CNN interviews Liu Yingli, wife of detained academic Li Shaomin

Liu Yingli

Human rights groups are criticizing China for detaining overseas based academics such as Li Shaomin -- a Hong Kong based academic -- held since February. In an exclusive interview, CNN's Mike Chinoy spoke with Li's wife Liu Yingli and asked her about her husband's detention.

Liu Yingli: Well, so far the U.S. embassy has visited him three times. The last time was Monday April 30 and I was told that he appears to be in good health. That's all I know. And he gave me a note which the officer from the embassy dictated for me which said that he loves us and loves me very much and his love for me grows by day and he misses his daughter and everyone else in the family. That's all.

Do you have any idea what's behind this?

Liu Yingli: I do not really know and I try, try to figure out. As a scholar myself, I can only think that this is something that they would do to intimidate the other scholars which means that the scholars around the world, no matter what their country origins are, are in danger.

AUDIO Liu Yingli tells CNN’s Mike Chinoy of the agony she and her family are going through. 732KB/1:07min AIFF or WAV sound     MESSAGE BOARD Discuss issues on China

Was he in any way connected with the people who may have been involved with these Tiananmen Papers, the secret documents about Tiananmen Square that were published recently?

Liu Yingli: I don't think so.

So, what were the circumstances of his arrest?

Liu Yingli: He went to China frequently. This time it was February 25 at night and he went there on a very normal overnight trip to Shenzen and he never returned. After five days I got a call from the U.S. embassy that told me he was arrested by the Chinese government.

AUDIO Liu Yingli tells CNN's Mike Chinoy she has no idea why her husband was detained. 638KB/59secs AIFF or WAV sound

Let me ask you, for you personally and for your daughter, what has this experience been like?

Liu Yingli: It is really very hard and I would say it is the most agonizing time for me. This very painful experience won't even spare my daughter who is nine years old and our parents who are over 70 years old.

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My daughter has been repeatedly asking me 'when is daddy coming home?' and I have no answer for her. I can see my parents getting older every week because of their worry and concern for their son. And this has been for more than two months already. We haven't really had a nice peaceful day and there is no single night when we can go to bed peacefully. We have been spending these two months restless and sleepless and our only hope is that he can come home sooner to join the family.

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