The Ugyhurs would do well to look at what the Welsh did when speaking their language was illegal and nearly wiped out.

They resurrected an ancient musical tradition called the Eisteddfod.  By promoting the language through their cultural heritage, they've been able to preserve it.

Promoting traditional music would really help preserving their culture and may their language. Only they don't live in a democratic and free country like the UK. Unfortunately Uyghurs live in a system where the governments decide which aspects of their culture people should preserve, or at least tries to this.

The Welsh had the same problem with the English actively suppressing their language and culture, yet it survived and thrives.

As long as they can keep politics out of it, they should be OK.  It can't be any worse than what they have to deal with now.

I am not sure how can  language preservation kept out of politics. In fact I reckon the matter is completely to do with politics. Well, can it be any worse than what they have to deal with now? Depends I guess. We know that there are more than a few Hui (Dungan, e.i. Muslim Chinese) communities that is proven to be previıously speaker of a Turkic language or any other Altaic language (and off course Arabic and Persian at a smaller scale). But then the misery would end if it comes to this point :) 

The Welsh is a success story. More recently, the Cornish have succeeded with their recognition as a separate ethnicity within the UK.

But you can't do that in Xingiang with the Chinese majority watching.

An alternative would be to organize informal groups of language, music and customs as well as invite language departments from abroad (USA) to "study" these. The Chinese will not object to that. After all, they want international cooperations, don't they?

Dear Michael thanks for your answer. I am sure the Chinese want and need international cooperation. On the other hand they act quite jelously on the Uyghur question. I am not sure if it is possible to organize an informal group of any kind in todays China, especially among the Uighurs and perhaps among the Tibetans as well. We have to keep in mind that we stil have forbidden zones in Xingiang. In fact the Uighurs are recognized as a seperate ethnic group in China. However unfortunately their rights are only on paper. Please let me remind you that Prof. İlham Tohti is in jail just for demanding the Uighur rights, which are in the law, to be implemented. And this is happening in spite of world-wide protests among academical and political circles.

Thanks Gokce for letting me know about Prof. Ilham Tohti.

People who deal with the Chinese - and there are lots in Canada right now - have to mention his name in their deliberations / negotiations. I know at least two such people and I intend to raise the issue with them. 

We need to popularize such events right across the world.

Thank you very much Michael. This is very kind of you.