Same here. Exactly the 'reason why' advertised in the headline is missing from the article. Is it the collateral environmental destruction if any, that the locals are opposing (in which case it's irrelevant that they are Muslims)? Is their traditional way of life under threat?

The geographical and economical pointers from the article are welcome however, so the oppression of Uyghurs can be put in a context that is not about cultural or linguistic differences.