Reports of the Uyghur Genocide, including statements in China’s own media and documents, have unquestionably proven its existence. Therefore, the 19-17 vote not to hold a debate about Chinese human rights abuses against the Uyghurs at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) was not just a matter of recognizing the Uyghur Genocide, but a manifestation of the shifting global geopolitics that stifle the discussion of global injustice.
The result of the vote neither surprised nor disappointed the Uyghurs. The residents of Kashgar, who are known for their humorous speeches, called the United Nations the “Dirtified Nations” as a way to ridicule the expectation of justice from the UNHRC.
So why this attitude? Let’s begin by examining the 19 votes that sided with China and rejected the draft resolution. Cuba, Bolivia, and other countries’ votes were nothing more than a cover-up of human rights violations in their countries. They want to prevent future discussions about anything like the Uyghur situation.
According to the Atajurt Kazakh Human Rights Organization in Kazakhstan, tens of thousands of Kazaks are detained in camps in East Turkistan; they are targets of the Uyghur genocide because of their blood and cultural brotherhood with the Uyghurs. If Kazakhstan cannot support its own Kazakhs, it will not support the Uyghurs. Additionally, there are no people closer to Uzbekistan in terms of blood and cultural brotherhood than the Uyghurs. Uyghurs and Uzbeks can speak to one another without an interpreter. Humanity begins with caring for one’s fellow man. Therefore, the votes of these two countries indicate that Central Asia has not become independent. They highlight Central Asian countries’ reliance on China (and Russia) amid the difficult situation in Russia and Ukraine today and the geographical distance of the United States and the West.
The voices of Pakistan and Nepal are a clear example of countries seeking food for their hungry and growing populations from China’s Belt and Road Initiative. This quest for food is not only pathetic but also disgusting because the food comes from Uyghur blood drawn by China’s hand.
Votes from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are also unrelated to the Uyghurs. These are a shameless display of egotistical Arab kings and princes who are greedy for more money and power.
What should Cameroon, Eritrea, Gabon, and other countries that cannot feed their own people and are violating their rights do about the Uyghurs? Faced with the choice between Chinese investment and human rights, they chose China.
The U.N.’s human rights body should not be “used for purposes of political rivalry,” Indonesia said Friday after it voted against Uyghurs. Do they mean to say it is ok to use human rights for monetary gain and sell Uyghur blood?! Indonesia has deported a Uyghur refugee Ahmet Bozoghlan to China just three months before the vote. And this wasn’t their first time selling Uyghurs for Chinese support.
As the largest Muslim country in the world, Indonesia clearly chose money over its brothers in the faith.
Conversely, African, Middle Eastern, and Latin American votes showed conscious or unconscious expressions of resentment toward European and American colonialism in the past.
Most curious were the 11 abstentions, including India, Malaysia, and Brazil.
According to the dictionary of Human Ethics, there is no middle ground in ongoing murder and genocide in the world. Impartiality cannot include siding with a murderer. If there is no middle ground on murder and genocide, isn’t neutrality the same as supporting the murderer?! Thus, the 11 abstaining countries silently admitted they knew about the Uyghur genocide, but were unable or unwilling to stand against China. Of course, that neutrality handed China victory. Although Ukraine renounced its neutrality the next day, it was too late.
Notably, the 19 votes against the resolution further show that the United States is handing over its role on the international stage to China. Other countries have noticed this and are now lining up behind Beijing — genocide or not. This is not due to a lack of American power but rather because of naiveté and a foolish strategy to try to change China by embracing it.
China’s willingness to commit genocide against the Uyghurs stems not only from its state power but also from its belief that with the majority of the world’s population in poverty, ties to like-minded dictators are key to China’s global standing. Beijing believed could achieve numerical superiority over the United States at the United Nations by leveraging grievances and economic aid — and it was correct.
The 17 countries, including the US, France, and Japan, confirmed that the hopes of the Uyghurs are not baseless. The Uyghurs have been fighting for their national existence and independence for 70 years and have had millions imprisoned for 6 years. They are not giving up their efforts because their source of strength is one Americans in particular can relate to.
The source of the Uyghurs’ hope and strength is God first, then humanity. The 17 votes cast in support of the draft are a declaration that when people are freed from economic needs and establish a just political system, they can protect themselves, live humanely, and protect and encourage other human beings to do the same. This was how the United States viewed itself at its 1776 founding. (RELATED: RICHENDOLLAR: The Constitution Has A Soul)
The 17 voices declared that humanity exists and that the reign of justice will come one day. When hunger has been reduced, nations will be freed from dictators, and justice will prevail.
Let me repeat that the 19 votes against and 11 neutral votes regarding the Uyghur proposal were not necessarily about the Uyghur situation, but a reflection of global problems and rivalries. The 17 votes in favor were not about the Uyghurs’ blood, culture, and interests. Rather, they were about human responsibility. The 19 voices backed evil in the world, while 17 voices stood up for the noble nature of humanity – a positive sign for the future of the religious nations of the world, including the Uyghurs. However, The United States and its allies cannot afford to let their influence and principles be pushed aside lest China export its model of dictatorship – and its model for dealing with minorities such as the Uyghurs — worldwide. The UN vote is yet another lesson to that end.
Kok Bayraq is a Uyghur political dissident and journalist who left China after ‘trouble with the authorities’ and writes under a pseudonym to speak freely on the Uyghur genocide.
The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of the Daily Caller.