China’s ‘vocational camps’ employ draconian measures, use 360-degree surveillance in washrooms

The 1.5 million “prisoners,” a million of whom are Uighur Muslims, locked up in China’s “vocational training centers” in Xinjiang are subject to such severe indoctrination and security measures that “some are tortured and die there,” the Bitter Winter online magazine reported on Monday.

The report is based on a video published by Bitter Winter on Nov. 26 that delves inside one of the centers in the Yining area of Xinjiang.

The video shows a complex with various buildings, each four stories tall. The windows are barred and also have netting. Each exit is monitored by three surveillance cameras. The inside of the buildings are highly reminiscent of typical prisons.

“Each room has double iron doors, and the outermost iron door also has guard railing and a keypad lock. Up to 15 people can live in each dorm. Surveying has also revealed that each floor holds 28 dorm rooms and three classrooms,” the Bitter Winter reported.

The building shown in the shocking video also reveals a surveillance room. “From the large-screen monitor, it is apparent that 360-degree surveillance cameras are installed in every corner of the building—including not only classrooms, dormitories and corridors, but even washrooms. Every move by the detainees is monitored, 24 hours a day. They are totally deprived of freedom and privacy.”

The draconian security measures are used to keep people inside and prevent them from escaping. The building is also littered with propaganda aimed at assimilating those being held.

“A slogan is written on the external walls of the buildings, which reads: ‘Heartfelt thanks for the cordial care of the [Chinese Communist] Party’s central committee, with comrade Xi Jinping as the core,’” the Bitter Winter reported.

“Various slogans are written on the walls outside of the classrooms, such as: ‘Make a habit of studying Mandarin’ (intended for Uyghurs, who normally do not speak Mandarin but only their own Uyghur language) and ‘Follow the guidance of Xi Jinping’s thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era, and untiringly strive to achieve the dream of the people of China to bring about a great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.’”

Many refer to China’s Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region -- home to many ethnic minority groups, including Turkic Uighur people -- as East Turkestan.

They believe that the Uighur are among a number of Turkic tribes that inhabit the region, and consider it to be part of Central Asia, not China.

Established under the pretext of “political reeducation” for China’s Muslim population, Beijing has amped up its construction of detention camps in the past three months, expanding them by an additional 700,000 square meters, according to satellite imagery.

China’s Muslim incarceration camps have attracted heavy criticism from the international community as Beijing continually denied their existence and repeatedly rejected allegations of abuses against the country’s Uighur minority for years, opting to call them “vocational camps” instead.

Xinjiang region is home to around 10 million Uighurs. The Turkic Muslim group which makes up around 45 percent of the population of Xinjiang, has long accused China’s authorities for cultural, religious and economic discrimination.