A carefully edited 1 minute 31 second long video clip of the prominent Mongolian political prisoner Hada and his family members was posted on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYTbcGUik8U&feature=related ) on February 21, 2011, by “tianguodenver”, a name previously used by the Chinese State Security authorities to post several earlier video clips and pictures of the dissident.

In the video clip, Hada who has gone missing since his scheduled release date of December 10, 2010 after serving his 15 year prison sentence talked about his first Chagaan Sar (Mongolian New Year) celebration in 15 years and concerns about his own health condition. His now gray hair and wrinkled face showed a much older looking Hada. Eyeglasses held in one hand testify to the deterioration of his eyesight that was previously reported by his wife Xinna to the Southern Mongolian Human Rights Information Center (SMHRIC).

Following Hada’s brief interview, Xinna also appeared on the video clip and encouraged the Chinese authorities and leaders to be more “humane” in dealing with ethnic problems. At the end of the clip, Hada and Xinna’s son Uiles thanked those who have been concerned about the family’s well-being for the past 15 years.

In the early 1990s, Hada founded an organization named the “Southern Mongolian Democratic Alliance” (SMDA) whose goal was to obtain a higher autonomy, independence, and ultimately the unification of Southern (Inner) Mongolia with the independent country of Mongolia. Hada was arrested in 1995 and sentenced in 1996 to 15 years in jail on charges of “splitting the country and engaging in espionage”. Hada’s wife Xinna and son Uiles were arrested a week before Hada’s scheduled release date, December 10, 2010.

Although the Chinese authorities have been consistent in their attempts to convince the international community that Hada is free by releasing pictures and videos of Hada and his family via unofficial channels, there has been no official word from the authorities on the family’s whereabouts and current condition. It is still unclear whether the members of the family are kept incommunicado together or separately. Contact with their relatives remains strictly prohibited.

The following is an English transcript of the original video clip:

Hada: With my sister-in-law, maternal-side uncle, brother-in-law, and mother-in-law, this is the first time after 15 years I spent the Chagaan Sar (Mongolian New Year) with them together. It is my top priority to treat my health problems after I return home.

Xinna: Certainly I appreciate that the authorities concerned and current leadership are becoming more humane. They are getting much better than before. I hope they continue to keep up with it. [They] came to have a talk with me earlier. I think if they consistently handle things in this manner, issues can be resolved with ease. I think this is a wise and open-minded way of thinking that is compatible with modern thinking. We saw Jia Qinglin’s speech on TV. I think the contents of his speech are very good. The way he thinks is apparently very practical, not with the old tone. This implies the Chinese current leaders have some better understanding on ethnic problems. The main idea discussed here is almost consistent with what I talked about.

Uiles: The day we waited for 15 years finally arrived. We thank those who have been concerned about our whole family for this many years. Also, it would have been impossible for us to have today without the care and concerns from many relatives and friends.