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After healing bodies, minds next

By Zhao Huanxin (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-07-11 08:48

URUMQI: Ismail (not his real name) has seen the impact of the recent riots in Xinjiang's capital from up close, having sown up victims' head and chest wounds at the city's People's Hospital.

Now, the 27-year-old surgeon would love to find a way to go beyond the treatment of physical injuries to help heal people's minds, by removing the cancerous concept of "answering violence with violence".

He said he was shocked to learn that the Uygur rioters had left a trail of dead bodies and injured people behind them, some of whom were attacked just outside the hospital.

"What did they think, if they looked back and saw people falling to the ground, screaming and shedding blood from broken heads and bodies? Any sensible person would shudder at such savagery," Ismail said.

Officials say 156 people were killed and more than 1,000 injured in the riots.

Ismail said he was about to leave the hospital at about 7:30 pm on Sunday when he saw a mob of people chasing and beating others in the street outside.

Victims ran into the hospital compound, some hobbling from beatings, others with blood pouring down their terrified faces.

And ambulances were ferrying victims into the hospital, including those who were so badly beaten, they were unable to move.

"We treated 250 patients on Sunday night alone. On average, the hospital's emergency department treats only 40 to 50 patients a day," Ismail said.

The surgeon said he stitched up wounds on 20 people that night.

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By 2 pm on Wednesday, the hospital, which is widely considered one of the best-equipped in the region, had admitted 367 people injured in the riots. Forty-one had arrived in critical condition, said the institution's vice-president, Pan Liangjun.

At least 17 victims were so badly injured they died at the hospital.

Most patients were suffering from head injuries caused by bricks, knives, batons, stones and, occasionally, bullets, Pan said.

Ismail said those taking part in the riots were a very small portion of Xinjiang's ethnic minority population.

The overwhelming majority of the region's ethnic minority groups are peaceful and friendly and in no way associated with the riots, he said.

With many victims now in stable condition, and with others discharged following successful treatment, the surgeon said on Thursday he is planning a family reunion.

Despite living only three bus stops away from the hospital, Ismail has barely seen his home since Sunday.

Wang Qingyuan, a victim of the riot who was still in hospital on Thursday, said his treatment had been free since he was admitted on Sunday night.

The 48-year-old owner of a truck fleet from Changji in northern Xinjiang, said he suffered from back fractures caused by rioters who beat him as he tried to get out of his car near the hospital.

"They burned my car, which I can claim insurance from, but what about the invoices and bills that I kept in the car? They are evidence of my business with clients in the first half of the year, involving at least 100,000 yuan ($14,700)," he said.