About the ETGE
The East Turkistan Government-in-Exile (ETGE), the Government in Exile of the Republic of East Turkistan, is the democratically elected official body representing East Turkistan and its people.
On December 22, 1949 the People’s Republic of China overthrew the independent East Turkistan Republic, leading to many East Turkistanis including senior military and government officials to flee to the Soviet Union. Over the decades since China occupied East Turkistan, various East Turkistani entities played the role of a de-facto government in exile and were unable to find a friendly nation willing to host them as an official government in exile.
The East Turkistan Government in Exile was formally established on September 14, 2004, as an official government in exile in Washington, DC, by prominent Uyghur, Kazakh and other East Turkistani independence leaders representing over a dozen organizations from across the East Turkistani / Uyghur diaspora following the dissolution of the East Turkistan National Congress (ETNC).
The East Turkistan Government in Exile is a democratic body with a representative Parliament. The primary leaders — President, Vice President, Prime Minister, Speaker (Chair) of Parliament, and Deputy Speaker (Chair) of Parliament — are democratically elected by the Parliament members from all over the East Turkistani diaspora in the General Assembly.
The Prime Minister forms the Government’s Cabinet with the President, the Speaker (Chair), and Deputy Speaker (Chair) of the Parliament’s approval. The Members of Parliament are elected by the diaspora community in their respective host nations. Elections occur every four years, and all members of the Parliament serve a four-year term and can be re-elected.
The East Turkistan Government in Exile has close contacts and working relations with most East Turkistan and Uyghur organizations across the world that peacefully promote restoring independence, human rights, religious freedom, and democracy for East Turkistan and all of its people.
History
During the past seven decades, since China occupied East Turkistan in December 1949, the East Turkistan Government in Exile has been adept at adapting to the shifting political realities facing our country and its people. It is because of our versatility that ETGE is an effective and powerful voice for East Turkistan and its people.
November 2019
ETGE's 8th General Assembly
The East Turkistan Government in Exile and its Parliament in Exile held its 8th General Assembly in Washington, DC. A new administration headed by Prime Minister Salih Hudayar and President Ghulam Osman Yaghma was elected into office.
October 2018
ETGE's Extraordinary Meeting
The East Turkistan Government in Exile and its Parliament in Exile held an extraordinary meeting in Mugla, Turkey to impeach its then President Mr. Ahmatjan Osman for violating the Constitution and elected Mr. Ghulam Osman Yaghma in his place as the Acting President.
November 2015
ETGE's 7th General Assembly
The East Turkistan Government in Exile and its Parliament in Exile held its 7th General Assembly in Tokyo, Japan.
14 September 2004
Establishment of the ETGE
The East Turkistan Government in Exile was formally established, with its headquarters in Washington DC, to advocate for the restoration of East Turkistan's independence following the dissolution of the East Turkistan National Congress [Center].
October 1999
Splintering of the East Turkistan National Congress
The East Turkistan National Congress [Center] which had been established in 1992 relocates to Munich, Germany from Istanbul, Turkey and begins to splinter as some Uyghurs with historical ties to China became heavily involved in the organization and argued against independence and instead began to advocate for autonomy and human rights under China.
14 December 1992
Establishment of the East Turkistan National Congress
Leaders of the various East Turkistani organizations, including the East Turkistan National Committe, from across the world convened in Istanbul, Turkey to create a unified body to struggle for the restoration of East Turkistan's independence.
1969
United Revolutionary Front of East Turkistan
In 1969, military officers of the former East Turkistan Republic (1944-1949) established the United Revolutionary Front of East Turkistan in Almaty under the leadership of Yusupbek Mukhlisi of the East Turkistan National Committee (National Committee for Eastern Turkistan) to struggle to regain East Turkistan's independence.
1962
East Turkistan National Committee
Following a failed uprising in April 1962, over 60,000 Uyghurs and Kazakhs, including former East Turkistan Republic officials, flee to the Soviet Union. Former ETR officials establish the East Turkistan National Committee (National Committee for Eastern Turkistan) acting as a de-facto government in exile.
22 December 1949
Overthrowal of the East Turkistan Republic
On December 22, 1949 the East Turkistan Republic was formally overthrown by the People's Republic of China with the incorporation of the East Turkistan National Army into the PLA's 5th Army Corps.
Government Policy Statement
- The overall mission of the East Turkistan Government in Exile is to end China’s occupation and colonization of our Homeland and restore the independence of East Turkistan as a pluralistic and democratic Republic that guarantees Human Rights and Freedom for all.
- The East Turkistan Government in Exile intends to use all available resources to engage in diplomacy, as allowed under international law, to advance the interests of East Turkistan and its people.
- The East Turkistan Government in Exile opposes terrorism in all forms, including state terrorism perpetrated by China and its forces against East Turkistan and its people.
- The East Turkistan Government in Exile seeks to develop friendly relations with all governments, organizations, and individuals sympathetic to the plight of East Turkistan and its people.
- The East Turkistan Government in Exile calls on all governments, organizations, and leaders to recognize China’s atrocities as genocide and recognize East Turkistan as an Occupied Country.
- The East Turkistan Government in Exile is not affiliated with, nor is it in contact with any militant, jihadist, or any other groups and organizations involved in violent conflict in any part of the world.
- The East Turkistan Government in Exile does not view any country, government, or people, other than the government of China and its forces, as hostile to and (or) enemies of East Turkistan and its people.