From the 1950s to the 1970s, the Chinese government-sponsored a mass migration of Han Chinese to the region and introduced several policies that were designed to suppress the cultural identity and religion of the Uyghurs.[55] During this period, several Uyghur separatist organizations emerged with potential support from the Soviet Union, with the East Turkestan People's Party being the largest organization in 1968.[56] During the 1970s, the Soviets supported the United Revolutionary Front of East Turkestan (URFET) to fight the Chinese.[57]