Hong Kong: wave of arrests of 14 pro-democracy leaders for 2019 protests

Fourteen pro-democracy leaders from Hong Kong were arrested on Saturday April 18 in a large-scale operation. They had supported or taken part in the immense demonstrations which shook this large financial center.

Among those arrested was media tycoon Jimmy Lai, 72, founder of the opposition newspaper Apple Daily, who was arrested at his home.

#NOW HK police is at # JimmyLai's doorstep again. pic.twitter.com/hS1NnkobaI

Parliamentarians or former parliamentarians Martin Lee, Margaret Ng, Albert Ho, Leung Kwok-hung and Au Nok-hin, accused of having organized and participated in illegal rallies in August and October, were also arrested, police said. . Five other people arrested are suspected of having promoted prohibited demonstrations in September and October.

Extraditions to China Bill

"I ended up being arrested. How do I feel? I feel very relieved," Martin Lee told reporters after being released on bail.

"For so many years, so many months, so many young people have been arrested and prosecuted, while I was not arrested. I regret it," added the 81-year-old lawyer who had created the first party Hong Kong politician where he is considered the father of democracy. He said he did not regret his actions and was proud to support the youth of Hong Kong in their fight for democracy.

Hong Kong had been shaken for several months in 2019 by huge demonstrations, sometimes interspersed with violence. They were originally prompted by a bill - now abandoned - which would allow extraditions to mainland China, where citizens have fewer rights and where the justice system is far more opaque.

"Finishing blow for the concept of 'One country, two systems'"

"Today's arrests of pro-democracy leaders in Hong Kong are the coup de grace for the concept of 'One country, two systems'," said Human Rights Watch China director Sophie Richardson, referring to the principle which guarantees in the city of the freedoms which the Chinese of the continent do not have.

"It is difficult to foresee Beijing's next initiatives, but it seems that the leaders of Hong Kong will continue to allow abuses rather than defend the rights of the people of Hong Kong," she said.

The giant rallies of 2019 in the semi-autonomous territory quickly mutated into a pro-democracy movement demanding more freedoms, which has become the greatest challenge to power in Beijing since the former British colony is returned to the Chinese fold in 1997.

Demonstrations and clashes with the police gradually stopped, partly because of exhaustion and arrests, but also because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Chinese leaders have refused to comply with demands from pro-democracy activists, such as the organization of free elections in the city, an investigation into police violence during the protests and an amnesty for the more than 7,000 people (many of whom are not 20 years old) arrested during the movement.

With AFP

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