Mongolian cyber-dissident and relatives still in prison, relatives harassed

Reporters Without Borders is relieved to finally have some news about the Mongolian cyber-dissident Hada and his family, who have been detained illegally in Inner Mongolia since last December. At the same time, the press freedom organization condemns the constant harassment of their close relatives. The Southern Mongolian Human Rights Information Centre, a New York-based NGO, reports that Khas, the brother of Hada’s wife Xinna, was finally able to visit Xinna at Inner Mongolia detention centre No. 1 for an hour on 5 July, after many approaches to the Chinese authorities. Despite his repeated requests, he was not however able to see Hada or Hada’s son Uiles, who are being held in other prisons. Xinna is charged with “illegal business practices” in connection with her activities as a bookstore manager. The authorities are continuing to hold her although the prosecution case file contains no evidence supporting the charge. A journalist, online activist and defender of China’s Mongolian minority, Hada was not released when he completed a 15-year jail sentence on 10 December 2010, although the Chinese authorities insisted that he had been released. Hada, who uses only one name, like many other members of his minority, says he is determined to sue the authorities for inhuman treatment and privation of freedom as soon as he is released. Xinna’s sister, Naraa, and their mother, Hanshulaan, have been repeatedly pressured by the authorities to get them to persuade Hada to abandon his activism. All their phones are being tapped. Reporters Without Borders calls on the authorities to release Hada and Xinna and their son Uiles at once and to end the harassment of their relatives. -------------------------------------------------- Authorities holding Hada’s wife and son, brought charges last January
10 May 2011 Reporters Without Borders strongly condemns the trumped-up charges of “illegal business activities” and “drug possession” that the Chinese authorities have brought against the wife and son of Hada, the Mongolian human rights activist who should have been released last December on completing a 15-year jail sentence. In an interview for the Southern Mongolian Human Rights Information Centre on 4 May, Hada’s sister-in-law, Naraa, revealed that Hada’s wife, Xinna, and his son, Uiles, are being held in Hohhot, the capital of Inner Mongolia, and that they were formally charged on 17 January. Arrested in early December, their only crime was to support Hada in his fight to defend his basic rights. Naraa’s interview has confirmed fears that Hada and his two closest relatives are still being detained that that they have not have not been resting in a luxury hotel, as the China authorities claimed last December. Uiles was to have gone on trial at the end of April, but the trial has been postponed without a new date being set, Naraa said. Naraa said the Chinese authorities have made it clear to Hada and his relatives that they will not be freed until they sign an undertaking to abandon their human rights activities. Until now, they have refused to do this, she said. Hada has gone on several hunger strikes in protest against the conditions in which they are being held. His health has deteriorated and is now very worrying. Information about the fate of Hada, Xinna and Uiles has been very slow in emerging. The movements and communications of other members of the family have been closely monitored and both telephones and computers have been confiscated. Reporters Without Borders calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Hada, Xinna and Uiles, and for an end to the surveillance of their other relatives. The press freedom organization also calls on the Chinese authorities to provide precise information about the present whereabouts of Govruud Huuchinhuu, who has been missing since leaving hospital on 27 January after appealing online for Hada’s release. Timeline: -4/5 December 2010: Hada’s wife, Xinna, and son, Uiles, were arrested. -10 December 2010: On the day Hada should have been released, he was transferred to another prison in Inner Mongolia. -11 December 2010: Photos of the family were posted online, under the legend “family reunion.” -14 December 2010: Nara, Hada’s sister-in-law, was told by the authorities that Hada, Xinna and Uiles were “resting” at a five-star hotel. -17 January 2011: Xinna and Uiles were formally arrested and charged. -25 January 2011: A video was posted anonymously online showing Hada meeting his uncle, Hashuluu. -1-4 February 2011: The authorities asked the three detainees to sign an undertaking not to continue publicly expressing their views. -6 February 2011: Xinna and Uiles were taken to different prisons after refusing to sign the undertaking. Hada began a new hunger strike. -20 February 2011: Naraa’s last visit.