Senator Ludlam

Can the department provide the status of an environmental activist, Sun Xiaodi, who was sentenced in July 2009 to two years of re-education through labour? His daughter, Sun Haiyan, was sentenced to one and a half years of re-education through labour. These are two environmental activists who raised very serious concerns about radioactive contamination of Chinese uranium mines. They have not been heard from since their imprisonment, and I am wondering whether the department has made any representations or whether the department is aware of the status of either of those individuals?

Answer

According to non-governmental organisations which monitor human rights in China, Sun Xiaodi and Sun Haiyan (also known as Sun Dunbai) were detained by Public Security officials of Diebu County, Gansu Province on 16 June 2009. According to these sources, on 16 July Mr Sun Xiaodi was committed to re‑education through labour for two years and Ms Sun Haiyan was sentenced to one and a half years re-education through labour. As at 16 November 2009, the Australian Embassy in Beijing was unable to confirm the current status of Mr Sun Xiaodi or Ms Sun Haiyan from official Chinese Government sources or human rights contacts. However, our Embassy previously has made representations on behalf of Mr Sun on 7 June 2006 and 12 February 2007.