16 Facts About Han Dongfang

Han Dongfang is a Chinese advocate for workers' rights.

Han Dongfang helped set up the Beijing Workers' Autonomous Federation during the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989.

Han Dongfang turned himself in to the police and was imprisoned for 22 months without trial until he contracted tuberculosis in prison and was released in April 1991.

Han Dongfang spent a year in the US undergoing medical treatment before returning to China in August 1993.

Han Dongfang graduated high school in Beijing but did not attend college or university.

In 1983, attracted by higher wages, Han Dongfang began a job at the Fengtai Locomotive Maintenance Section in Beijing.

In 1980, Han Dongfang decided to join the Gong An Bing, or Public Security Soldiers Corps.

Han Dongfang claimed that these acts were in violation of Chairman Mao's teachings that officers and soldiers should share good and bad fortunes and be treated as equals.

Han Dongfang said he did this because he felt like he needed to set an example and encourage others to own their words and be prepared to "face the consequences" for what they said.

Han Dongfang made more impromptu speeches throughout the movement, often accompanied by his wife Chen Jingyun.

Han Dongfang joined the movement and became a leader within BWAF when its membership numbered just a few hundred.

Han Dongfang said that he saw the BWAF as an opportunity to educate workers about China's constitution and how much of their rights were not put into practice.

Han Dongfang did not have much faith that the BWAF or the Tiananmen Protests would survive very long, but he felt that the BWAF was important since its legacy would live on through the workers who would be educated about China's constitution.

Han Dongfang then spent 22 months in prison, where he often debated with interrogators and prison guards about the formation of the Tiananmen protests, particularly about the protests' spontaneous rather than planned nature.

Han Dongfang was freed in 1992 after an international campaign pressured the Chinese government to release him to the United States for treatment of tuberculosis, which he contracted while imprisoned.

Han Dongfang then attempted to travel back to China but was expelled to Hong Kong, where he founded the China Labor Bulletin.