This statement is attributed to the Executive Council of the East Turkistan Government in Exile
Today marks the 17th anniversary of the establishment of the East Turkistan Government in Exile (ETGE), also known as the Government in Exile of the Republic of East Turkistan. On September 14, 2004, Uyghur, Kazakh, and other Turkic activists, politicians, and community leaders came together in Washington DC to formally establish the East Turkistan Government in Exile. The East Turkistan Government in Exile continues the East Turkistan Republic(s) established twice in 1933 and 1944. The People’s Republic of China overthrew the East Turkistan Republic on December 22, 1949. They recognized this goal as a historical duty of the people of East Turkistan to reclaim their motherland from Chinese rule as the only way forward in the future.
Over the past 17 years, the ETGE has faced several critical challenges from within and without. And yet, it has gradually overcome them with a series of reforms. As a result, it has changed from a political ideology-oriented organization to a professional action-oriented organization to represent the collective will of the Uyghurs and other Turkic peoples of East Turkistan worldwide for freedom, democracy, and independence.
In particular, it has intended to orient the political will of Uyghurs and other East Turkistanis in exile towards the independence of East Turkistan. It seeks to re-establish the statehood of East Turkistan. Working towards achieving this strategic goal, the East Turkistan Government in Exile has organized many influential demonstrations in Washington DC and across the world. The ETGE has also advocated for policy bills to recognize the genocide and the status of East Turkistan as an Occupied Country in the United States, Canada, the UK, and Europe. It has also participated in and organized conferences and other events to raise awareness on the captive statehood of East Turkistan by Chinese authorities as to the origin of the political tragedy of Uyghurs and other East Turkistanis in the 21st century—the ongoing genocide.
Since 2019, under the current administration, the East Turkistan Government in Exile has drastically expanded its efforts to maximize diplomacy and activism worldwide. It has established strategic connections with several governmental and non-governmental agencies at all levels to express the political will of East Turkistan and its people.
Apart from this, ETGE established a TV station to broadcast a news program in Uyghur to provide accurate, in-depth, and relevant information for Uyghurs in exile. Under this program, Uyghurs have been able to see the world from their perspective.
Moving forward, while strengthening its governmental capacity and structure, the East Turkistan Government in Exile aims to expand its global outreach capacity. The ETGE aims to establish stronger ties with governmental and non-governmental agencies worldwide to form alliances to resist the relentless violence of the Chinese government against the people of East Turkistan. This goal is expected to use the leverages of international entities in line with international law, i.e., the International Criminal Court, to seek justice for the Uyghurs and other Turkic peoples of East Turkistan.
In conclusion, the East Turkistan Government in Exile is positioning itself as a strategic government body to represent the political aspirations of Uyghurs and other Turkic peoples in East Turkistan.