新疆各民族平等团结发展的历史见证（一）



新疆各民族平等团结发展的历史见证（一）

前言

中国是统一的多民族国家。新疆自古以来就是中国多民族共同生活的家园。在漫长的历史长河中，生活在新疆的中华各族儿女密切交往、相互依存、休戚与共，共同开发建设新疆，共同维护边疆稳定、国家统一、民族团结，共同推动国家的发展进步。

在国家的统一领导下，在少数民族聚居地方实行区域自治，是中国的一项基本政治制度，是中国特色解决民族问题的正确道路的重要内容和制度保障。在新疆实行民族区域自治制度，符合中国国情和新疆实际，维护了国家统一和新疆各民族平等团结发展。

自1949年新疆和平解放，特别是1955年新疆维吾尔自治区成立以来，在国家的大力支持和全国各地的有力帮助下，在全区各族人民的共同努力下，新疆民生不断改善，各项事业全面进步，社会大局稳定，发展势头良好。2010年和2014年，中央先后召开新疆工作座谈会，不断丰富完善治疆理念和治疆方略，新疆经济社会发展进入了新的历史时期。

新疆的发展进步，是包括新疆各族人民在内的全中国人民团结拼搏的伟大成果，是中国各族人民共同繁荣发展的生动体现，是中国民族区域自治制度在新疆的成功实践。

一、实行民族区域自治制度

新疆地处中国西北边疆，早在公元前60年就纳入中国版图，成为中国统一多民族国家不可分割的组成部分。历代中央政府根据新疆的实际情况，采取多种形式治理新疆。新疆各族人民在共同创建和发展中国统一多民族国家的历史过程中，形成了你中有我、我中有你的血肉联系。

历史上，生活在新疆地区的各族人民，以其勤劳、智慧和勇敢，创造了灿烂的多民族文化，成为中华文化的重要组成部分，新疆也成为连通中外、传播文明的重要通道。1840年鸦片战争后，中国逐步沦为半殖民地半封建社会，新疆各族人民遭受着外国侵略者、封建势力和剥削阶级的压迫，社会地位极为低下。到20世纪40年代末，南疆、伊犁和乌鲁木齐农业区的大部分土地都为少数地主所霸占，大部分农民只占有很少的土地。在南疆维吾尔农民聚居的偏远农村，还分散地、极少量地存有较完整的农奴主庄园，农奴主对农奴有支配一切的权力，农奴们无偿地为农奴主耕种土地，并承担各种家庭杂役。在北疆牧区，残留着封建氏族制度的社会关系，王公贵族、部落头领不仅占有大量的牲畜，而且享有种种封建特权。新中国成立前，新疆经济社会发展严重滞后，各族人民生活十分贫困，根本无法享有基本人权。

1921年中国共产党成立后，就在为包括新疆各族人民在内的全体中国人民寻找一条实现民族独立、人民解放的正确道路。中国共产党成立初期，就有一些中共党员进入新疆地区从事革命工作。抗日战争时期，在中国共产党的领导下，新疆各族人民通过多种形式支援内地的抗战事业。一批各族进步青年受到先进思想的熏陶影响，积极追求进步，发动各族群众同反动落后势力进行斗争。共同的历史命运使新疆各族人民深信，唯有中国共产党才能救中国，这样的共识为后来新疆和平解放奠定了基本前提条件。

1949年9月，在新疆各族人民的努力下，新疆实现和平解放。10月1日，新疆各族人民同全国人民共同迎来了中华人民共和国的成立。新疆和平解放后，仍沿用过去的行省制。1949年12月17日，在中共中央及中共新疆分局领导下，成立了以包尔汉为主席，由新疆各族各界代表组成的新疆省人民政府，掀开了人民民主政权建设新的一页。在中国共产党的领导下，在中国人民解放军的大力支持下，新疆省政府领导各族人民平叛剿匪、镇压反革命武装叛乱，同时还开展了改造起义部队、整编民族军等工作。根据民族平等、团结、互助的原则，新疆各族人民当家作主，第一次推选出各级人民代表大会代表。随后进行的以农村土地改革为中心的各项民主改革，废除了封建土地所有制，使无地、少地的各族农民分得了土地，从根本上改变了千百年来新疆各族劳动人民受压迫、受剥削的悲惨命运。

