Beijing arrests three activists against Hong Kong security law
Three democracy movement supporters were arrested for criticizing the measure on social media. They risk a conviction for subversion. Meanwhile, Beijing denounces the brutality of the US police, accusing the Trump administration of "world-famous double standards" on internal security.
Beijing (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Three Chinese activists have been arrested for criticizing the Hong Kong security law on social media, and for supporting the pro-democracy movement in the former British colony.
Xiao Yuhui was arrested on May 27 by police in his home in Huizhou (Guangdong). His was guilty of having retweeted a post on WeChat (the Chinese Twitter) criticizing the liberticidal measure approved on May 28 by the National People's Congress.
The offending post calls for a public campaign against the new law launched by Hong Kong newspaper Apple Daily. The author of the original tweet, whose identity is unknown, has also been arrested. Chinese Human Rights Defenders reports that she was released on bail on May 28 and is now awaiting trial.
The same fate fell to the poet Wang Zang. On May 30, he was taken away from his home in the Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture (Yunnan), and detained for 12 hours by the local police. According to sources quoted by Radio Free Asia, Wang is now under house arrest with the rest of the family and faces a subversion indictment.
He was taken ahead of the June 4, the anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen massacre. In 2014, Wang had been targeted by law enforcement agencies for supporting the Occupy Central democratic movement in Hong Kong.
The new security law punishes actions and "activities" that seriously endanger national security. Hong Kong residents may be arrested for subversion, secession, terrorism and collaboration with foreign forces interfering in the affairs of the city.
The United States has led an international front condemning the measure. As a retaliatory measure to China's move, Washington has initiated procedures to cancel the commercial and financial privileges so far recognized in Hong Kong.
Beijing's response was not long in coming. For Chinese leaders, the Trump administration is revealing its “world-famous double standards " on the issue of internal security. The Communist Party regime accuses the US president of supporting the demands of Hong Kong demonstrators on the one hand, and of authorizing the police to brutally repress the anti-racism demonstrations that are currently shaking the United States.
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