2011 Inner Mongolia unrest

2011 civil unrest in Inner Mongolia, China

This article is about an incident in 2011. For the purge during the Cultural Revolution, see Inner Mongolia incident.

Location of Xilingol League (red) in Inner Mongolia (orange), where the majority of protests occurred

On the night of May 10, 2011 an ethnic Mongol herdsman was killed by a coal truck driver near Xilinhot, Inner Mongolia, China. The incident, alongside grievances over mining development in the region and the perceived erosion of traditional lifestyle of indigenous peoples, led to a series of Mongol protests across Inner Mongolia. Some 2000 students participated in protests at Communist Party headquarters of the West Ujimqin Banner, followed by demonstrations by secondary school students in the Xilinhot area. Select secondary schools and universities with large ethnic Mongol populations were reportedly under "lockdown". The Inner Mongolia government under Hu Chunhua tightened security in Inner Mongolian cities, including dispatching People's Armed Police troops to central Hohhot.

To address the underlying issues, the government provided compensation to the family of the victim, brought forth tougher environmental regulations, and dismissed the Communist Party chief of West Ujimqin. The truck driver was tried, found guilty of murder, and sentenced to death.

The protests are the first large-scale ethnic Mongol protests in China in some twenty years. Although the protests received praise and support from Inner Mongolia self-determination groups abroad, there was no discernible reaction from the government of neighboring Mongolia.

## Origins

[edit]

### Mergen's death

[edit]

On May 10 an ethnic Mongol herdsman named Mergen (Chinese: 莫日根; Mongols often use one name) was obstructing a mining company, Liaoning Chencheng Industry and Trade Group, from passing onto his pastureland.[1] He was then hit by an ethnic Han coal truck driver named Li Lindong. After the collision, the herdsman's body was dragged for more than 30 meters.[2] The local Mongol population was angered by the incident, and organized protests at government buildings in West Ujimqin Banner on May 25. On May 24, in an attempt to contain the situation, Xilin Gol League authorities held a press conference, announcing the arrest of the truck driver, and promised to deal with the suspect in an "expedient manner."[3]

## Protests spread

[edit]

On May 25, some 2,000 students from several of the city's secondary schools, along with nomadic herdsmen, organized protests at the League government buildings in Xilinhot. Protests also occurred in the East Ujimqin Banner. At this point the themes of the protest had evolved from the death of an individual to collective grievances over the ecological destruction of Inner Mongolian grasslands and the integrity of the homeland of the ethnic Mongols. On May 26 the protests spread to the Bordered Yellow Banner.[4]

On May 27, local authorities announced martial law in the Plain Blue Banner and the West Ujimqin Banner. Some 300 riot police were dispatched and forty protesters were arrested.[5] In the Plain Blue Banner, schools were under lockdown as students were confined to campus grounds for the weekend. Paramilitary troops guarded the major thoroughfares where Banner government buildings were situated.[6]

Although the protests were initially confined to the Xilingol region, some 150 people protested in the capital, Hohhot. The Inner Mongolia government under the auspices of Hu Chunhua adopted a 'take-no-chances' attitude, and sent in police and paramilitary forces to cordon off the city's main square. Several of the city's secondary schools confined students to campus grounds.[7] At the Inner Mongolia University for Nationalities in Tongliao, in the eastern part of the province, students were forbidden to leave campus grounds.[5] The authorities also moved quickly to disrupt mobile and internet communications in an attempt to contain further unrest.

## Reporting

[edit]

During the unrest, previously unknown pro-independence and annexationist[8] groups like the Southern Mongolian Human Rights Information Center (SMHRIC) became sources for foreign media of unconfirmed allegations of tensions, leading China to criticize overseas groups who it says are "trying to play up this incident for ulterior motives".[9] Initial Western media reports described the protests as "ethnic unrest" and likened them to the 2008 Tibetan unrest and the July 2009 Ürümqi riots, but the director of SMHRIC said that the protests were focused on legal rights for herders, and that they "didn't mention higher autonomy or independence."[9] An editorial in the Communist Party's Global Times criticized SMHRIC as having "little connection to the local situation", and criticized foreign media for reading ethnic politics into the protests, saying that "the protests saw no violence between different ethnic groups".[10]

