PROFESSIONAL LUNCHEON
Rebiya Kadeer,
President, World Uyghur Congress

The speech and Q & A will be in Uyghur with English interpretation.

Rebiya Kadeer is president of the World Uyghur Congress (WUC), a federation of exile groups claiming to represent the interests of Uyghurs inside and outside their homeland in the Xinjiang Autonomous Region of northwest China. Beijing alleges the WUC is a separatist organization and a front for Islamic terrorists and accuses its president of organizing the violent Urumqi uprising in July -- all charges denied by Kadeer.

A self-made millionairess and member of the National People's Consultative Congress,　Kadeer was a well-connected member of the political establishment until radicalized by the suppression of Uyghur protests in 1997, after which she began publicly criticizing the government. Removed from the congress, she was arrested in 1999 and convicted the following year of "endangering state security". She was released into the custody of the U.S. in 2005 and has lived in Washington since.

Particularly since the Urumqi uprising drew international attention to Uyghur grievances, Kadeer has been campaigning around the world, her visits to other countries usually drawing official protests from Beijing. She was recently barred from Taiwan and this is her second visit to Japan since late July.

MENU
Sandwich Plate: Tuna wrap with feta, olive, tomato, lettuce, red pepper, onion & oregano mayonnaise, salad & pickles.
Hot Plate: Harissa spiced lamb shoulder with cous cous, confit tomato, eggplant and cucumber yoghurt, seasonal salad.

Rebiya Kadeer, President, World Uyghur Congress.