Seven activists arrested in Hong Kong for remembering 12 prisoners in Guangdong
The seven set up stands marked “SAVE 12” and collected letters to send to the prisoners. A sign was also displayed on Amah Rock. The trial of the fugitives is expected to start in a week or two.
Hong Kong (AsiaNews) – Hong Kong police arrested seven people yesterday for setting up stands with the words "SAVE 12" in different parts of the city.
Those arrested include some members of St-Politicism, a pro-democracy group, which sought to mark the 100th day of detention of 12 people imprisoned in mainland China.
The 12 tried to flee from Hong Kong on speedboat back in August, but were intercepted by Chinese coast guard off Guangdong and arrested for crossing territorial waters.
According to unofficial reports, the boat was heading for Taiwan to put the fugitives out of reach of China’s new security law for Hong Kong because of their participation in last year’s pro-democracy protests.
The Chinese government has denied the 12 access to their family or their family-appointed lawyers. They are set to go on trial in a week or two.
St-Politicism activists collected letters for the 12 prisoners held in the Chinese Yantian detention centre. The police stopped them on their way to the Mong Kok Post Office before they could send them, charging them with “disorderly conduct". They were released on bail this morning.
On Sunday, more protesters climbed Amah Rock to display a sign saying #Save12 in support of the prisoners. The rock is also called Mong Fu Shek (lit. stone gazing out for her husband), and got its name from its shape, which resembles a woman carrying her baby waiting for the return of her husband lost at sea.
Back in October, to keep the memory of the 12 alive, pro-democracy activists turned on 12 laser beams on Shatin's Lion Rock. In recent years, the site has become a key location for protesters to display giant pro-democracy banners, activate laser beams or turn on the lights of mobile phones.
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03/06/2021 09:40