Several of the ethnic Mongolian protestors said their protests were not connected to the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 (the protests overlapped with the anniversary of Tiananmen), and did not care about it, the Southern Mongolian Human Rights Information Center (SMHRIC) reported that a Mongolian "Hohhot University researcher" said "The June 4 incident has nothing to do with our Mongolian protests, We Mongolians are trying to free ourselves from any form of Chinese control, authoritarian or democratic alike, Our struggle is against a foreign occupation."[11]

After the incident, China have accused unspecified "foreign forces" of exploiting the protests.[12] Li Datong, former editor of Freezing Point, was interviewed by Chinese version of BBC on May 30 on the issue.[13] As early as the 1990s he has been in Xilinhot and warned of the misuse of the Mongol grasslands and related ethnic issues. He said that even when small minority groups are allowed to form representatives, often these representatives are not trusted.[13] He further said that in the past, the Republic of China with the Five Races Under One Union allowed different races to live together.[13]

## Aftermath

[edit]

The suspected driver was arrested.[14] The company's chairman, Guo Shuyun, visited the deceased herdsman's family and bowed to relatives and apologised for his company's involvement in the incident. He promised to respect local people and protect the environment.[15] The deputy party secretary for Inner Mongolia also visited the herdsman's family to express his grief, saying that the suspects would be "severely punished according to law", while the Communist Party chief of Xilingol was dismissed. The family was presented with 10,000 yuan, and the government announced changes in mining rules to lessen the industry's impact on residents and the environment.[16] Li, the truck driver, was publicly tried and found guilty of murder in the Intermediate People's Court of the Xilin Gol League; he was sentenced to death on June 8. The passenger sitting beside him was sentenced to life imprisonment, and two other men that helped the truck evade police were given jail terms of three years. All of the four convicted appealed their sentences, but Mergen's brother expressed gratitude for the verdict.[17]

## Other similar events

[edit]

