As the Southern (Inner) Mongolian prominent dissident Hada’s scheduled release date of December 10 approaches, Chinese authorities have launched a new round of arrests and detentions in Southern Mongolia to silence public opinion and prevent possible unrest.

On December 4, Ms. Xinna, wife of Hada, was arrested at her bookstore (named the Mongolian Studies Bookstore) in Hohhot, capital city of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, by the local police. Xinna’s son Uiles was informed by the police authorities that his mother is currently detained at the Inner Mongolia No.1 Detention Center where most political prisoners are detained before being transferred to prison. The police also confiscated hundreds of books, CDs, souvenirs and other items after an intensive search of the bookstore. According to eyewitnesses the bookstore’s door and windows are sealed shut.

At the same time, more than a dozen police from the Hohhot City Saihan District Public Security Bureau raided the warehouse of the Mongolian Studies Bookstore, and carried out a 13-hour search of the warehouse. During the police search, around 3:00 PM local time, Uiles who was working at the warehouse managed to go out and find an Internet café to send out an appeal to the Southern Mongolian Human Rights Information Center (SMHRIC), Associated Press and other news media and human rights organizations calling for their immediate attention to the arrest. Shortly thereafter, the police rushed into the Internet café and took him to the local police station for detention.

At their warehouse, without following any legal procedures, the police confiscated Uiles’ personal computer, Xinna’s diary, business accounting documents, and books Xinna and Uiles were reading. This is the third time this week the bookstore has been raided. A few days ago, police and the Cultural Market Management Bureau personnel came to their bookstore and confiscated more than 7 boxes of books, CDs and DVDs.

Around 11:30 PM local time, SMHRIC was able to contact Uiles via phone immediately after his release from detention. Uiles told SMHRIC that the authorities detained him for “spreading the word through the Internet”. During the detention Uiles was told that his mother Xinna has been officially detained for “illegal management” that was further detailed by the Public Security as “running over-quota management”.

“It is as if a bakery sold four different types of bagels while the authorities ask it to sell only three types,” Uiles answered when SMHRIC asked what the meaning of “over-quota management” is, “it is just a nonsense excuse made up by them.”

An hour before his release, the Deputy Director of Hohhot City Public Security Bureau arrived at the local police station and talked with Uiles personally. With a relatively softer attitude he asked Uiles to sign a paper to guarantee the following three conditions:

1.     Not to disseminate any information about himself and his family through the Internet and over the phone;
2.     Cleary draw a line between himself and his parents and sever his relationship with his parents;
3.     Not to carry out any separatist activities similar to his father Hada’s in the future.

The Deputy Director also promised Uiles that the authorities will help him find a nice job, beautiful house and even a pretty girl friend if he agrees to the conditions and sign the paper.

“Don’t worry, we are not the people who tread on our freedom and dignity with these things,” Uiles said when asked by SMHRIC if he signed the paper, “regardless of the hardships we have gone through during the past 15 years, I am so proud of being the son of these great parents who have never given up their pursuit for freedom, human rights and human dignity.”

“I can’t wait for my father’s return home even though we have not been given any official word as to exactly when and where the release will take place. The Public Security clearly told me that we are not allowed to see him in Ulaanhad (Chifeng in Chinese) upon his release,” Uiles said, “at the same time, I am very concerned with my mother’s health condition. She is already 55 years old and has a serious heart problem.”

Mr. Haschuluu, uncle of Hada and a retired teacher of a Mongolian school, who lives in Ulaanhad City where Hada is imprisoned, told SMHRIC by phone that he has also been harassed by the local police on a daily basis since his recent interviews with foreign news media. He is still denied a prison visit with Hada.

In the remote countryside of north eastern Southern Mongolia’s Zhi-An Township in Naiman Banner, Mr. Arslan, a young Mongolian activist and dissident, was detained a few days ago on suspicion of causing disturbances during Hada’s release. He was warned not to visit Ulaanhad to cheer at Hada’s release. He was released from detention but placed under house arrest.

Ms. Huuchinhuu, another prominent dissident writer, activist, and member of the banned organization Southern Mongolian Democratic Alliance, is still under house arrest in eastern Southern Mongolia’s Tongliao City for rallying the Mongolians to welcome Hada. Police continue to guard her around the clock.

Hada, founder of the Southern Mongolian Democratic Alliance, was arrested in December 1995 in Hohhot City, and sentenced to 15 years in jail and an additional 4 year suspension of political right from charges of “splitting the country and engaging in espionage”. Regarded as a national hero by the Southern Mongolians, Hada has never given up his political struggle for freedom, democracy and self-determination of the Mongolian people in China even under the Chinese authorities’ cruel torture and inhumane treatment during the past 15 years in prison. He is scheduled to be freed on December 10, 2010.