Mongolian herders in Keshiketeng Banner, Chifeng City, Inner Mongolia, have launched a high-profile protest over long-standing overdue compensation for pastures. Herders have called on herders from all over the country to support them through social media such as WeChat and Douyin, demanding that the government honor its promise of pasture compensation. On November 3, nearly 100 herders gathered in front of the Banner government to protest, demanding that the authorities immediately pay the overdue subsidies.

Long-standing pasture dispute: herders' protests and forced actions

Since October this year, herders in Keshiketeng Banner have repeatedly visited government departments to seek a solution to the problem of overdue pasture compensation. But their demands were ignored and even intimidated. In this case, the herders decided to raise funds to hire a rights lawyer and take the government to court, trying to protect their rights and interests through legal means.

Herders said that the government's arrears have caused great trouble to their lives. Herders rely on compensation to pay for fodder, but the compensation for 2023-2024 has not yet been paid, and there is no guarantee for 2025. Some herders are deeply in debt and even face debt collection pressure.

Dual pressures of grassland ecological deterioration and grazing ban policy

Inner Mongolia herders not only have to face the arrears of compensation, but also the pressure of grazing ban policy. In recent decades, the grassland ecology in Inner Mongolia has been damaged by over-exploitation and corporate relocation. In order to improve the ecological situation, the government has implemented policies such as "grazing ban" and "seasonal grazing ban", restricting herders from grazing and requiring them to keep livestock in pens during specific seasons. However, the high cost of fodder makes it difficult for many herders to bear, and they have to graze secretly at night to reduce the economic burden.

Herders in Keshiketeng Banner said that the government's grazing ban policy is too harsh and the law enforcement method is tough. The grazing ban personnel patrolling the grassland often punish herders who violate the rules by confiscating livestock, fining, or even detaining them, resulting in frequent conflicts between the two sides. Videos posted by herders on social media show that law enforcement officers forcibly took away livestock and even drove herders away, and the scene was fierce.

Herders' Complaint: Traditional Animal Husbandry Faces Survival Crisis

The implementation of the grazing ban policy has not only changed the traditional Mongolian animal husbandry lifestyle, but also increased the economic burden of herders, and failed to truly improve the ecological conditions of the grasslands. Some grasslands were designated as "protected areas" and transferred to large farmers to be reclaimed as farmland, while herders were forced to move to towns and become "ecological immigrants." Many herders lost their land sources and the grasslands they depended on for survival, and fell into economic difficulties.

The herders who protested in front of the government said that they were not against the government, but to claim their legal compensation. One herder mentioned: "The government has defaulted on our compensation for 2023 and 2024. Now 2025 is almost here, but we have not seen any compensation." The arrears of grassland compensation directly affect the herders' purchase of fodder and livestock enclosure next year, which is related to their survival and life.

Insufficient government response: herders' demands were ignored

The herders revealed that the government not only did not give a positive response, but also tried to suppress their protests by threatening means. Some herders said that government officials called to ask them to delete the protest content on social media and even warned them not to spread the relevant information. Faced with repression, the herders decided to form a WeChat group to call for wider support and continue to pursue their rights.

The herders who participated in the protest said that the government's arrears have caused dissatisfaction in the grassland area. In desperation, they decided to raise funds to hire lawyers and take the banner government to court to seek justice for their grassland rights.

Herders raise funds to hire lawyers and try to protect their rights through the law

The herders' protest actions are gradually moving towards legal channels. Herders in Keshiketeng Banner are organizing fundraising and preparing to hire rights lawyers to file a lawsuit. Anonymous herders who participated in the protest said that the herders' actions were reasonable and legal, and they were just trying to protect their rights. Another herder pointed out: "We have protested in front of the government many times, but have never received a satisfactory response. Now, we can only solve the problem through the law."

This rights protection action has been supported by the majority of herders. Many herders expressed their willingness to contribute funds in the WeChat group, and even went so far as to borrow money to raise money for lawyers' fees, in order to express their support for the protests and their concern for the issue of grassland compensation.

The issue of grassland compensation is not limited to Keshiketeng Banner

The issue of grassland compensation for herders is not unique to Keshiketeng Banner. Herders in other parts of Inner Mongolia also face similar difficulties. Some Mongolian herders abroad pointed out that their grasslands have also suffered from arrears of compensation, and the grazing ban policy has also led to a limit on the number of their livestock, and they can even not continue to raise livestock due to fines.

An Inner Mongolian herder who moved to the United States mentioned that her hometown limits the number of grazing livestock, and if the limit is exceeded, she will be fined or even forcibly confiscated. In addition, the government's promised grazing ban subsidies have not been paid, further exacerbating the livelihood pressure of herders.

Attention of international human rights organizations: Calls for improvement of herders' rights

Enhebatu Taogchug, director of the Southern Mongolian Human Rights Information Center, pointed out that since 2000, Inner Mongolia's "ecological migration" and "total grazing ban" policies have dealt a devastating blow to the lifestyle of Mongolian herders, not only destroying the grassland ecology, but also weakening the herders' economic foundation.

According to official data, since the end of 2015, the Chinese government has successfully resettled 1.2 million herders to towns, declaring that the traditional nomadic lifestyle has almost come to an end. Enhebatu emphasized that this forced resettlement has caused herders to lose their pastures and made it difficult for them to make a living in the new environment.

The future of grassland rights protection: Can the law protect the rights of herders?

At present, herders in Keshiketeng Banner are actively preparing for legal proceedings, hoping to use legal means to protect their rights. Although this action is full of uncertainty, the herders have not given up. Many herders believe that through joint litigation, they can change the status quo and obtain the compensation they deserve.

This protest is not only about compensation, but also about the traditional lifestyle, cultural heritage and economic livelihood of Mongolian herders. Regardless of the final outcome, the protest by the herders in Keshiketeng Banner will undoubtedly become an important event that focuses attention on the rights and interests of herders, and will prompt the government to make more efforts in grassland management and herders’ livelihood security.