In Ashitu city, western China, old school friends of exiled Uygur activist Rebiya Kadeer's husband Sidik Haji Rouzi are counting their losses from the deadly July 5 riot and wondering at the gulf that has come between them.

In Ashitu city, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Abudulareheman Aisha, 67, who attended middle school with Sidik complained of the losses to his fruit crop income caused by the riot in Urumqi, which left 192 people dead.

Abudulareheman grows grapes and figs, but fruit dealers have refrained from coming to his orchard out of concerns for their safety, leaving the ripened figs to rot.

"Since the riot, the price for 100 figs has fallen to 25 yuan from 100 yuan," he said. "I have lost thousands of yuan."

He worries about his grapes which are due to ripen by September. "Hopefully, everything will be fine by then, and people will come back."

Abudulareheman recalled that Sidik was quiet as a school boy. "Sidik's performance as a student was quite average.

"It is hard to imagine Sidik would turn out to be a separatist and conspirator. The man has been making troubles and is a shame to our village."

Abudulareheman says the villagers were quite happy with their lives, enjoying medical insurance and free education. His six children were all employed. "I see no reason for Sidik and Rebiya to make trouble for us."

Aimieraimaiti Haji, 65, knew Sidik when he was a young boy and the old man echoed Abudulareheman's anger.

"That was an attack against the innocent, Sidik and his wife should be punished," Aimieraimaiti said. "They should open their eyes wide to see the facts, and stop libeling the authorities or hurting the people."

Abulikmu Tieliwardi, 65, another childhood friend of Sidik also suffered economic losses due to the riot.

"For years, the guy has done nothing good for us; instead, he and his woman committed crimes and caused losses for his old friends," said Abulikmu.

He planted grapes this season. Normally, dealers should have come to buy, but this year, not one has arrived.

"If things continue to be like this, we are bound to loose a lot of money," said Abulikmu.

Aisikar Kawuli, the chief of local Forestry Bureau, said Ashitu grew about 133 hectares of figs and 3,333 hectares of grapes that contribute about 200 million yuan annually to the local economy. He worried that the riot would badly affect fruit production, since the bulk purchases come from dealers outside Xinjiang.

Aisikar said the local authorities would do their best to deal with the unsold fruit and minimize potential losses.

(Xinhua News Agency July 17, 2009)