Hong Kong jails pro-democracy activists

2024-11-19 21:54:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Hong Kong's High Court on Tuesday sentenced 45 activists to up to 10 years in prison on charges of trying to overthrow the government, in one of the biggest national security court cases under a Beijing-imposed law that involves drastic measures.

The sentences imposed were condemned by many states. The United States, Britain and the United Nations called on Chinese and Hong Kong authorities to stop the politically motivated persecution of Hong Kong residents.

The activists were accused of being part of a plot to topple the government because of their participation in an unofficial election process aimed at selecting opposition candidates who planned to run in the legislative council elections in 2020.

Authorities accused the activists of planning to paralyze the work of the Hong Kong government and aimed to force the island's leader to resign by securing a majority in the assembly, which they would use to block the government's budget.

The forty-five accused were sentenced to 4 years and two months to 10 years in prison. Legal scholar Benny Tai, whom the government considers the mastermind of the scheme, received the heaviest sentence.

Analysts said the sentences reflect the rapid erosion of fundamental rights and freedoms in Hong Kong since the national security law was imposed in 2020.

"These harsh sentences against dozens of leading democracy activists reflect the rapid regression of civil liberties and legal independence in Hong Kong over the past four years, since the Chinese government imposed the draconian National Security Law," said Maya Wang, assistant director of the "Human Rights Watch" organization for China.

Some former pro-democracy politicians in Hong Kong said the issue has already closed any space for meaningful political debate and participation in the public sphere.

"Since their arrest in 2021, there is no more protest or public debate in Hong Kong," former democracy lawmaker Debby Chan told VOA.

Experts say that this case will further limit the activity of civil society, making it difficult for political participation in this city.

Several countries, including the United States and Great Britain, released statements condemning Tuesday's decision.

"The accused were aggressively prosecuted and imprisoned for their peaceful participation in normal political activity, protected under Hong Kong's fundamental law," a US State Department spokesperson told VOA.

Britain said the sentence was "clear evidence that Hong Kong authorities are using the security law to crack down on political dissent".

"Those sentenced today were exercising their right to free speech, assembly and political participation," said Britain's Indo-Pacific minister, Catherine West.

Responding to these criticisms, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said that no one should be allowed to use democracy as a trigger to "engage in illegal activities and evade justice."

Chinese and Hong Kong authorities insist the national security law is a tool to restore order after widespread pro-democracy protests in 2019. They say activists were treated in accordance with local law./ VOA