Gov't to pay out 100m yuan to riots victims

By Mu Qian and Cui Jia (chinadaily.com.cn/Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-07-09 07:23

URUMQI: The government will provide compensation to those victims of the riots in Urumqi as soon as possible, an official said Wednesday.

A total amount of 100 million yuan ($14 million) of consolation money will be given to victims of the July 5 riots, Urumqi Mayor Jerla Isamudin told reporters.

The deadliest riots in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region in decades have left 156 people dead and more than 1,000 injured on Sunday.

"More than 100 people killed by rioters have been identified," the mayor said, adding that police are using DNA technology to identify the dead.

Streets Back to Normal

The Party chief of Urumqi Li Zhi told a televised news conference Wednesday afternoon that Urumqi was stable after several days of ethnic violence.

Li said security forces had control of the streets.

Many people accused of murder had already been detained and that most were students, according to Li.

Gov't to pay out 100m yuan to riots victims

Although an overnight traffic curfew has ended, traffic restrictions were imposed on major streets, with armed police on guard or patrolling. Armored personnel carriers were standing by as helicopters hovering overhead.

People began to emerge in the streets Wednesday, but Xinhua reporters said they saw less traffic in the morning, and even fewer buses.

The city has about 1,000 buses, of which 190 were damaged or torched in the riot.

Urumqi Airport was crowded with people anxious to leave. Those who were not able to obtain a ticket swarmed nearby hotels.

"We fear Xinjiang is not safe anymore," said a passenger who refused to be named.

Sporadic standoffs and minor clashes were still reported, according to the Xinhua News Agency, which did not give any details.

Some restaurants and supermarkets opened Wednesday, but most were still closed.

Women hustled to store extra groceries and some office workers were given a day off.

At a roadside morning market, where 50 armed police were patrolling, at least one-third of the stalls were empty.

Prices of vegetables were generally two- to three-times higher than normal.

A kg of haricot beans, previously 2 yuan (about 30 cents), was sold for 6 yuan, while potatoes, originally 1.5 yuan, soared to 3.5 yuan per kg.

Li Gang, a local resident, said his company gave the workers a day off and asked them not to leave their houses.

"I know from the news report that many rioters were arrested," he said.

"Now that the streets are guarded and helicopters are hovering, I think social order could be restored."