Hada (activist)
Encyclopedia
Hada is an ethnic Mongol activist, who has campaigned for self-determination
of Southern Mongolia (the Inner Mongolia
Autonomous Region of China
). He was detained for 15 years in prison in Chifeng
. He may have been released from prison on December 10, 2010.
. He began research studies in the political theory department of Inner Mongolia Normal University
in 1986. With his wife, Xinna, he opened a Mongolian studies bookstore in Hohhot
, the capital of Inner Mongolia.
, discussed establishment of the Inner Mongolian People's Party
, a political party for Mongolians in Inner Mongolia.
In May 1992, Hada and other Mongol activists (including Tegexi) formed the Southern Mongolian Democratic Alliance
(originally named as the Mongolian Culture Rescue Committee) and appointed Hada as chairman. In 1994 the alliance started a newspaper named the Voice of Southern Mongolia, and in 1995 they adopted a constitution outlining the Alliance’s main mission as "opposing colonization by the Han people and striving for self-determination, freedom and democracy in Southern [Inner] Mongolia." The Voice of Southern Mongolia newspaper was declared illegal in 1995 and remains banned.
On December 10, 1995, Hada was arrested at his home by police from the Inner Mongolian Public Security Bureau
. The police took all documents related to the Alliance, and names and addresses of more than 100 international scholar contacts of Hada. Hada was officially arrested on March 9, 1996.
After Hada’s arrest, at least 10 other Mongolian intellectuals were arrested. HAda's wife Xinna left a note on the door of her book store about Hada’s detention and crackdown on activists. The authorities immediately suppressed a students protest that followed and arrested 12 of them. Xinna was taken into custody and investigated for "inciting students to cause a disturbance". Although not charged, Xinna was released 4 months later, on April 12, 1996. The Public Security Bureau closed the bookstore in Hohhot, even though the family had no other source of income.
In June 1998, Xinna wrote an open letter to Bill Clinton
, who was visiting China as U.S. President. She described Hada’s condition declaring his health problems were "not taken seriously by prison authorities". Xinna asked the authorities to transfer Hada to Hohhot prison for better care and medical treatment. The Chinese authorities never acceded to these requests.
In 2002, Uiles (or Ulies), the son of Hada was charged and sentenced to 2 years prison.,
In 2004, Human Rights in China reported that Hada had been subjected to torture.
In August 2007, Uiles was permitted to visit his father in Chifeng Prison. In a report he described the terrible condition of detention as well as the difficult health issues of his father. He has still been detained beyond his sentence term without any explanation.
Self-determination
Self-determination is the principle in international law that nations have the right to freely choose their sovereignty and international political status with no external compulsion or external interference...
of Southern Mongolia (the Inner Mongolia
Inner Mongolia
Inner Mongolia is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China, located in the northern region of the country. Inner Mongolia shares an international border with the countries of Mongolia and the Russian Federation...
Autonomous Region of China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
). He was detained for 15 years in prison in Chifeng
Chifeng
Chifeng , also known as Ulanhad, is a prefecture-level city in southeastern Inner Mongolia, People's Republic of China. It borders Xilin Gol to the north and west, Tongliao to the northeast, Chaoyang prefecture of Liaoning province to the southeast, and Chengde prefecture of Hebei province to the...
. He may have been released from prison on December 10, 2010.
Early life and education
Hada was born into a Mongolian family on November 29, 1955. In early 1981, while at university he joined the Inner Mongolian student movement, which was campaigning to preserve Mongolian identity in Inner Mongolia under Chinese law. Hada obtained his Masters degree in philosophy in 1983, and published articles on political theory in MongolianMongolian language
The Mongolian language is the official language of Mongolia and the best-known member of the Mongolic language family. The number of speakers across all its dialects may be 5.2 million, including the vast majority of the residents of Mongolia and many of the Mongolian residents of the Inner...
