On the 36th Anniversary of the Barin National Liberation Resistance Movement: Chinese Flag and Xi Jinping’s Portrait Trampled in Amsterdam
by: Abdurehim Gheni Uyghur
April 5, 2026, at 1:00 PM, a commemoration rally was held at Dam Square in the heart of Amsterdam to mark the 36th anniversary of the Barin National Liberation Resistance Movement. Organized by the Stichting Support Uyghurs (Uyghur Support Foundation), the event honored the armed Barin Liberation Struggle that erupted on April 5, 1990, against Chinese occupation in East Turkestan. Participants issued powerful statements against China’s current genocidal policies, while the Chinese five-star red flag and portraits of Xi Jinping were trampled before thousands of tourists. The rally was attended by Uyghurs from East Turkestan as well as representatives from Tibet, Cantonia, Guangxi, Manchuria, and Jinland—nations also living under Chinese occupation.
The Barin Liberation Struggle: A Historic Step Toward
Independence
The organizer, Abdurehim Gheni Uyghur, founder of the
Stichting Support Uyghurs, opened the rally by playing the East Turkestan
national anthem, "The March of Salvation," as a tribute to the heroes
of Barin led by Zaydin Yusup. Speaking in Dutch, he highlighted the
significance of the Barin Liberation Struggle:
"This struggle is a declaration to the world that the Uyghur
people are still alive and demand their freedom; the spirit of Barin continues
to burn today! Thirty-six years ago, the Barin Liberation Struggle led by our
hero Zaydin Yusup struck panic into the hearts of the CCP leadership, including
Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin, and Li Peng. Fearing the uprising would spread to
other regions of East Turkestan, the Chinese occupying government deployed
tanks and warplanes to carry out a brutal massacre of unarmed civilians in
Barin.
This struggle lasted seven days and nights, during which our
fighters dealt a heavy blow to the Chinese invaders, engaging in 72 hours of
intense resistance including the capture and exchange of prisoners. The
ultimate goal was to proclaim the Third Republic in Kashgar. Unfortunately, due
to the betrayal of traitors like Danish Rehim (Danish Molla), who leaked
secrets to the Chinese authorities, the struggle broke out prematurely and was
eventually suppressed. However, the spirit of Barin taught us never to bow to
Chinese aggression. We shall never forget this glorious day or our martyrs."
A Multi-national United Front Against a Common Enemy
Representatives from other nations under Chinese rule also
addressed the crowd:
*Tsering Jampa: Founder of the Tibet Support Group
Netherlands, she exposed over 70 years of Chinese colonial policies in occupied
lands including East Turkestan, Tibet, Southern Mongolia, Cantonia, and
Guangxi, and urged Europe to remain vigilant against China’s transnational
repression.
* Abulqasim Abdulaziz: Chairman of the East Turkestan Education
Association in Europe, reaffirmed that the path to independence is the only
path of justice.
* Wei Zhijian: A political activist for Guangxi independence,
stated that Chinese tyranny is a common threat to all peoples.
* Feilong Liu: A member of the Cantonia Independence Party,
drew parallels between the atrocities in Cantonia and those in East Turkestan.
* Jiang Hong: A Manchurian human rights activist, noted that
the spirit of Barin serves as an inspiration for all those living under
oppression.
Peak of Defiance: Trampling the Chinese Flag and Xi Jinping’s
Portrait
In the most significant moment of the rally, protesters
placed the Chinese five-star red flag and portraits of Xi Jinping on the
ground. Chanting slogans such as "Independence for East Turkestan!",
"Stop Chinese Terrorism!", and "Xi Jinping is a
Terrorist!", participants trampled and spat upon the symbols of the
regime, openly expressing their hatred for the Chinese Communist system. This
scene captured the attention of thousands of international tourists at Dam
Square.
Visual Displays: Banners of Resistance
Two prominent banners were displayed during the rally:
1.A 7-meter Blue
Banner on Uyghur Genocide: Featuring
the words "NEVER AGAIN IS HAPPENING AGAIN IN EAST TURKESTAN,"
documenting the atrocities and torture within the camps.
2.The Map of
Independent Nations: Dedicated to
political prisoner Jacob Pang Jian, the map depicted a Far East free from
Chinese centralization, where every region achieves full independence.
The rally concluded with a call from the Stichting Support
Uyghurs for European governments to take concrete action against China’s
transnational repression. The event ended successfully with a group photograph.
Edited by Jiang Peikun
