While Twitter (and Facebook) are now blocked in China, people there are still finding ways to “jump the wall” and tweet away. Below are some comments sent around on Twitter, translated by CDT (these will be continually updated):
* 现场采访记者上午被示威者追打。当地政府提醒，有人敲门一定要看清楚再开，有消息指维族人会入屋行动。另外，要节约用水。
Some reporters were chased by demonstrators this morning. Local authorities remind people that one must check who is knocking on the door before opening it. There is information that Uighurs are taking action entering homes. Also, conserve water.*《财经》记者看到，有汉族群众成群结队行走，有人拿着棍棒。很多小区居民组成了自卫队。主要街面上几乎见不到维族群众，大部分是汉族市民。还有位汉族姑娘牵了只大型犬用以防身。
Caijing reporter saw the Han Chinese walking on the street in groups, some with sticks in their hands. Many residents organized self-defense forces. There were almost no Uighurs on the main streets, most people on the streets are Han citizens. One Han girl is walking with a large dog as if for self-defense.* 中国新闻周刊的记者王刚从乌鲁木齐来电,说暴动又开始了,他正在装甲车旁,两边都草木皆兵,还不断地有维族人从下面的各地赶来要包围这里.电话里传来维族人的呐喊嘶叫声
China News Weekly reporter Wang Gang phoned from Urumqi. He said the riots started again. He is standing beside an armed vehicle. Both sides are highly alert and hysterical, and there are more Uighurs coming from other areas to surround the city. In the phone one can hear the shouting of Uighurs.* 公安部、中宣部要求：为调和维族与汉族矛盾，对事件本身的宣传要以新华社、人民日报的口径为口径。但要尽量揭露东突的罪行，让人民群众了解东突的本质。——以上消息来自中央Gov内部人士的口讯。
Ministry of Public Security and Central Propaganda Department requirement: In order to reconcile conflicts between Han and Uighurs, all publicity of this event should follow the tune of Xinhua News Agency and People’s Daily. But it needs to expose the crimes of the East Turkestan movement as much as possible, let the masses understand the real face of the East Turkestan movement. — above information came from oral messages of insiders in the central government.* 政府报了那么多详细数字，难道提一下156人中多少是汉人很难吗？无论以什么理由不公布这个数字，只能造成外界全面的各说各话。
The government reports so many detailed numbers. How difficult is it to mention how many Han Chinese are among the 156 deaths? No matter why the government is not publicizing this number, it only causes outsiders to say all kinds of things about it.* 现在他们想制造仇恨,政府应以镇压和法律还之,其他以后再说
Now they [Uighur rioters] want to create hatred. The government must respond by cracking down and by the law. Other issues will be dealt with later.* 汉族出来游行…同时也是给疆独势力一个警告，即使中共垮台，维族想搞种族清洗，也要付出代价。只有和平运动，才能得到同情。
Han Chinese want to come out to demonstrate… this will also be a warning to Xinjiang independence forces. Even if the Chinese Communist Party collapses one day, Uighurs must pay the price if they want to do ethnic cleansing. Only peaceful movements can have sympathy [from Han Chinese].* “守护家园”，是谁的家园？和平谈判，谁跟谁谈？积怨何以化解？看到街上维人汉人的菜刀斧头木棒，真是很心酸。
“Protecting our home” [slogan of Han Chinese demonstrators], whose home? “Peaceful dialogue,” who is talking to whom? How can we resolve the accumulated hatred? I am so sad to see those knives, sticks, and axes in both Uighur and Han Chinese hands on the streets.* 全国烤肉串儿的不少是维族。没事儿吧。
So many street vendors around the country selling lamb kebabs are Uighurs. Are they OK?* 不怕有组织，就怕没组织。
Organization is not threatening; having no organization is threatening.* 最大悲剧不是已发生的仇杀，而是没有现成的对话渠道用以遏止仇杀；最大悲剧不是已付出那么大的生命代价，而是没有现成的和解机制来避免可能付出的更大生命代价。
The biggest tragedy is not the killings that already happened, but that there are no available channels for dialogue to prevent such killing. The biggest tragedy is not that such a high price has been paid for life, but that there are no ready reconciliation mechanisms to avoid an even greater price possibly being paid later.* 国家元首在罗马逛公园，恐怖分子在大街上砍人，门户网站在直播MJ追悼会。//这是一个神奇的国度
The head of the state [Hu Jintao] is walking through a park in Rome, terrorists are stabbing people on the streets; Internet news portals are broadcasting Michael Jackson’s memorial live —- this is really a marvelous country full of miracles.* 种族主义和法西斯主义式的言论已经在维族和汉族中蔓延。
Racist and Fascist speech is already spreading among Uighurs and Hans.* 发官方评论但又不让跟帖，这不是心中有屎吗？
Publishing official commentaries [online] but not allowing readers to comment on it. [The government] must have something dirty that cannot be told.* Facebook被墙，好吧，我承认我不厚道。翻墙软件下载：http://is.gd/1bCNx
Facebook is being “Walled”. Alright, I admit I am not kind [to the Great Firewall] , here is the link to download software to jump over the wall. http://is.gd/1bCNx
Some of the foreign correspondents visiting Xinjiang are also using Twitter to post updates. See, for example, Melissa Chan of Al Jazeera, Malcolm Moore of The Telegraph, and Austin Ramzy of Time.
All tweets pertaining to Urumqi can be found here.
And here are some photos circulating on Chinese Internet about the Xinjiang event:
Also, click here to listen to BBC: China’s media strategy:
Anchor Lisa Mullins speaks with Xiao Qiang director of the University of California, Berkeley’s China Internet Project, about China’s strategy for handling media coverage of the protests in western China. He says the Chinese government is allowing international journalists to cover the unrest, while cracking down on press coverage.
