A new report that reveals the World Bank's association to Xinjiang has accused the institution of “funding a campaign of repression” of Uygurs and other Muslim minorities in the region. According to the report, about $486 million has been directed in form of loans and equity investments to four companies in Xinjiang, breaching the institution's standards. The researchers behind the report, Atlantic Council, a prominent Washington-based think tank, called on the World Bank to leave the region.
The report titled 'Financing and Genocide: Development Finance and the Crisis in the Uyghur Region,' states that the funds were meted out by The International Finance Corporation (IFC), which operates under the World Bank and is one of the world's leading development companies, that helps companies that can help elevate poverty in developing nations. The companies that received funding are Chenguang Biotech Group, Camel Group, Century Sunshine and Jointown Pharmaceutical Group. The IFC's internal guidelines "prevent IFC from financing projects that will have adverse environmental and social impacts that jeopardize [its] development aims," the report reads.
An IFC spokesperson told CNN the corporation has "strong environment, social and governance (ESG) standards" that are diligently applied during the life of the investment and are considered a model for development finance worldwide.
An annual report from the United Nations labour agency on February 11 highlighted the work conditions of Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in China's western Xinjiang region, noting signs of coercive measures that deprive workers of free choice in selecting jobs and calling on Beijing to provide more information about how it's respecting their rights.
The 20-member committee of independent international experts cited the Chinese government's defence, given in a different report, of what it calls vocational training centres in Xinjiang. Beijing says the centres are intended to help improve economic conditions and defuse extremist violence in the region.
They said various indicators pointed to the relocation of workers under security escort, the strict surveillance and retention of workers, and the threat of internment in vocational education and training centres if workers do not accept government administration.
– With PTI inputs
