Twenty-four people charged in Hong Kong over Tiananmen vigil
On 4 June, at least 115,000 people defied a government’s ban and anti-pandemic rules to commemorate those killed in the massacre. Pro-democracy leaders Joshua Wong, Nathan Law and Jimmy Lai have to appear before a court. Activists have been accused of holding and taking part in the demonstration. For the pro-democracy front, Beijing is behind the move.
Hong Kong (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Hong Kong judicial authorities have charged 24 people for holding and taking part in a vigil commemorating the Tiananmen massacre, the city police said yesterday night. Some of those indicted are also facing charges of incitement to participate in an unauthorised demonstration.
Last 4 June, at least 115,000 people defied the government ban and anti-pandemic rules to gather in Victoria Park to mark the anniversary of the massacre by security forces on 4 June 1989 of thousands of Chinese students who were demanding freedom and democracy.
Among the accused are pro-democracy activists Joshua Wong, a former leader of Demosisto (a dissolved pro-independence party), and Nathan Law, who has fled to Great Britain for fear of the new security law imposed by Beijing.
Media Tycoon Jimmy Lai will be tried on the same charge, along with pro-democracy lawmakers Chu Hoi-dick and Wu Chi-wai, and district councillor Lester Shum.
On 15 September, Civil Human Rights Front vice-convenor Figo Chan, former student leader Sunny Cheung and former Members of the Legislative Council (LegCo) Cyd Ho and Leung Kwok-hung will also appear before the court.
According to the pro-democracy front, police are trying to crush dissent. The defendants note that Hong Kong’s Department of Justice can now ask the courts to confiscate their passports and restrict their freedom to leave Hong Kong.
For the anti-Beijing camp, the Chinese government, which wants to prevent democratic figures from speaking to the international community about the situation in the former British colony, is behind the charges.
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