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URUMQI: The people of Xinjiang, both Han Chinese and Uighurs, say they only want to live harmoniously. And many of them blame the recent violence on long perceived discrimination.
It was an uneasy calm in the streets of Urumqi as security forces are still on high alert. But life is slowly returning to normal for residents here.
More people are now venturing out from their homes. And more shops are opened for business, such as the stall run by 50-year-old Wei Jinyue. His business was closed for three days in the aftermath of the Sunday riots.
"Today, we feel safe as the People's Liberation Army and armed police are stationed at our doorsteps," he said.
But at a 100-year-old mosque, we were told that as a safety precaution, it is only opened during prayer times.
Yaccob Ma Chenglong, Iman, said: "In this mosque, we advice people to remain calm and restraint. Many people have been injured in the riots so the healing process will take time.
"During this process, we call on people not to say or do things that might injure racial feelings. Every one should help ensure stability. I'm sure the worst will be over very soon."
Even though authorities have blamed overseas separatists' forces for the riots, some Uighurs do not agree. They say that unequal ethnic treatment was partly, if not mainly, responsible for the pent-up anger among young Uighurs.
Aikbar Mamudi said: "It's difficult for a Uighur college graduate to get a job because when he produces a college certificate, he was told that these certificates can be easily photocopied. It's absurd.
"We've seen problems like that - most of my friends have no jobs. It's not that they aren't willing to work, but because they're not given the opportunities."
Elsewhere, simmering tensions can still be felt.
One Uighur woman said: "In our hearts, we don't feel that the situation is stable. There are still incidents where a few ethnic Han beat up a Uighur in an ethnic Han community, and a few Uighurs beat up an ethnic Han in a Uighur community. We all want to live in a calm and peaceful society."
For those who have been arrested in the aftermath of the Sunday riots, authorities say most of them have been swindled and deceived by external forces.
But authorities also promised that those who had committed only minor crimes such as looting will be released from custody after re-education. - CNA/de
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