Barin uprising

Barin uprising
Part of the Xinjiang conflict

Chinese soldiers and militiamen escort Uyghurs captured in the uprising.
Date4–10 April 1990
Location39°05′52″N 75°47′14″E / 39.09778°N 75.78722°E / 39.09778; 75.78722
Result Chinese government victory
Belligerents

East Turkistan Islamic Party[a] (Chinese government claim)


Free Turkistan Movement (CRS report claim)
 People's Republic of China
Commanders and leaders
  • Zeydun Yusup 
  • Abduhani Tursun (POW)
  • Jamal Mehmut (POW)

Abdul Kasim (CRS report claim)
  • Xu Xinjian 
  • Eli Yasin (WIA)
  • Wu Yong (WIA)
  • Tian Chongfeng 
  • Mehmut Eli
Units involved
Strength
200–300 men Initially: 130 armed police
Reinforcements on 5 April: 100+ soldiers and militiamen
Casualties and losses
16 killed
6 wounded
232 captured
7 killed
15 wounded
5 captured (all rescued)
Barin uprising is located in Xinjiang
Barin uprising
Location of Barin Township in Xinjiang, China

The Barin uprising (see also § Names) was an armed conflict between Uyghur militants and Chinese government forces from 4 to 10 April 1990 in the township of Barin (or Baren) in Xinjiang, China. Violence began on the evening of 4 April, when a group of 200 to 300 Uyghur men attempted to breach the gates of the local government office in a protest against alleged forced abortions of Uyghur women and Chinese rule in Xinjiang. The arrival of 130 armed police to quell the unrest was immediately met with armed resistance by militants among the crowd. Initial clashes that evening left six policemen dead and 13 wounded. The militants also captured five policemen, while the armed police captured 19 militants.

The armed police called for reinforcements from the People's Liberation Army (PLA) the next day, following two failed attempts at negotiations and a prisoner exchange. The uprising ended shortly after the arrival of Chinese reinforcements, with most militants surrendering but some fleeing to the Kunlun Mountains. The escaped militants were all eventually captured by the PLA from 6 to 10 April. Analysts and scholars generally consider the Barin uprising to be a watershed moment in Xinjiang's history which caused the Chinese government to tighten its policies in the region.


Cite error: There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or {{efn}} templates on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} template or {{notelist}} template (see the help page).