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Sun Dawu

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Sun Dawu
孙大午
BornJune 1954
Langwuzhuang, Xushui District, Baoding, Hebei Province, China
Known forDawu Group
Criminal statusPrison

Sun Dawu (Chinese: 孙大午; born June 1954) is a Chinese billionaire who together with his wife Liu Huiru (刘会茹) founded Dawu Group, originally focused on agriculture, which grew to animal feed, real estate and healthcare businesses.[1][2] Sun was one of China's top private businessmen and was recognised as an outspoken advocate of farmers' rights and rural land reform.[3]

He was arrested in late November 2020 without explanation and nine months later charged with picking quarrels and provoking trouble, a crime frequently used by the Chinese government to detain and file charges against dissidents.[4][5] Many media outlets have linked his arrest to his open criticism of the Chinese Communist Party and his support of Chinese dissidents.

Early life and career

After graduating from junior high school, Sun Dawu spent time in Linfen, Shanxi in the 82nd Division of the 28th Group Army of the People's Liberation Army and the Agricultural Bank of Xushui County.[5] In 1985, he founded Dawu Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Group Co., Ltd. and served as chairman of the board. He started his business with 1,000 chickens and 50 pigs.[6] During his tenure as chairman, Sun Dawu was awarded the honor of No. 1 Chicken Raising Scholar in Hebei Province in June 1996.

In 1995, Dawu Group had become one of China’s top 500 private companies, and Sun Dawu was also elected as a deputy to the Baoding Municipal People’s Congress . In August 1996, he was elected as the chairman of Baoding Poultry and Egg Industry Federation. In 2001, in addition to the chairman of Dawu Group, Sun Dawu also served as the principal of Dawu School; in October 2002, he was hired as a senior researcher by the Institute of Farmer Issues of China Agricultural University.

Sun built a company town in Hebei called Dawu City surrounding the campus of Dawu Group, which included a hospital with 1,000 beds.[5]

In 2005, Sun Dawu retired from his post as Chairman, becoming head of the Supervisory Board of Dawu Group.[7]

Criticism of the Chinese government

Sun would often post his views and articles by liberals on his company's website.[8] In April 2003, Dawu Group posted on its website three articles that were critical of the Chinese Government, including one about Li Shenzhi, the group was subsequently ordered to remove the articles, close the website for 6 months, and were fined 15,000 yuan.[7]

Sun has praised and supported several Chinese dissidents, including human rights lawyer Xu Zhiyong.[7] Liu Xiaobo stated that Sun posed “tremendous challenge for the current system” of Chinese government.[5]

Sun advocated political reform and publicly opposed many government policies, even questioned the legitimacy of the Chinese Communist Party.[9]

Sun voiced his support for those caught up in the 709 crackdown, a nationwide crackdown on Chinese lawyers and human rights activists instigated during the summer of 2015.[10]

Sun accused the government of covering up an African swine flu outbreak, which affected his farms and devastated much of the country's industry in 2019.[11]

In May 2003, Sun was arrested after illegally raising 180 million yuan even though he demonstrated the proof of borrowing. The case received unprecedented attention, with academics such as Mao Yushi, lawyers such as Xu Zhiyong, reporters and even local farmers rallying on Sun's behalf. President Hu Jintao and Vice-Premier Hui Liangyu were said to have ordered local officials to "handle the case with care". The local court sentenced Sun Dawu to three years’ imprisonment, four years of probation, and a fine of 100,000 yuan for illegally using public funds. However, the sentence was later suspended for four years and he was set free after the trial. Dawu Group was also fined 300,000 yuan.[7] According to journalists and academics across China, Sun had a "notorious" reputation among local officials due to his refusal to pay bribes. Following the case, Sun was ordered to keep a low profile.[12]

2020 Arrest and imprisonment

In November 2020 Sun was arrested following a dispute between his firm and a state farm in Hebei province, without an official explanation. He was later charged with Picking quarrels and provoking trouble, illegal fundraising, illegal mining, encroachment on state farmland, and obstructing public service.[13] Members of his family, including his wife, sons and daughters in law were also detained, along with company executives.[14]

In a pre-trial hearing, Sun reportedly denied many of the accusations against him, describing himself as an "outstanding Communist party member", while admitting to making mistakes, including posting messages online.[15] Sun’s legal team wrote a letter requesting for the case to be heard in an open court. [16]

In a closed-door trial, Sun plead not guilty to nine charges and was said to have gone on hunger strike in protest against his treatment. Sun’s legal team told the court that information from the prosecution was extorted through "torture", and that Sun was subjected to "cruel and inhuman treatment" resulting in forced and false confessions. The court rejected Sun's legal team's request to rule the information invalid.[17]

In July 2021, Sun was sentenced to 18 years in prison, having been found guilty of picking quarrels and provoking trouble. Other charges levied against him included illegally occupying farmland, assembling a crowd to attack state agencies and obstructing government workers from performing their duties. He was also fined 3.11 million yuan ($478,697). Dawu was reportedly detained the previous year, along with 20 relatives and business associates over a land dispute with a government-run farm.[18][19]

In a closing statement to the court, Sun asked for all faults to be taken on him alone, and for the other defendants to be acquitted.[20]

References

  1. ^ Wong, Chun Han (November 20, 2020). "China's Detention of Entrepreneur Raises Fresh Concerns About Vulnerability of Private Firms" – via www.wsj.com.
  2. ^ https://chinachange.org/2020/11/24/dawu-groups-concept-of-constitutional-labor-capital-republic-and-its-model-of-open-governance-and-co-prosperity/
  3. ^ https://www.scmp.com/article/433536/public-pressure-helps-tycoon-avoid-prison-term
  4. ^ "The Latest Target In China's Crackdown On Entrepreneurs Is An Outspoken Billionaire". NPR.org.
  5. ^ a b c d Stevenson, Alexandra (April 24, 2021). "China Reveals Charges Against Outspoken Businessman" – via NYTimes.com.
  6. ^ Yuan, Li (2021-02-12). "Two Arrests, Two Outcomes Tell a Tale of Xi Jinping's China". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-08-03.
  7. ^ a b c d "中国农民企业家孙大午被警方带走，疑是因言获罪". Voice of America (in Chinese). Retrieved 2021-07-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. ^ https://www.scmp.com/article/433536/public-pressure-helps-tycoon-avoid-prison-term
  9. ^ https://www.scmp.com/article/433536/public-pressure-helps-tycoon-avoid-prison-term
  10. ^ https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3141281/outspoken-agricultural-tycoon-sun-dawu-stands-trial-china
  11. ^ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-58007515
  12. ^ https://www.scmp.com/article/433536/public-pressure-helps-tycoon-avoid-prison-term
  13. ^ https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3141281/outspoken-agricultural-tycoon-sun-dawu-stands-trial-china
  14. ^ https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3111765/sun-dawu-vs-state-cautionary-tale-chinas-private-sector
  15. ^ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-58007515
  16. ^ https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3141281/outspoken-agricultural-tycoon-sun-dawu-stands-trial-china
  17. ^ https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3141483/tycoon-sun-dawus-lawyers-say-early-testimony-gathered-police
  18. ^ "Outspoken billionaire Sun Dawu jailed for 18 years in China". BBC News. 2021-07-29. Retrieved 2021-07-29.
  19. ^ "Chinese billionaire pig farmer jailed for 'provoking trouble'". the Guardian. 2021-07-28. Retrieved 2021-07-29.
  20. ^ https://chinachange.org/2021/08/03/sun-dawus-closing-court-statement/
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