To the UNPFII 9th Session and the United Nations Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights
April 27th, 2010, New York
Re: Arrest of Mr. Sodmongol (Cao Du) of the Indigenous Mongolian Community in China
The Global Indigenous Peoples Caucus at the 9th Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues expresses its serious concern at the arrest and detention of Mr. Sodmongol of the Mongolian people in China.
Mr. Sodmongol is a beneficiary of the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Populations for his attendance at the 9th Session of the Permanent Forum.
He was scheduled to depart China on Sunday April 18, 2010 at 3:45 PM (Beijing local time). However he was arrested by the Chinese authorities between the hours of 2:55 PM and 3:45 PM (Beijing local time) at the Beijing Capital International Airport without just cause and due process. His whereabouts and health conditions remain unknown.
This unlawful arrest by the Chinese authorities violated Mr. Sodmongol's human rights and fundamental freedoms and has prevented him from attending this session of the Forum.
The Global Indigenous Peoples Caucus urges the Permanent Forum and the Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights to take immediate measures to restore Mr. Sodmongol's human rights and freedoms in accordance with universal human rights standards. We further urge that the future attendance at sessions of this Forum of participants from China be allowed without interference.
Respectfully,
Global Indigenous Peoples Caucus of the United Nations Permanent Forum 9th Session
Changing
Inner Mongolia: Pastoral Mongolian Society and the Chinese State (Oxford
Studies in Social and Cultural Anthropology)