On May 15 in Abag Banner, Inner Mongolia another Han Chinese coal miner named Sun Shuning (孙树宁) drove a forklift and hit Yan Wenlong (闫文龙), a 22-year-old Manchu.[18][19] Yan led a group of 20 people to dispute noise, dust and pollution. When they began smashing properties, a clash ensued.[20] In the clash Yan died, and 7 people were injured.[18]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Police in Inner Mongolia on high alert over planned protests". SCMP.com. Archived from the original on 2012-04-04. Retrieved 2011-05-31.
2. ^ "自由電子報 - 內蒙掀示威潮 中國封城、封校、斷網". Libertytimes.com.tw. Archived from the original on 2011-06-02. Retrieved 2011-05-31.
3. ^ "Three thousand Inner Mongolian students protest death of herder (内蒙两千学生抗议牧民被煤车碾死)" (in Chinese). BBC中文网. 25 May 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-05-27. Retrieved 2011-05-25.
4. ^ 中国内蒙爆发30年最大规模抗议活动 (in Chinese). 美国之音中文网. Archived from the original on 2011-05-27. Retrieved 2011-05-25.
5. ^ a b 中国内蒙部分地区实行戒严 (in Chinese). 美国之音中文网. Archived from the original on 2011-09-03. Retrieved 2011-05-28.
6. ^ "China police seal off restive Inner Mongolia towns". Associated Press. Archived from the original on June 1, 2011. Retrieved 2011-05-28.
7. ^ 呼和浩特市继续戒严，互联网被部分切断 (in Chinese). 美国之音中文网. Archived from the original on 2011-05-30. Retrieved 2011-05-30.
8. ^ Bower, Eve; Jiang, Steven (2011-05-30). "Inner Mongolia official disputes report of martial law in region". CNN. Archived from the original on 2020-09-07. Retrieved 2011-05-30.
9. ^ a b Wu, Zhong (2011-06-08). "Green motives in Inner Mongolian unrest". Asia Times. Archived from the original on 12 July 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-11.
10. ^ Ding, Xiao (2011-05-31). "Mongolian Students Locked In". Radio Free Asia. Archived from the original on 2020-09-07. Retrieved 2011-06-11.
11. ^ Reported by Tian Yi for RFA's Mandarin service and by Wen Yuqing for the Cantonese service. Translated and written in English by Luisetta Mudie. (2011-06-05). "Inner Mongolia in 'War-Like State'". Radio Free Asia. Archived from the original on 2020-09-07. Retrieved 2011-06-12.
12. ^ Spegele, Brian (2011-06-01). "China Says Foreigners Fuel Unrest in Mongolia - WSJ.com". Online.wsj.com. Archived from the original on 2020-09-07. Retrieved 2011-06-06.
13. ^ a b c 英媒：内蒙抗议是民间多年积怨所致_多维新闻网 (in Chinese). China.dwnews.com. 2011-05-31. Archived from the original on 10 July 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-06.
14. ^ "Inner Mongolians vow protests will continue". SCMP.com. Archived from the original on 2012-04-04. Retrieved 2011-05-31.
15. ^ "Officials pledge to compensate herdsmen". SCMP.com. Archived from the original on 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2011-05-31.
16. ^ "Inner Mongolia Unrest Prompts China to Change Mining Rules". Bloomberg LP. 2011-05-30. Retrieved 2011-05-30.
17. ^ "Death sentence for killing Mongol herder". China Daily. 2011-06-09. Archived from the original on 2020-09-07. Retrieved 2011-06-11.
18. ^ a b 明報即時新聞網 友善列印-兩岸-內蒙撞死牧民案疑犯被起訴[15:33]-20110530 (in Chinese). Inews.mingpao.com. Archived from the original on 2020-09-07. Retrieved 2011-06-06.
19. ^ 內蒙示威抗議 中方批評境外勢力煽風點火_多維新聞網 (in Chinese). China.dwnews.com. 2011-05-31. Archived from the original on 10 July 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-06.
20. ^ "China News Headlines | Hong Kong's premier newspaper online". SCMP.com. 2011-05-31. Archived from the original on 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2011-06-06.

* v
* t
* e

21st-century protests and unrest in mainland China

2001-2007|

* 2002–2003 Chinese protest movement (2002–2003)
* Yizhou riots (2002)
* Hefei student protests (2003)
* Tangshan protest (2004)
* Anti-Japanese demonstrations (2005)
* Huashui protest (2005)
* Dongzhou protests (2005–2006)
* Dazhou protests (2007)

2008|

* Lhasa riots
* Longnan riot
* Shenzhen anti-police riot
* Sichuan riots
* Tibetan unrest (International reactions)
* Uyghur unrest
* Weng'an riot

2009|

* Shaoguan incident
* Shishou incident
* Self-immolation of Tang Fuzhen
* Tonghua Iron and Steel Group riot
* Ürümqi riots
* Xinjiang unrest

2010|

* Chinese labour unrest
* Guangzhou language protests
* Ma'anshan riot
* Suzhou workers riot
* Tibetan language protest
* Xinfa aluminum plant protest
* Self-immolation in Yihuang

2011|

* Chaozhou riot
* Chinese pro-democracy protests (Crackdown on dissidents)
* Dalian PX protest
* Fuzhou, Jiangxi bombings
* Haimen protest
* Inner Mongolia unrest
* Shanghai Truckers strike
* Wukan protests
* Yunnan protest
* Zengcheng riot
* Zhejiang solar panel plant protest
* Zhongshan riot

2012|

* Anti-Japanese demonstrations
* Qidong protest
* Shifang protest
* Tibetan protests in Sichuan
* Zhongshan riot

2013–2014|

* Bachu unrest
* Shanshan riots
* Southern Weekly incident
* Taiyuan attack
* Tiananmen Square attack
* Golf factory workers strike
* Zhengzhou Airport riot

2015–2021|

* Wukan protests (2016)
* Jasic incident (2018)
* Minjiang University protests (2018)
* Delivery Knights Alliance (2019–2021)
* Inner Mongolia protests (2020)

