Why did they write the letter? Why do they feel sorry for the victims' families? With these questions in mind, journalists conducted a series of face-to-face interviews with some of Rebiya's families living in Urumqi.
Son, Kahaer:
During the July 5th Urumqi riot, Kahaer, first born son of Rebiya and her ex-husband Abudureyimu, witnessed the inhuman atrocity of the mobs from the balcony of his apartment.
"I live right at Shanxi Alley, and from the 12th floor I saw the mobs running from South Gate toward Shanxi Alley, looting nearby stores, burning police cars and buses, and beating up innocent civilians. I believe no one in Xinjiang wants to see such things happen.", said Kahaer.
"Because mother told my uncle (Rebiya's brother) about this event in advance, we think she's involved". After witnessing the riot, Kahaer talked to other family members about writing a letter to the victims' families.
He said: "We learned on TV and newspapers how many people died during the riot. People must be speculating since Rebiya's children live in Urumqi, maybe they've participated in the sabotage or instigation. Therefore the purposes of the open letter are, 1. to declare that we didn't participate in the riot, 2. to show sympathy to the innocent victims, 3. to tell all ethnic brothers and sisters in Xinjiang, don't believe in Rebiya's rumors".
In fact, Rebiya, as a mother, didn't give Kahaer many happy memories. When he talked about the childhood hardship after Rebiya abandoned her children, tears came to his eyes.
Rebiya divorced Kahaer's father when he was 13, leaving 6 children behind. It took Kahaer 10 years to finish elementary school because he had to take care of his younger brothers and sisters.
"We have a good life now. Uighur, Han and other ethnicities, we live in peace and harmony". He said, "Mother lives in America. Sometimes she will call, and we always ask her not to do such things as to sabotage the ethnic unity and to separate the nation. She never listens".
"If it's not for the July 5th riot, 15 family members of my sister's, my uncle's and mine were moving to Asuke". Kahaer, who signed a contract for 40 acres of orchard in Asuke, said with pity, "We were planning to take some rest there. But with this incident, all these efforts are in vain."
Youngest Son, Alimu:
"I was so depressed when mother told me to light myself up with gasoline".
It's a mixed feeling full of complication and contradiction for Alimu, 33, to talk about his mother, even more so than his siblings.
"I've never been able to understand how mother could have abandoned me when I was only 8 month old. She owes me, way too much". Brought up by his father and elder brother, Alimu had no memory or contact with his mother before 17.
The yearning and pursuing of motherly love made him do a lot of "silly things" in his own words, things that he regrets till this day...
He entered the business world after getting his degree in Forensics from Xinjiang Medical College. "I took mother's place as the legal representative of the corporate in 1999 (Rebiya was arrested for selling sensitive intelligence to foreign countries in 1999. Before that she was the richest woman in Xinjiang). Mother had been evading taxes long before that. When she was still operating the business, my stepfather calls almost every day from abroad, abetting us not to pay taxes to the government."
In 2007, Alimu was indicted and later jailed for evading taxes of 7 million RMB. "When law enforcement started investigating the company, mother called from abroad, telling us to go protest on the square and then burn ourselves up using gasoline. I hung up the phone, without saying a word. I can't understand how can a mother not treasure her own son. I'm a father. I love my children and they need me. So I didn't do it. I will never do it".
Alimu learned about the riot in jail. "I immediately suspected mother, for they've been doing this for a long time." "They needed the funding for livelihood abroad".
"She still might not know how many innocent people died or got wounded in Urumqi, and how big the impact was on the economy of Urumqi. She is now enemy to lots and lots of Uighurs too. As her children, what will our future be like?"
"Since the first day the company started, most of the success should be attributed to help from the government, the policies and the banks' loans. Without these, there would be no Rebiya Mansion. Even after mother was arrested, the government still helped me with the development of the company".
"I wish mother could be considerate to the feelings of people still living here". "Our brothers and sisters, over ten of us (all Rebiya's children), are not together till this day. If mother keeps going down this path, there might never be an opportunity (for a family reunion)".
Daughter, Ruxianguli:
To see so many lives and assets lost during the Urumqi riot, she felt sad and full of guilt. She said, "That was a 100% separatism action carried out by ethnic separatists at home and abroad, including my mother. So many innocent civilians were killed. As Rebiya's children, we feel very sorry for the deceased, which is why we wrote the letter to our mother".
"We've never participated in those activities, but we can't feel at ease."
Although many people knew she was Rebiya's daughter, they get along well. "I used to think people must hate me because I'm her daughter". On the contrary, "(after the riot), one of the school superiors called and asked how I was. I was deeply moved at that moment".
When talking about the school where she has worked for 20 years, she smiled, and said all the Han, Uighur, Hasak and Hui students and teachers got along like a family.
"My biggest hope is unity among all ethnicity and I believe the separatists will never get their way".
Brother, Maimaiti:
Maimaiti will never forget that phone call, at 11:40 AM, July 5th. "It was my sister, Rebiya. After small talks, she said something big was to happen. I asked where, she said Urumqi". 6 hours later, the riot burst out and all hell broke loose in Urumqi.
"But I never could have imagined it could be so severe". "From her words and tone of voice, she knew about the event in advance. I think what she did was wrong. If it were her that asked the mobs to do those things, she should be punished, wherever she is".
Maimaiti witness the "big" event, "I saw the rioters shattering windows, looting stores, burning cars, beating and killing innocent civilians".
He described his feelings at that time as "angry" and "sad". "Anyone would be angry when they see innocent people killed, cars smashed, houses burnt down. All civilians in China would be angry. When we lead a good and peaceful life here, no one want such things to happen. I think it's wrong". "She shouldn't have done that..."
"What did the civilians do wrong? What did the cars do wrong? If she calls again, I will condemn her. I will ask if she meant the attacks when she said 'something big is to happen.' Didn't you promise us and the government not to such things? Why can't you keep your words? To make such a big mess, dear sister, is it a good thing?"
Maimaiti's sons and daughters also work and do businesses in Urumqi, and their lives are all profoundly changed by the July 5th riot.
"The riot not only caused us, but all the civilians in Xinjiang and all over China severe damage. I truly hope for ethnic unity. And I want life to go back to the way it was before".
(The original interview in Chinese can be found here)