新中国把坚持各民族平等团结和各民族共同繁荣发展作为解决民族问题和处理民族关系的基本原则，并确定在少数民族聚居地方实行民族区域自治制度。新中国成立时，在新疆聚居生活的主要有维吾尔、汉、哈萨克、回、柯尔克孜、蒙古、锡伯、塔吉克、满、乌孜别克、俄罗斯、达斡尔和塔塔尔等民族，其中维吾尔族人口居多。以上各民族呈“大杂居、小聚居”的特点，各民族之间存在密切而广泛的联系，这是新疆多民族共同聚居历史的延续。新疆实行民族区域自治制度，有力保障了新疆各民族人民当家作主的民主权利，对于加强各民族平等、团结、互助、和谐的关系，维护国家统一，加快新疆经济发展，促进新疆社会进步，都有着十分重要的意义。

根据中央人民政府颁布的《中华人民共和国民族区域自治实施纲要》相关规定，1952年8月22日，新疆省召开了第一届第二次各族各界人民代表大会，并于9月10日通过了《关于执行〈中华人民共和国民族区域自治实施纲要〉的决议》，成立了新疆省民族区域自治筹备委员会。1953年12月22日，中央人民政府政务院批复同意《新疆省民族区域自治实施办法》，新疆自治地方筹建准备工作有序展开。截至1954年，经中央政府批准，新疆完成了州以下自治地方的筹建工作，成立了5个自治州，即：巴音郭楞蒙古自治州、博尔塔拉蒙古自治州、克孜勒苏柯尔克孜自治州、昌吉回族自治州和伊犁哈萨克自治州；6个自治县，即：焉耆回族自治县、察布查尔锡伯自治县、木垒哈萨克自治县、和布克赛尔蒙古自治县、塔什库尔干塔吉克自治县和巴里坤哈萨克自治县。

各自治地方的建立为新疆维吾尔自治区的成立奠定了基础。中共中央新疆分局依照《中华人民共和国民族区域自治实施纲要》，积极慎重地推进成立新疆维吾尔自治区的筹备工作。1955年9月13日，第一届全国人民代表大会常务委员会第二十一次会议通过了成立新疆维吾尔自治区、撤消新疆省建制的决议，并以原新疆省的行政区域为新疆维吾尔自治区的行政区域。

1955年 9月20—30日，新疆省第一届人民代表大会第二次会议在乌鲁木齐召开。此次会议通过了《关于新疆维吾尔自治区筹备工作的报告》等文件，选举产生了以赛福鼎·艾则孜（维吾尔族）为主席，高锦纯（汉族）、买买提明·伊敏诺夫（维吾尔族）、帕提汗·苏古尔巴也夫（哈萨克族）为副主席的41人组成的新疆维吾尔自治区人民委员会。1955年10月1日，新疆维吾尔自治区宣告成立。

新疆维吾尔自治区的成立，标志着民族区域自治制度在新疆的全面贯彻实施。在中央政府的领导、关心和全国各兄弟省（区、市）的大力支持帮助下，新疆各族人民开展了大规模社会主义建设。1984年，国家颁布实施《中华人民共和国民族区域自治法》，将民族区域自治制度确定为国家一项基本政治制度，为新疆各族人民在维护国家统一的原则下充分行使自治权利提供了有力的法律保障。

2010年5月、2014年5月，中央先后召开第一、二次新疆工作座谈会，强调要坚持和完善民族区域自治制度，努力建设团结和谐、繁荣富强、文明进步、安居乐业的社会主义新疆，新疆各项事业发展进入了一个新阶段。（待续）

Foreword

China is a unified and multiethnic country. Xinjiang has been home to several of China's ethnic peoples since ancient times. Over the long course of history the ethnic groups in Xinjiang have maintained close relations with each other， trusting and depending on each other and sharing weal and woe together. They have worked hard to build Xinjiang， to safeguard border stability， national unification and ethnic unity， and to promote the development and progress of China.

Under the unified state leadership， implementing regional autonomy in areas where ethnic minorities live in concentrated communities is a basic political system of China. It is an important step on the correct path towards resolving ethnic problems in a Chinese manner and an institutional guarantee that the path will be followed. Implementing the system of ethnic regional autonomy in Xinjiang is a measure that accords with the prevailing situation in China and with the realities of life and the needs of Xinjiang. Doing so has acted as a bulwark to national unifi cation and to the equality， unity and development of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang.

