Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BEIJING21990
2006-10-17 11:12:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beijing
Cable title:
HUMAN RIGHTS: HISTORIAN DING DONG DETAINED
how-toVZCZCXRO1429 OO RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC DE RUEHBJ #1990 2901112 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 171112Z OCT 06 FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0009 INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 021990
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR DRL, EAP/CM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/17/2031
TAGS: PHUM PGOV CH
SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS: HISTORIAN DING DONG DETAINED
REF: A. A) BEIJING 21895
B. B) BEIJING 19039
C. C) BEIJING 10507
Classified By: Acting Political Section Internal Unit Chief Chris Klein
. Reasons 1.5 (b/d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 021990
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR DRL, EAP/CM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/17/2031
TAGS: PHUM PGOV CH
SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS: HISTORIAN DING DONG DETAINED
REF: A. A) BEIJING 21895
B. B) BEIJING 19039
C. C) BEIJING 10507
Classified By: Acting Political Section Internal Unit Chief Chris Klein
. Reasons 1.5 (b/d).
1. (C) Police detained historian and activist Ding
Dong at his home on the morning of October 17, Ding's
wife Xing Xiaoqun told poloff by phone. This is the
first time Ding has been detained, Xing said, adding
that police provided no explanation for the detention.
Authorities have also seized Ding's computer, printer
and dozens of books and magazines, Xing related. Xing
said that when authorities apprehended Ding, between 8
a.m. and 9 a.m., they told her he would be released
within 12 hours, apparently in line with a rule that
permits the police to detain people for up to 24 hours
without explanation. As of 7 p.m. October 17, Ding
had not returned home. Xing reported that a police
officer has been stationed outside the front door of
her family's apartment all day but that no cotrols
were placed on hermovements.
2. (C) Xing said she is unsure wat has caused
authorities to detain Ding. Sh told poloff, however,
that Ding has been meeting regularly with Hu Jia, a
rights activist who has himself been detained for
questioning about his connection to arrested lawyer
Gao Zhisheng (ref A). For his part, Ding is an
outspoken advocate of freedom of expression. In
February, he signed an open letter in support of
ousted Freezing Point editor Li Datong (ref C). In
addition, Ding and Xing were among a group of scholars
who were warned by Beijing Public Security Bureau
authorities not to attend a symposium on the 40th
anniversary of the Cultural Revolution in May. At the
time, Ding told poloff the PSB warned him that if he
tried to fly out of the country, border officials at
Beijing airport would confiscate his passport to
ensure he did not travel.
Randt
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR DRL, EAP/CM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/17/2031
TAGS: PHUM PGOV CH
SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS: HISTORIAN DING DONG DETAINED
REF: A. A) BEIJING 21895
B. B) BEIJING 19039
C. C) BEIJING 10507
Classified By: Acting Political Section Internal Unit Chief Chris Klein
. Reasons 1.5 (b/d).
1. (C) Police detained historian and activist Ding
Dong at his home on the morning of October 17, Ding's
wife Xing Xiaoqun told poloff by phone. This is the
first time Ding has been detained, Xing said, adding
that police provided no explanation for the detention.
Authorities have also seized Ding's computer, printer
and dozens of books and magazines, Xing related. Xing
said that when authorities apprehended Ding, between 8
a.m. and 9 a.m., they told her he would be released
within 12 hours, apparently in line with a rule that
permits the police to detain people for up to 24 hours
without explanation. As of 7 p.m. October 17, Ding
had not returned home. Xing reported that a police
officer has been stationed outside the front door of
her family's apartment all day but that no cotrols
were placed on hermovements.
2. (C) Xing said she is unsure wat has caused
authorities to detain Ding. Sh told poloff, however,
that Ding has been meeting regularly with Hu Jia, a
rights activist who has himself been detained for
questioning about his connection to arrested lawyer
Gao Zhisheng (ref A). For his part, Ding is an
outspoken advocate of freedom of expression. In
February, he signed an open letter in support of
ousted Freezing Point editor Li Datong (ref C). In
addition, Ding and Xing were among a group of scholars
who were warned by Beijing Public Security Bureau
authorities not to attend a symposium on the 40th
anniversary of the Cultural Revolution in May. At the
time, Ding told poloff the PSB warned him that if he
tried to fly out of the country, border officials at
Beijing airport would confiscate his passport to
ensure he did not travel.
Randt