, Xinjiang is one of the 5 autonomous regions of ethnic minorities in China. It is a land that enjoys beautiful scenery and prosperity, but also used to be rampant with violent terrorrism and religious extremism.

　　新疆不能成为恐怖主义的乐土。20世纪90年代以来，境内外“三股势力”（民族分裂势力、宗教极端势力、暴力恐怖势力）策划并组织实施了数千起爆炸、暗杀、投毒、纵火、袭击、骚乱、暴乱等系列暴力恐怖事件，累计造成大量无辜群众罹难，数百名公安民警殉职，财产损失无法估算。2009年7月5日，境内外“东突”势力里应外合，组织策划实施了震惊中外的乌鲁木齐市打砸抢烧严重暴力犯罪事件，数千名恐怖分子在市区多处同时行动，疯狂杀害群众，袭击政府机关、公安武警、居民住所、商店、公共交通设施等。暴恐分子叫嚣“要反对突厥民族以外的一切民族”，消灭“异教徒”，肆意践踏新疆各族群众的生命权、健康权、财产权和发展权等基本人权。中国政府绝不能坐视不理，更不能允许在新疆滋生另一个“伊斯兰国”。开展反恐斗争和去极端化工作，正是中国政府切实履行职责，保障包括新疆各族人民在内的全国人民人权和正常生产、生活，还新疆各族人民一个宁静的生活，给予信教群众一个正常的环境。

Xinjiang is by no means to become the paradise for terrorism. Since the 1990s, the "three evil forces" (terrorism, extremism and separatism) in China and abroad have plotted, organized and conducted thousands of violent terrorist attacks including bombings, assassinations, poisoning, arson, assaults, unrest and riots, causing the deaths of a large number of innocent people and hundreds of police officers, as well as immeasurable property damage. On July 5, 2009, the "East Turkistan" forces inside and outside China engineered a riot in Urumqi which shocked the whole world. Thousands of terrorists attacked civilians, government organs, public security and police officers, residential houses, stores and public transportation facilities, causing 197 deaths and injuries to over 1,700, smashing and burning down 331 stores and 1,325 vehicles, and damaging many public facilities. Clamoring for "opposition to all ethnic groups other than Turks" and for the "annihilation of pagans", the horrific crimes of terrorists trampled upon the essential human rights of people of all ethnic groups in the region, such as their rights to life, health, property and development. Chinese government could by no means sit by idly and remain indifferent to that, and never allows another "ISIS" formed in Xinjiang. The fight against terrorism and extremism is exactly the responsibility that the Chinese government fullfils aimed at protecting the human right of Chinese people of all ethnic groups including those in Xinjiang.

　　中国的反恐措施不能被妖魔化。打击恐怖主义和去极端化既是世界性问题，也是世界性难题。各国普遍认识到打击恐怖主义不能局限于保持现行反恐的“硬”措施，还需要充分结合本国和本地区的实际情况，建立预防和干预的“软”手段。联合国《防止暴力极端主义行动计划》提出为受暴力极端主义影响的人群提供教育机会和经济发展机遇，鼓励其脱离暴力极端主义势力。英、法、美等国政府均出台举措，加强对受极端思想影响的人员进行早期干预。新疆立足本地区实际，深入开展反恐怖主义、去极端化斗争，坚持“一手抓打击、一手抓预防”，既依法严厉打击暴力恐怖犯罪，又重视开展源头治理，通过着力改善民生、加强法制宣传教育、依法设立职业技能教育培训中心进行帮扶教育等多种方式，最大限度保障公民的基本人权免遭恐怖主义和极端主义侵害，避免其成为恐怖主义和极端主义的另一受害者和牺牲品。职教中心组织学员学习国家唯一的通用语言—普通话和法律，并以就业为导向，为他们提供服装鞋帽加工、食品加工、电子商品组装、排版印刷、电子商务等多项知识和技能培训课程；在日常生活、饮食起居等各方面充分尊重和保护不同民族、不同信仰学员的人权和风俗习惯，最大限度保障和满足学员在学习、生活、娱乐等方面的诸多需求。通过学习培训，学员们更好地适应现代社会发展，自食其力、谋生创业，摆脱恐怖主义和宗教极端思想的影响和控制。

China's counterterrorism should not be demonized. Fighting terrorism and extremism is an issue of the world and hard nut to crack. Countries have realized that a comprehensive approach encompasses not only " hard" security-based counter-terrorism measures but also "soft" preventive steps that accord with their own conditions. Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism adopted by UN calls for providing education and economic benefits to address the underlying conditions that drive individuals to radicalize and join violent extremist groups. The governments of UK, France and US have all issued counter-terrorism strategies to underline the importance of early intervention in the cases of people under the influence of extremism. Based on its own conditions, Xinjiang has been making intensive counterterrorism and de-radicalization efforts. Upholding the principle of fighting and preventing terrorism at the same time, the autonomous region has been taking aggressive action against violent terrorist crimes, and at the same time, addressing the problem at its source. It has been making every effort to protect the fundamental human rights of citizens from violation by terrorism and extremism as well as to prevent them from becoming victims of terrorism and extremism. Specific measures include improving public wellbeing, promoting knowledge of the law through education, and offering education and aid through vocational education and training centers in accordance with the law. The trainees advance from learning the country's common language, to learning legal knowledge and vocational skills. Based on local job demand, training programs including making of garments, footwear and hats, food processing, assembly of electronic products, typesetting and printing, cosmetology and hairdressing, e-business, and other courses are provided. Human right, customs and habits of various ethnic groups and their beliefs in diet and daily life are repected and protected. Most trainees are therefore better suited to social development and modern life, able to earn a living and even run their own businesses, so as to shake off the influence and control of terrorism and extremism.