On January 28, Yibulayin Simayi, 42, and Abudureyimu...

On January 28, Yibulayin Simayi, 42, and Abudureyimu Aisha, 29, were executed after a public sentencing by the Yili Prefecture Intermediate People's Court. Both were members of the ethnic Uighur minority and had a history of violent struggle against authorities in northwestern Xinjiang. Simayi was one of China's most-wanted criminals. He was a stalwart in the battle to free Xinjiang from Chinese rule, joining a "reactionary organization" in 1991 and honing his skills during a series of protests and "illegal religious activities" in 1995. He was put to death for helping to plan anti-Chinese riots in February 1997. He was also involved in an attack later that year that killed 4 civilians and one police officer. Aisha, 29, was Simayi's bomb expert, according to an official. He participated in the killings of at least 7 Yili officials during an attack on prefecture offices in June 1997 and helped steal nearly 70kg (154lb) of dynamite and 113 blasting caps earlier that year. He was arrested in July 1997. Two other members of Simayi's guerrilla cell were sentenced to death with a 2-year stay of execution and 6 more were handed jail terms.