China's lawmakers, political advisors urge harsh crackdown

BEIJING - China's legislators and political advisors have expressed their support for an iron-fist crackdown on terrorism after a bloody killing spree by Xinjiang separatists left 29 civilians dead in the country late Saturday.

"We should launch a nationwide campaign against such terrorist activities and resolutely fight the terrorists," said Yin Zhuo, director of the Expert Consultation Committee of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy.

"The well-planned attack was not an issue of ethnics or religion, it was an issue of terrorism with links to the terrorist forces out of the country," said Yin, who is also a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

His remarks came hours after knife-wielding separatists from Xinjiang killed 29 and injured over 140 in a train terminal in southwest China' s Kunming City.

Chen Shu, a deputy to the National People's Congress (NPC), the country's top legislature, urged a "quick and harsh crackdown on the terrorist activists."

"The attack against innocent civilians was a crime against the humanity," said Chen, who is also the honorary chairman of the Lawyers' Association of Guangzhou City in south China's Guangdong Province. "All countries should join hands to fight terrorist activities like this one."

Muhanmetemin Yasin, a member of the NPC Standing Committee, said the violent attackers are enemies of all ethnic groups in China.

"As a country governed by law, we should severely punish those criminals and protect the interests of the people and the nation," said Yasin, who is from Xinjiang.

The terrorists' purpose is to instigate hatred and disunity among different ethnic groups and sabotage the country's stability, said Ashar Tursun, another NPC deputy from Xinjiang.

"The anti-separatism battle in Xinjiang is long-term, complicated and arduous," said Tursun, adding that people from all ethnic groups are clear-headed and know well the separatists' menacing intention.

"We should be united and focus on Xinjiang's social and economic development," he said.

The NPC and CPPCC National Committee annual sessions are scheduled to open this week in Beijing, where the country's lawmakers and political advisors are convening.