2022–|

* Henan banks protests (2022)
* 2022 Beijing Sitong Bridge protest (2022)
* 2022 COVID-19 protests in China
* Zhengzhou Foxconn protests
* 2023 Chinese healthcare reform protests

Related|

* Anti-incinerator movement in China
* China PX protest
* Egg fried rice protests
* Labor relations in China
* Mass incidents in China
* Self-immolation protests by Tibetans in China (Phuntsog self-immolation incident)
* Xinjiang conflict (East Turkestan independence movement)

* v
* t
* e

National security and law enforcement in China

National|

* Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party
* National Security Commission
* Central Military Commission
* People's Liberation Army
* Militia
* Maritime Militia
* NDMC
* United Front Work Department
* State Council
* Ministry of State Security
* Ministry of Public Security
* National Defense Mobilization Commission
* Ministry of National Defense
* Taiwan Affairs Office

Mainland|

* Fire and Rescue
* Supervisory Commissions
* People's Police
* Public Security PP
* provincial Public Security Departments
* city/county Public Security Bureaus
* Internet police
* Immigration
* Inspection
* State Security PP
* Provincial departments of State security
* Municipal Bureaus of State security
* Judicial Administrative PP
* People's Courts Judicial Police
* People's Procuratorates Judicial Police
* People's Armed Police
* ~~Ministry of Public Security Active Service Forces~~
* Coast Guard
* Mobile units
* 1st Mobile Corps
* 2nd Mobile Corps
* Customs
* State Secrets Protection
* Cyberspace Admin
* Urban Admin

Hong Kong|

* Office for Safeguarding National Security
* Committee for Safeguarding National Security
* PLA Hong Kong Garrison
* Independent Commission Against Corruption
* Disciplined Services
* Police
* National Security Department
* Fire
* Correction
* Customs
* Immigration

Macau|

* PLA Macau Garrison
* Commission Against Corruption
* Macau Security Force
* Unitary Police Service [zh]
* Public Security Police (including Migration Service)
* Judicial Police [zh]
* Fire Services Bureau
* Correctional Services Bureau
* Macau Customs Service

Operations|

* Campaign to Suppress Counterrevolutionaries (1950–53)
* Three-anti and Five-anti Campaigns (1951–52)
* Sufan movement (1955–57)
* Anti-Rightist Campaign (1957–59)
* Red August (1966)
* Shadian incident (1975)
* 1983 "Strike Hard" Anti-crime Campaign (1983–87)
* Persecution of Falun Gong (1999)
* 6521 Project (2009)
* Anti-corruption campaign (2012–)
* Strike Hard Campaign Against Violent Terrorism (2014–)
* Operation Fox Hunt (2014–)
* 709 crackdown (2015)
* Special Campaign to Crack Down on Organized Crime and Eliminate Evil (2018–21)
* Education and Rectification of the Political and Legal Teams (2021–22)
* Abroad
* Information operations and information warfare
* United States
* California
* Hawaii
* Philippines

Other topics|

* 2011 crackdown
* 610 Office
* Arbitrary arrest and detention
* Black jails
* Capital punishment
* Censorship
* Central Case Examination Group
* Chinese information operations and information warfare
* Civil Servant-Family Pair Up
* Death sentence with reprieve
* Enforced disappearance
* Great Cannon
* Grid-style social management
* Holistic national security
* Hong Kong national security law
* List of Hong Kong national security cases
* Human flesh search engine
* Human rights
* Tibet
* Macao
* Hong Kong
* Internet censorship
* Inciting subversion of state power
* Judicial system
* Judiciary of Hong Kong
* Judiciary of Macau
* Laogai
* Life imprisonment
* Liuzhi
* Mass surveillance in China
* Migration to Xinjiang
* Penal system
* PLA Unit 61398
* Political offences
* Picking quarrels and provoking trouble
* Re-education through labor
* Residential Surveillance at a Designated Location
* Soft detention
* Shuanggui
* Strike Hard Campaign Against Violent Terrorism
* Three warfares
* Two-faced person
* Persecution of Uyghurs in China
* Xinjiang internment camps

Portals:

* China
* Society

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template