Since the peaceful liberation of Xinjiang in 1949，and the founding of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in 1955 in particular， Xinjiang has seen continued improvement in its standard of living，comprehensive progress in various areas， stability in the overall situation of society， and positive momentum for development. All this has been made possible by strong support from the state and other parts of the country，as well as by the concerted efforts of all of Xinjiang's ethnic groups.

In 2010 and 2014， the central government held two meetings to discuss work related to Xinjiang， resulting in a steady improvement of the guiding principles and strategies for governing Xinjiang， ushering in a new era in the economic and social development of the region.

The development and progress witnessed in Xinjiang has been achieved by all the peoples of China —including the various ethnic groups in Xinjiang —working together in pursuit of a common goal. It gives a vivid expression to the progress made by China's ethnic groups towards achieving common prosperity，and marks the successful implementation of China's system of ethnic regional autonomy in Xinjiang.

I. Implementing the System of Ethnic Regional Autonomy

Located in China's northwest， Xinjiang was documented as forming part of China's territories as early as 60 BC， and went on to become an integral part of the unified and multiethnic country. In light of the actual local conditions， the central governments in successive dynastic periods adopted various different forms of governance in this region. During the process of creating and developing a unified and multiethnic country， all the ethnic peoples of Xinjiang developed close ties and became integrated as one.

Known for their hard working， wisdom and bravery， the ethnic groups of Xinjiang created a distinctive multiethnic culture， which became an important part of overall Chinese culture. Xinjiang also became a key gateway connecting China with the rest of the world and disseminating diverse cultures.

After the First Opium War （1840-1842）， China was gradually reduced to a semi-colonial and semi-feudal society， and the ethnic peoples of Xinjiang suffered oppression under the foreign aggressors， feudal forces and exploiting classes， falling to the bottom of society.

By the late 1940s， most of the arable land in the farming areas of southern Xinjiang， Ili and Urumqi had been seized by a handful of landlords， leaving very little to the majority of peasants. In the remote villages inhabited by Uygur peasants in southern Xinjiang，a small number of serf owners' estates existed in relatively complete form. The overlords of these estates owned their serfs from head to toe， and the serfs were forced to work their masters' lands without payment and to perform all kinds of domestic chores. In the pastoral areas of northern Xinjiang， remnants of the feudal clan system were evident in that the nobility and the clan chiefs not only held large herds of livestock， but also enjoyed all kinds of feudal privileges.

Before the founding of the People's Republic of China， Xinjiang lagged far behind the rest of the country in economic and social development， and the ethnic peoples there lived in dire poverty and were deprived of basic human rights.

Founded in 1921， the Communist Party of China （CPC） took as its mission the search for a right path to realize national independence and the liberation of the people， including the ethnic peoples of Xinjiang. In its early days， the CPC sent some of its members to Xinjiang to carry out revolutionary work. During the Chinese people's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression， the people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang lent their support to the cause of resistance through various means under the leadership of the CPC. A number of revolutionary youth， influenced by progressive ideas， actively mobilized the peoples of Xinjiang to fight against reactionary and backward forces. The common call of history convinced them that only the CPC could save China — a prerequisite for the consensus against which Xinjiang later greeted its peaceful liberation.

In September 1949， Xinjiang was liberated peacefully， thanks to the efforts made by people of all ethnic groups there. On October 1， together with all their fellow countrymen， the ethnic peoples of Xinjiang witnessed the founding of the People's Republic of China. After liberation， Xinjiang kept its provincial system.

On December 17， 1949， under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee and the CPC Xinjiang Bureau， the Xinjiang provincial people's government was established. Represented by deputies from all ethnic groups and social sectors in Xinjiang， and with Burhan al-Shahidi as chair， this opened a new leaf in the development of a new people's democratic government. Under the leadership of the CPC， and with the strong support of the Chinese People's Liberation Army， the provincial government of Xinjiang led the local ethnic peoples in successfully quelling revolts， suppressing bandits and putting down reactionary armed rebellions. The uprising troops of the former regime and ethnic armed forces were regrouped.

In line with the principles of equality， unity， and mutual assistance for ethnic groups， the peoples of Xinjiang became the masters of the region， and for the first time elected deputies to the people's congresses at all levels. The democratic reform that followed， with rural land reform at its core， abolished feudal land ownership and distributed land to the deprived local peasants， putting an end once and for all to centuries of oppression and exploitation for the working people of Xinjiang.

