HUMAN RIGHTS: RIGHTS ACTIVIST HU JIA RELEASED;

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 019039 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR DRL, EAP/CM E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/08/2031 TAGS: PHUM PGOV CH SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS: RIGHTS ACTIVIST HU JIA RELEASED; INTERROGATED ABOUT LAWYER GAO ZHISHENG REF: BEIJING 18914 CLASSIFIED BY: CLASSIFIED BY POLITICAL INTERNAL UNIT CHIEF SUSAN THORNTON. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: BEIJING-BASED ACTIVIST HU JIA WAS RELEASED BY SECURITY AUTHORITIES ON THE EVENING OF SEPTEMBER 7, IN APPARENT COMPLIANCE WITH A RULE THAT ALLOWS AUTHORITIES TO DETAIN CITIZENS FOR A PERIOD OF UP TO 12 HOURS FOR QUESTIONING WITHOUT EXPLANATION. AUTHORITIES INTERROGATED HU ABOUT HIS CONNECTION WITH DETAINED LAWYER GAO ZHISHENG, TELLING HU THAT HU IS SUSPECTED OF UNSPECIFIED "CRIMINAL ACTIVITY." SECURITY AUTHORITIES TOOK HU AWAY AGAIN ON THE MORNING OF SEPTEMBER 8 FOR FURTHER QUESTIONING, BUT LATER RELEASED HIM. HE IS CURRENTLY UNDER HOUSE ARREST. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) ACTIVIST HU JIA'S WIFE ZENG JINYAN (PROTECT) PHONED POLOFF THE EVENING OF SEPTEMBER 7 TO SAY THAT HU HAD RETURNED HOME AFTER BEING RELEASED BY SECURITY AUTHORITIES. THE TIMING OF HU'S RELEASE APPARENTLY COMPLIES WITH A RULE ALLOWING AUTHORITIES TO DETAIN CITIZENS FOR UP TO 12 HOURS AT A TIME FOR QUESTIONING WITHOUT EXPLANATION. ZENG SAID AUTHORITIES TOLD HU, WITHOUT ELABORATING, THAT HE IS SUSPECTED OF "CRIMINAL ACTIVITY." AUTHORITIES ALSO TOLD HU SEPTEMBER 7 THAT THEY WOULD RETURN THE NEXT DAY TO QUESTION HIM FURTHER. ¶3. (C) HU TOLD ZENG THE SEPTEMBER 7 INTERROGATION FOCUSED MAINLY ON HU'S CONNECTION TO DETAINED ACTIVIST LAWYER GAO ZHISHENG. (NOTE: HU HAS SOUGHT HELP FOR GAO IN OBTAINING LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND HAS WIDELY DISSEMINATED INFORMATION BOTH ABOUT GAO AND ABOUT GAOS WIFE AND CHILDREN, WHO REMAIN UNDER HOUSE ARREST IN BEIJING WHILE GAO IS DETAINED. GAO WAS DETAINED AUGUST 15 IN SHANDONG PROVINCE. BEIJING AUTHORITIES HAVE SINCE SAID GAO IS BEING HELD ON SUSPICION OF INVOLVEMENT IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. END NOTE.) ¶4. (C) ZENG SAID HU SPENT THE NIGHT OF SEPTEMBER 7 AT THEIR APARTMENT, BUT WAS DETAINED AGAIN ON THE MORNING OF SEPTEMBER 8 BY SECURITY OFFICERS IN TWO UNMARKED CARS. THOUGH THE PHONE LINE AND INTERNET CONNECTION AT THE APARTMENT REMAIN CUT, ZENG SAID AUTHORITIES HAVE NOT REMOVED ANYTHING FROM THE APARTMENT. FOUR OR FIVE SECURITY OFFICIALS REMAINED DOWNSTAIRS ON THE NIGHT OF SEPTEMBER 7 TO ENFORCE HU'S HOUSE ARREST, BUT THEY DID NOT ENTER THE APARTMENT. ZENG REPORTED LATER ON SEPTEMBER 8 THAT HU HAD AGAIN BEEN RELEASED AND RETURNED HOME. HE REMAINS AT HOME UNDER EFFECTIVE HOUSE ARREST, BUT HAS APPARENTLY BEEN TOLD THAT HE WILL NOT BE QUESTIONED AGAIN FOR AT LEAST THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. RANDT