Daiji Sang
Daiji Sang Даджи Санг | |
|---|---|
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| Honorary Chairman of the Democratic Socialist Party | |
| Assumed office NMR 2340 | |
| Succeeded by | Not Applicable |
| Chairman of the Democratic Socialist Party | |
| In office NMR 2330 – NMR 2340 | |
| Deputy for the 20th Legislative District in the Namorese Central Council | |
| In office NMR 2325 – NMR 2330 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 19, NMR 2272 Yujeng, East Namor |
| Died | April 24, NMR 2359 (age 86) Esquarian City, Southern Namor |
| Nationality | Namorese |
| Political party |  Democratic Socialists |
| Alma mater | University of Talon |
Daiji Sang (October 19, NMR 2272 - April 24, NMR 2359) was a Namorese entrepreneur, activist and politician who served as Chairman of the Democratic Socialists - post-revolutionary Namor's first opposition party - from NMR 2330 to NMR 2340. He ran for President-General in the elections of NMR 2335 and NMR 2340, becoming the first non-Liberationist presidential candidate in the history of the People's Republic. After losing the NMR 2340 election, Daiji resigned from party chairmanship and retired from politics. He was subsequently named Honorary Chairman of the Democratic Socialists - a title he would keep after his death.
A supporter of liberal and progressive causes, Daiji is considered the leader of the movement for political reform in Namor during the NMR 2320s and NMR 2330s.
Daiji died in NMR 2359 after suffering from Alzheimer's disease for a decade.
Biography
Daiji was born in October 14, NMR 2272 in Yujeng, East Namor, the youngest of four children in a poor peasant family. When Daiji was three years old, Yujeng fell to imperial Chorean forces. His family was forced to flee and spent the rest of the Namo-Chorean War as refugees, wandering for food and shelter. It wasn't until after the war when they settled permanently in the enclave of Gulstad in Vaigang (present-day Esquarian City), which enjoyed a higher standard of living compared to the war-torn Namorese mainland. In Gulstad, Daiji received a Western-style education. In NMR 2290, he left Gulstad by boat to study at the University of Talon, where he received a bachelor's degree in journalism.
After graduation, Daiji returned to Gulstad and became a writer for the Gulstad Times. In NMR 2298, he left the Gulstad Times and founded the Kinsan Yubo (Gulstad Post), the enclave's first Namorese-language newspaper, becoming its editor-in-chief. The Kinsan Yubo gained a large readership due to its accessibility and coverage of issues inside Gulstad and mainland Namor. Due to the paper's criticism of both Liberationist and Republican policies, Daiji was targeted by agents of both parties in the enclaves.
In NMR 2308, Gulstad fell to the Namorese Liberationists. Because Daiji refused to recant his criticism of the Green Fever, which had begun three years ago, Liberationist authorities shut down the Kinsan Yubo and placed him under house arrest. However, because he was taken into custody by the Namorese Liberation Army (NLA), which was locked in a power struggle with the Green Youth Organization (GYO), Daiji was never attacked by the GYO during the Fever. Nevertheless, he continued to criticize the actions of the GYO by publishing samizdat under the pen name of "Sun Daigang," whom he claimed to be a party member.
During the NMR 2315 Namorese political crisis, Daiji published a letter titled An Appeal to the Namorese People, urging Namorese to support Gelai Antelope, whom he called an "imperfect but hopeful reformer." The letter was circulated by pro-Gelai sources and gained nationwide popularity, and is believed to have played a role in swaying citizens against President-General Kiang Ssxu's administration. After Gelai took power, Daiji was released and reopened the Kinsan Yubo. In NMR 2321, Daiji bought the Mojing Sibo, a paper that had been reopened after the Green Fever but was suffering from financial problems.
In NMR 2323, Daiji joined the newly-founded Democratic Socialist Party and became chief of its public relations department. He subsequently founded Imin TV, Namor's first privately-owned television network. For a while, Imin TV was owned by the Democratic Socialists, but in NMR 2327 ownership was transferred to New Age Media Limited, the media company Daiji founded to consolidate control over the Kinsan Yubo and Mojing Sibo. New Age Media's subsidiaries became known for their coverage of political and social issues, which was oftentimes critical of the ruling Liberationist Party.
Following a government crackdown on A Hard Look at Liberationism and its author, Deng Mianbao, Daiji published excerpts of the book in the Mojing Sibo, allowing the public to access the proscribed book. After the ban was lifted and Deng was released from custody, a show opened on Imin TV to discuss the book.
In NMR 2330, Daiji was elected chairman of the Democratic Socialists. One of his first actions as chairman was to condemn the election of Kong Jo by the Liberationist-controlled Central Council and urged the public to demand a democratic election procedure. Under his encouragement, the Plum Blossom Revolution broke out, leading some to call Daiji the "architect of the Plum Blossom movement," although in an interview with the Mojing Sibo he rejected this label, maintaining that the movement was started by the people. The movement ultimately succeeded and Kong Jo passed Additional Articles 5 and 6 to the Constitution, which allowed direct multicandidate presidential elections and referenda.
Daiji pushed for a referendum on recognition of same-sex relations in NMR 2335; that same year, he ran for President-General, becoming the first non-Liberationist presidential candidate in the history of the PRN. During his campaign, Daiji voiced his support for a new constitution without any references to Liberationism and a new national flag without Liberationist symbolism, distancing himself from Kong Jo, who supported reform but wanted to keep certain aspects of Liberationism in the body politic. Because of this, Daiji was seen as too radical and lost the election with 42.97% of the popular vote. Although Daiji conceded defeat, he called the election "a statement win for us, as it shows conservative Liberationists and the world that it is possible for Esquarium's largest nation to control its own destiny through free and fair elections."
After losing the NMR 2335 election, Daiji moderated his stance on Deliberationization, dropping his support for a new constitution and flag. This contributed to a rift between moderates and radicals within the party that would ultimately lead to the formation of the New Democrats.
Daiji ran for President-General a second time in NMR 2340, but lost to Liberationist candidate Su Shui. He subsequently resigned from party chairmanship claiming that "the party is in need of new blood." Despite his resignation, the new party chair, Win Xe, named Daiji Honorary Chairman of the party in acknowledgement of his contributions to the reform movement.
After stepping down, Daiji continued to serve as CEO of New Age Media while playing a substantial role in the Democratic Socialists. When Win Xe lost to Chanin Chen in the contested NMR 2348 election, Daiji called the election "the greatest setback to Namorese democracy since the beginning of Minjuha" and accused Chen of "trying to sustain a broken totalitarian system."
Death
Daiji died in October 19, NMR 2359 in his retirement home in Esquarian City, after suffering from Alzheimer's disease starting NMR 2350. News of his death was first announced by Daiji's wife, Tai Jing, who in a statement said: "A good husband, father and leader, Daiji Sang, has passed away at 86. Thank you for all the support you've given to him from day one. His name will last in the annals of history."
President-General Alicia Wolf announced a 49-day period of mourning, calling Daiji "a transformative figure...although he has never held any position of power in government and remained for most of his life a member of an opposition party, his words and actions have freed the minds of millions and led to the democratic society we have today. Just as Daiji had fought for the Namorese people, the Namorese people will remember him always." Opposition leader Txo Antelope of the Liberationists also sent condolences to Daiji's family: "Although Daiji has been an avid opponent of the Liberationists, he will forever be remembered as a significant figure in Namorese politics." Although Wolf offered to hold a state funeral, Daiji's family declined. A private funeral was held in October 26. Daiji was buried in the Esquarian City Cemetery.