Mampimin Ala, the Uighur translator who flew from Australia said yesterday the six Chinese Muslims have been taken out of their temporary residence to walk around the shops and shake hands with some of the locals.
“They are happy to enjoy the beautiful environment of Palau,” Ala said. Ala said that the Uighurs have also started to shop for their basic necessities.
He added that the reception of the people in Palau for the Uighurs have been positive.
Palau has no local mosque, Ala said the Uighurs prayed first at their home and will be meeting with some of the Muslim leaders in Palau tomorrow.
President Johnson Toribiong is also scheduled to take out the Uighurs to the beautiful Rock Islands on Wednesday.
George Clark, one of the lawyers of the Uighurs said that “they are happy that the Palauan people have accepted them and relieved that they have finally been released from jail.”
Clark said the Uighurs “ have not touched the waters for eight years.”
Gitanjali Gutierrez , one of the lawyers said that it is important for them for the next few days to be able to shake the hands of the locals.
The decision to place the Uighurs in Palau, one of only 23 nations to recognise Taiwan, is likely to rile China which views Taiwan as part of its territory awaiting reunification after splitting from the mainland in 1949.
However, Palau President Johnson Toribiong is not worried about this because of the countries close relationship with the United States who will come to their rescue if there is any security threat.
Six Chinese Muslim Uighurs held at Guantanamo Bay were released to Palau Sunday
The men, who had been held at the US naval base in Cuba for eight years despite being cleared of all charges, arrived on Sunday 3 a.m. via a C-17 U.S. military plane.
The men were Ahmad Tourson, Abdul Ghappar Abdul Rahman, Edham Mamet, Anwar Hassan, Dawut Abdurehim and Adel Noori.
President Toribiong greeted the Uighurs at the airport and shook their hands.