The People's Republic of China has upheld ethnic equality， unity， common prosperity and development of all ethnic groups as the basic principles in solving ethnic problems and handling ethnic relations. It made it a state policy to practice ethnic regional autonomy in areas where people of ethnic minorities live in concentrated communities. When the People's Republic of China was founded in 1949， the ethnic peoples of Xinjiang mainly comprised the Uygur， Han， Kazak， Hui，Kirgiz， Mongolian， Xibe， Tajik， Manchu， Uzbek，Russian， Daur and Tartar， with the Uygurs boasting the largest population. Each of these ethnic groups was characterized by living in homogenous communities of its own， or by living together with or mixing with other groups， and the various peoples maintained close and extensive relations — a continuation of the traditional lifestyle. The practice of ethnic regionalautonomy in Xinjiang has ensured the democratic rights of all ethnic peoples in the region， making them the masters of Xinjiang. It is also of great significance in strengthening the harmonious relationship of equality，unity and mutual assistance of the various ethnic groups， safeguarding national unification， accelerating economic development， and promoting social progress in Xinjiang.

On August 22， 1952， in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Program of the People's Republic of China for Implementing Ethnic Regional Autonomy， the second session of the first people's congress of all ethnic groups and walks of life was held in Xinjiang Province， passing the Resolution on Executing the Program of the People's Republic of China for Implementing Ethnic Regional Autonomy and forming a preparatory committee for exercising ethnic regional autonomy in Xinjiang Province on September 10.

In its official written reply on December 22，1953， the Government Administrative Council of the Central People's Government approved the Measures for Exercising Ethnic Regional Autonomy in Xinjiang Province， initiating the preparatory work for establishing autonomous areas in Xinjiang in an orderly fashion. By 1954， with the approval of the central government， Xinjiang had completed the preparations for the establishment of autonomous areas at or below the prefecture level， establishing five autonomous prefectures， i.e.， Bayingolin Mongolian， Bortala Mongolian， Kizilsu Kirgiz， Changji Hui and Ili Kazak，six autonomous counties， i.e.， Yanqi Hui， Qapqal Xibe，Mori Kazak， Hoboksar Mongolian， Tashkurghan Tajik and Barkol Kazak.

The establishment of these autonomous prefectures and counties laid the foundation for the establishment of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. In accordance with the Program of the People's Republic of China for Practicing Ethnic Regional Autonomy，the CPC Xinjiang Bureau made proactive and prudent preparations for establishing the autonomous region. The 21st meeting of the Standing Committee of the First National People's Congress passed on September 13， 1955 the resolution to establish the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region to replace the former Xinjiang Province， with the former areas under the jurisdiction of the Xinjiang Province being put under the jurisdiction of the newly established autonomous region.

In September 20-30， 1955， the second session of the First People's Congress of Xinjiang Province was convened in Urumqi. The meeting approved the Report on Preparatory Work for the Establishment of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region along with some other instruments， and elected a 41-member People's Committee of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region， with Seypidin Ezizi （Uygur） as chair， and Gao Jinchun （Han）， Memetmin Iminof （Uygur） and Patihan Sugurbayev （Kazak） as vice chairs. On October 1， 1955，the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region was offi cially founded.

The establishment of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region marked the full implementation of the system of ethnic regional autonomy in Xinjiang. Under the leadership and care of the central government and with the strong support and help from other provinces， autonomous regions and municipalities， the people of the various ethnic groups in Xinjiang plunged into the construction of Xinjiang in a massive scale.

In 1984， the state promulgated and put into effect the Law of the People's Republic of China on Ethnic Regional Autonomy， establishing ethnic regional autonomy as a basic political system of the state， thereby providing a powerful legal basis for all ethnic peoples in Xinjiang to fully exercise their right of autonomy based on the principle of safeguarding national unifi cation.

In May 2010 and May 2014， the central government held two meetings to specially discuss work in relation to Xinjiang， emphasizing the importance of upholding and improving the system of ethnic regional autonomy，and calling for efforts to build a socialist Xinjiang featuring unity and harmony， prosperity and vigor，civility and progress， and peace and contentment for its people. The various undertakings of Xinjiang had entered a new stage of development.（To be continued）

Historical Witness to Ethnic Equality， Unity and Development in Xinjiang（Ⅰ）