In this 28 September 2019 photo, Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Agnes Chow, stands next to an election campaign poster of pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong, in Hong Kong. Chow and activist Ivan Lam have been sentenced to jail on Wednesday, over charges related to an unauthorized anti-government protest last year at the city's police headquarters. File photo/AP/Kin Cheung
By Zen Soo | AP
HONG KONG, China, 2 December 2020
Three prominent Hong Kong pro-democracy activists were sentenced to jail Wednesday for a protest outside police headquarters as authorities stepped up a crackdown on opposition to tighten control by Beijing over the territory.
The activists — Joshua Wong, Agnes Chow and Ivan Lam — are among more than 10,000 people who have been arrested since June 2019 on charges related to protests against a proposed extradition law that expanded to include demands for greater democracy.
Beijing responded to the protests by imposing a sweeping national security law to crack down on dissent, which prompted more public opposition.
Wong, 24, is known abroad for his role as a student leader of the 2014 “Umbrella Revolution” protests in Hong Kong. He was sentenced to 13 1/2 months in jail after pleading guilty to organizing and taking part in the 21 June 2019, demonstration outside Hong Kong’s police headquarters over the extradition bill and police use of force against protesters.
Chow was sentenced to 10 months by the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts after pleading guilty to participating and inciting other protesters. Lam pleaded guilty to incitement and was sentenced to 7 months.
The crackdown has prompted accusations Beijing is violating the autonomy it promised when the former British colony was returned to China in 1997. It also has triggered warnings the ruling Communist Party is damaging Hong Kong’s appeal as a global business center and one of Asia’s most dynamic cities.
Other democracy advocates including media tycoon Jimmy Lai have also been arrested under the security law.
The jailing of Wong, Chow and Lam drew a rebuke from Hong Kong’s final British governor, Chris Patten. He said in a statement that it “is another grim example of China’s determination to put Hong Kong in handcuffs.”
Amnesty International said the three “must be released immediately and unconditionally.”
“Once again, the government has used the politically motivated charge of ‘inciting others to protest’ to prosecute people who have merely spoken out and protested peacefully,” said the group’s Asia-Pacific regional director, Yamini Mishra.
“By targeting well-known activists from Hong Kong’s largely leaderless protest movement, authorities are sending a warning to anyone who dares openly criticize the government that they could be next.”
If you live under communist China, this is what you get. These are very young people who are the future of Hong Kong but look how they are being treated? The CCP has no mercy against its opponents. 1.2 million Tibetans were killed for this reason. Any Tibetan who stands up for Tibet, for our rights and for our dignity are mowed down by the bullets of the Chinese gestapo or jailed, tortured and murdered.
Hundreds of Tibetans disappeared for merely standing up for our rights. The CCP has no conscience or empathy for anything. It’s only goal is protect itself from the wrath of the people. That’s why, putting these innocent youngsters in jail is just to warn future activists that if they protest against the CCP, this what you will end up with. The Chinese have a saying; kill one to warn a thousand.
That is the sole reason to send these young people to jail. They even jailed a 13 year old school girl in a dark dungeon where she was terrified as you can imagine. Joshua Wong in his previous incarceration was put in solitary confinement with lights on 24/7 to deprive of him of sleep.
Just imagine to ruin the physical and psychological health of such young people is a crime but in a police State where human rights are non-existent, nobody cares even if hundreds of children are driven to suicide because of mental torture.
The CCP and its poodle, Carry Lam would rejoice if all the anti-CCP children and youth commit suicide. They would love to eliminate them for good. If they kill themselves, the CCP will have fulfilled its mission of eradicating Hong Kong dissidents and they believe Hong King will then usher into an era of peace and tranquility.
Hong Kong is dead now just like Tibet. The CCP killed the soul and the spirit of that once world famous city.