Hong Kong: new sentences for important members of the opposition
For Jimmy Lai (our illustrative photo), whose assets were frozen by police last week without any specific justification, his new 14-month conviction comes on top of the 14-month he is already serving.
REUTERS - TYRONE SIU
Text by: RFI Follow
3 min
In Hong Kong, a court has just sentenced to terms ranging from 14 to 18 months in prison, eight prominent members of the opposition, including pro-democracy press mogul Jimmy Lai.
Two other defendants were sentenced but suspended.
The sentences are linked to the demonstration on October 1, 2019, the date of the 70th anniversary of the People's Republic of China, which was marked in Hong Kong by a great peaceful march but also by numerous riots.
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With our correspondent in Hong Kong,
Florence de Changy
In addition to the anger that we hear and the sadness that we read on the faces of the sympathizers present on the forecourt of the court of Wan Chai, under a blazing sun, early Friday afternoon, after the announcement of the convictions, some, like Lucille Ng, who attended the hearing, are also worried about the living conditions in prison of these men and women who have always been respected figures in society: “
They looked tired.
Because in prison, you know, it's excruciatingly hot, their cell window is only the size of two A4 sheets, no ventilation, no air conditioning.
It is totally inhuman.
"
Unbearable temperatures
According to various press reports, the cells are reaching unbearable temperatures.
She says many are already suffering from irritation.
Among the eight convicted, the case of Figo Chan was particularly shocking.
At 25, he is one of the best-known faces of the
Civil Human Rights Front
, responsible for most of the major Hong Kong marches that have been conducted peacefully for years.
Notoriously pacifist, Fico Chan had never been convicted.
Frozen assets
As for press boss Jimmy Lai, whose assets were frozen by police last week without any specific justification, his new 14-month conviction is in addition to that of 14 months he is already serving.
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To read also: Hong Kong: the vigil in memory of Tiananmen once again prohibited
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