. He began research studies in the political theory department of Inner Mongolia Normal University
Inner Mongolia Normal University
Inner Mongolia Normal University is a university in Inner Mongolia, People's Republic of China under the authority of the Autonomous Region government. It is located in Hohhot, the capital city of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region....
in 1986. With his wife, Xinna, he opened a Mongolian studies bookstore in Hohhot
Hohhot
Hohhot , is a city in north-central China and the capital of the Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region, serving as the region's administrative, economic, and cultural centre....
, the capital of Inner Mongolia.
Political activities and arrest
In the 1980s, Xi Haiming , Huchuntegus, Wang Manlai, and Hada; all students at universities in HohhotHohhot
Hohhot , is a city in north-central China and the capital of the Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region, serving as the region's administrative, economic, and cultural centre....
, discussed establishment of the Inner Mongolian People's Party
Inner Mongolian People's Party
The Inner Mongolian People's Party, or IMPP is an Inner Mongolian secessionist movement. The party was started in 1997 in Princeton, New Jersey...
, a political party for Mongolians in Inner Mongolia.
In May 1992, Hada and other Mongol activists (including Tegexi) formed the Southern Mongolian Democratic Alliance
Southern Mongolian Democratic Alliance
The Southern Mongolian Democratic Alliance was created in May 1992, by Hada and other Mongol activists including Tegexi. Its major goal is the self-determination of Inner Mongolia .-Historical background:...
(originally named as the Mongolian Culture Rescue Committee) and appointed Hada as chairman. In 1994 the alliance started a newspaper named the Voice of Southern Mongolia, and in 1995 they adopted a constitution outlining the Alliance’s main mission as "opposing colonization by the Han people and striving for self-determination, freedom and democracy in Southern [Inner] Mongolia." The Voice of Southern Mongolia newspaper was declared illegal in 1995 and remains banned.
On December 10, 1995, Hada was arrested at his home by police from the Inner Mongolian Public Security Bureau
Public Security Bureau
In the People's Republic of China, a public security bureau refers to the government offices while the smaller offices are called Police posts which are similar in concept to the Japanese Kōban system) present in each province and municipality that handles policing , public security, and...
. The police took all documents related to the Alliance, and names and addresses of more than 100 international scholar contacts of Hada. Hada was officially arrested on March 9, 1996.
Trial and sentencing
On August 19, 1996, the Hohhot People’s Procuratorate charged Hada with "espionage", "separatism", "stealing secrets for the enemy" and "organizing counterrevolutionary forces". On November 11, 1996, after a closed hearing, Hada was convicted on the charges of separatism and espionage by the Hohhot Intermediate People’s Court, for which he received a combined sentence of 15 years in prison with a further 4 years deprivation of political rights. The Inner Mongolia Supreme People’s Court rejected Hada’s appeal. Tegexi was sentenced to 10 year prison and 3 years of deprivation of political rights for "separatism", but was released in December 2002, for "good behavior".After Hada’s arrest, at least 10 other Mongolian intellectuals were arrested. HAda's wife Xinna left a note on the door of her book store about Hada’s detention and crackdown on activists. The authorities immediately suppressed a students protest that followed and arrested 12 of them. Xinna was taken into custody and investigated for "inciting students to cause a disturbance". Although not charged, Xinna was released 4 months later, on April 12, 1996. The Public Security Bureau closed the bookstore in Hohhot, even though the family had no other source of income.
In June 1998, Xinna wrote an open letter to Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
, who was visiting China as U.S. President. She described Hada’s condition declaring his health problems were "not taken seriously by prison authorities". Xinna asked the authorities to transfer Hada to Hohhot prison for better care and medical treatment. The Chinese authorities never acceded to these requests.
In 2002, Uiles (or Ulies), the son of Hada was charged and sentenced to 2 years prison.,
In 2004, Human Rights in China reported that Hada had been subjected to torture.
In August 2007, Uiles was permitted to visit his father in Chifeng Prison. In a report he described the terrible condition of detention as well as the difficult health issues of his father. He has still been detained beyond his sentence term without any explanation.