Hada's brief family reunion in Hohhot

Mr. Khas, brother of Ms. Xinna, wife of prominent political prisoner Hada, met with Xinna on July 5, 2011 at the Inner Mongolia No.1 Detention Center in Hohhot, capital city of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China. This is the first time since February 20, 2011, a relative has been allowed to meet with a member of the Hada family.

Hada, a Southern (Inner) Mongolian political prisoner who served 15 years in a Chinese jail, was scheduled to be released on December 10, 2010. But instead of being set free, Hada was arrested and put under detention along with his wife Xinna and son Uiles. Currently all three members of the family are being held in separate facilities: Hada is imprisoned in a secret prison in suburban Hohhot; Xinna is in the Inner Mongolia No.1 Detention Center; Uiles is in the Inner Mongolia No.3 Detention Center.

According to Ms.Hanshuulan, Xinna’s 84 year old mother, after many requests Xinna’s brother Khas was allowed to meet with Xinna at the detention center for about an hour. It was obvious that Xinna was suffering under the stress of an open ended detention and charges of “engaging in illegal business” referring to her bookstore business. The authorities have as yet failed to present any evidence to support their accusation.

“Despite the lack of evidence, the Public Security Bureau told us that Xinna needs to be held in detention for some time,” Hanshuulan told the Southern Mongolian Human Rights Information Center (SMHIRC) over the phone, “we are not allowed to visit Hada and Uiles. But we are still demanding a meeting with both of them”.

Hanshuulan also told SMHRIC that the Public Security Personnel have been visiting her and her daughter Ms Naraa frequently to force them to persuade Hada to give up his idea of non-cooperation.

“A few days ago, they brought us three recent photos of Hada, showing Hada was allowed to go out with them to a nearby mountain,” Hanshuulan said, “yet, Hada considers this worthless, and is determined to sue the authorities once he is released for their deprivation of his freedom and inhumane treatment.”

Ms. Naraa, Xinna’s sister, has been in poor health due to the authorities’ persistent pressure and frequent harassments. Hanshuulan told SMHRIC that Naraa has been forced to write letters to Hada under the instruction of the Public Security personnel stating that all of his relatives are no longer supporting him and trying to stay away from him. Outraged by this, Naraa refused to write the letters and fell sick for several days. Naraa was also threatened multiple times that she will be thrown into jail if she continues to reveal any information about the family to foreign journalists and human rights groups.

“All of our conversations are tapped by them. They even asked me directly if I answered the calls of SMHRIC. I told them yes, ‘I did, and I will’,” Hanshuulan continued over the phone and expressed her gratitude to SMHRIC, “on behalf of the family, I thank you for your continuing attention to Hada, Xinna and Uiles.”

“They told me that those foreign groups and journalists are liars. I laughed at them and told them ‘don’t try to fool me. I lived to 84 years old. I know who is good and who is bad,’” excited and determined, Hanshuulan, continued, “I told them if they want to take me to their detention center, go ahead. I am happy to die there!”