Xi Jinping's radical move. New regulations divide families

China's façade parliament almost unanimously adopted a law on “ethnic unity” on Thursday, which human rights activists say will formalize the forced assimilation of minorities. The regulations require, among others: the use of Mandarin as the main language in education and public life, limiting the rights of local communities.

The bill, approved by the National People's Congress by a vote of 2,756 to 3, aims to build a “community of Chinese people.”

“People of every ethnic group, all organizations, armed forces and companies must build a common consciousness of the Chinese nation in accordance with the law and constitution,” reads the adopted document.

The new regulations impose a strict obligation to teach standard Mandarin (Putonghua) from the preschool stage and promote it as the only language of instruction in the entire education system. Putonghua is expected to lead, among others, in official communication.

The Act also introduces: a policy of “transforming outdated customs and traditions” and creating “interpenetrating social environments”, encouraging “mixing” of populations.

This is intended – as critics point out – breaking up ethnically homogeneous communities through the mass settlement of Han Chinese, who constitute 91 percent population in regions inhabited by minorities and forcing their assimilation.

The act criminalizes, among other things, participation in “separatist activities or (of the nature of) religious extremism” and prohibits parents from “instilling in minors ideas harmful to ethnic unity.” Actions considered to be “undermining ethnic unity” will be punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

Experts point out that the definitions of these “crimes” are broad enough to cover any criticism of government policy. Moreover, the law has an extraterritorial nature – the PRC claims the right to prosecute persons and organizations violating these provisions also outside the country's borders. The Taiwanese authorities point out that the law may be used by Beijing to prosecute Taiwanese citizens who do not support unification.

“The new law is a radical change compared to Deng Xiaoping-era policies that guaranteed minorities the right to use their own languages,” said Yalkun Uluyol, a researcher at Human Rights Watch.

China officially recognizes 55 national minorities, constituting less than 9 percent. population. Although the PRC constitution theoretically guarantees them the right to use their own language and autonomy, in recent years Beijing has toughened its course, especially towards Uyghurs in Xinjiang, Mongols and Tibetans.

From Beijing Krzysztof Pawliszak (PAP)

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