A mass trial has begun in Hong Kong against 47 people accused of violating the controversial security law. Among them are prominent champions of democracy such as Joshua Wong and Benny Tai. “The Hong Kong chief executive has personally appointed three judges to preside over this process,” said Kathleen Ferrier, chair of the Dutch UNESCO Commission.
The process involves the unofficial holding of primaries in March 2020, with which the pro-democracy movement has chosen candidates for the regional parliamentary elections. The suspects were arrested under the controversial security law.
Subversive to the state
‘Under that law, almost anything you do in activism is considered subversive to the state. Contact with foreign countries is already a reason to arrest you. In the case of these people; they had organized the primary in July 2020. It’s not strange, it’s to see how you could join democratic forces in the election to strengthen the democratic sound.’
Prosecutors call the primaries a plot to undermine the government and take control of parliament for the purpose of “mutual destruction”. Sixteen suspects deny being guilty of conspiracy to carry out subversive activities. These include journalist Gwyneth Ho, activist Owen Chow and union leader Winnie Yu. Wong, Tai and dozens of others, however, pleaded guilty.
Lifetime
The verdicts are expected in 90 days, the suspects could receive life imprisonment. “Both Wong and Tai have already been sentenced to prison for cases related to their fight for democracy. I know them personally, they have been detained for two years. They run the risk of being imprisoned for life: Wong is not yet thirty.”
“By bringing them to trial, China wants to show that it will not accept anything that goes against the authority.”
Protests in Hong Kong began in March 2019 and sometimes led to violent clashes with security forces. They were hit by Beijing in the summer of 2020 with the security law prohibiting, among other things, the pursuit of secession, foreign meddling and subversive activities. Monday’s lawsuit is the largest against activists since the law was introduced, which has been criticized by the West.
Source: BNR
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