The following statement is attributed to Dr. Mamtimin Ala, President of the East Turkistan Government in Exile
My fellow East Turkistanis, friends of freedom, and members of the international community,
Today, we commemorate a profound milestone—the 20th anniversary of the East Turkistan Government in Exile. Twenty years ago, on September 14, 2004, Uyghur, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, and other East Turkistani leaders came together in Washington, D.C., united by one unwavering goal: to showcase our people’s external self-determination and to re-establish our national voice on the international stage.
In that moment, the East Turkistan Government in Exile (ETGE) was founded, standing as the legitimate successor of the East Turkistan Republic, which was forcibly overthrown on December 22, 1949. For over half a century, our people have endured unspeakable persecution, from massacres, enslavement, to to the erasure of our culture and identity. Yet, the founding of our government in exile represented a critical turning point in our history—it symbolized not only resistance but the beginning of a new chapter in our fight to restore the sovereignty of our beloved homeland.
Over the past 20 years, we have fought relentlessly to ensure that the voices of the East Turkistani people are heard across the globe. We have brought attention to the colonization, genocide, and occupation waged by the Chinese occupiers. Through diplomacy, advocacy, and raising awareness on the global stage, we have worked tirelessly to protect our people’s rights and to lead the struggle for restoration of our national independence. Today, the world knows of China’s campaign of genocide. But our struggle continues.
To the international community, I say this: East Turkistan is not merely a name or a region on a map—it is the homeland of tens of millions who yearn for freedom and justice. For decades, we have faced an unrelenting assault on our people’s existence, our culture, our history, and our identity. The world cannot stand by in silence as the genocide of our people and systematic colonization of our country unfolds. The establishment of the East Turkistan Government in Exile was not a mere act of defiance—it was the revival of a nation that refuses to disappear. We call upon all nations, governments, and institutions to stand with us, to support our right to external self-determination and restoration of our national independence, and to help end China’s campaign of colonization, genocide, and occupation in East Turkistan.
It is time for the international community to hold the Chinese government accountable for its genocide and crimes against humanity and recognize the legitimacy of our struggle to restore our sovereignty. Our fight is not only for the independence of East Turkistan but for the principles of freedom, justice, and human dignity that the world claims to cherish.
To my fellow East Turkistanis, I remind you that we stand together in this fight. For generations, our people have faced unimaginable suffering, but we have not been broken. Today, as we mark 20 years since the establishment of our government in exile, we remember our ancestors who fought for East Turkistan’s independence and honor those who continue to resist. The path to independence is long and difficult, but we are closer than ever. With every step forward, we inch closer to reclaiming our homeland, to restoring our sovereignty, and to securing a future where our children can live freely in the land of their forefathers.
We will continue to fight in every diplomatic hall, in every international forum, and on every platform where justice can be served. The restoration of East Turkistan’s sovereignty is not a distant dream—it is a destiny we are determined to fulfill.
Today, we stand as one people, with one cause, for one goal: restoration of independence for East Turkistan. And to the world, we say, the fight for East Turkistan’s independence is not only a moral necessity, it is a fight for the very values that define humanity.
May the world hear our call. May our people never lose hope. May God, the Almighty, grant us victory, liberation, and the restoration of our sovereignty
Long live East Turkistan!
Dr. Mamtimin Ala
President of the East Turkistan Government in Exile