... Thank you Madam Chairperson for giving me this opportunity to talk about our concerns. We also take this opportunity to express our gratitude to the Permanent Forum and the Volunteer Fund for Inviting our indigenous Mongolian community leader Mr. Naranbilig, an indigenous rights defender and a free-lance journalist, to attend the Permanent Forum 7th Session and providing him with the funds for his trip to New York. Unfortunately, he is not here today, because he was arrested on March 23 and detained until April 12 by the Chinese authorities. Following his 20 day detention, he has been placed under 1 year house arrest after payment of 20,000 Yuan bail. The reasons for his arrest and detention are the following: 1. His attempt to attend the Permanent Forum 7^th Session; 2. His attendance to the World Gathering of Nomadic and Transhumant Pastoralists and the First Congress of the World Alliance of Mobile Indigenous Peoples in Segovia, Spain last September  ...

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           ... Mr. Naranbilig, a well-known ethnic Mongolian free-lance journalist and human rights defender of Southern (Inner) Mongolia, was arrested on March 23, 2008 at his residence in the region’s capital Huhhot City. His family members were not given any official explanation by the Chinese authorities about his arrest and his whereabouts were unknown until he was released on April 12, 2008 on 20,000 Yuan (approximately 3,000 $US) bail. He was placed under 1-year house arrest. Police had searched his residence and seized his personal computer, notebooks and other personal property. During his detention, he was not allowed to find a lawyer to defend himself and family members were told not to reveal the fact of his arrest and to tell others that “he is on a business trip to somewhere”. In confiscating his passport, he was warned that he is under the authorities’ tight control and close monitor. Mr. Naranbilig was one of the leaders of 1981 Mongolian Student Movement  ...

           ... Xinna speaks with the aggrieved yet defiant air of someone who has told her story a hundred times without results. Sitting at a table on a Hohhot footpath sipping Mongolian milk tea, she at first tries to ignore the secret police who watch her meeting with a visitor. Then she takes a more cynical approach and waves at them, smiling. "I have nothing to hide. Let them watch," said Ms Xinna, emphatic that what the government appears to be increasingly afraid of is unlikely to happen. While there are simmering ethnic tensions between Han Chinese and the native Mongol population over the latter's loss of culture and influence, Mongols are nearly unanimous in saying they have little desire to see a Tibet-style uprising or any active protest. The Olympic torch will be in Inner Mongolia between July 11 and 13. "People have suggested to me that something could be planned [a protest during the Olympic torch relay] but I have refrained so far. Not many people are  ...

           ... Splitting the country refers to the act of an organization to plot and implement splittism and sabotage to a country. However, I am an ordinary intellectual and a manager of a private bookstore who did not commit any concrete actions fitting the conditions of the crime of splitting the country. The referendum I referred to was not intended for the current social condition. It referred to a referendum that will take place in a future democratic China. Referendum is a common practice of the modern world to address nationality questions. For example, secession of Quebec in Canada and reunification of West and East Germany were addressed through a referendum. No country in the world sees the call for a referendum as a crime. The Southern Mongolian Democratic Alliance is a social entity, not an anti-revolutionary clique. Freedom of association is a legal right of citizens guaranteed by  ...