Hong Kong arrest 53 opposition leaders beneath the nationwide safety regulation

In an unprecedented crackdown towards Hong Kong‘s pro-democracy camp, China rounded up 53 elected pro-democracy officials and activists early Wednesday for their participation in an unofficial primary election for the territory’s legislature final yr.
The mass arrest is the most important sweep of the opposition leaders beneath the brand new nationwide safety regulation imposed by Beijing to stamp out dissent within the semiautonomous territory. The Hong Kong safety secretary, Josh Lee, regarded by the pro-democracy proponents as China’s lackey, defended the crackdown stating that the actions of the leaders and activists had been subverting town’s authorities.
“The operation today targets the active elements who are believed to be involved in the crime of overthrowing, or interfering (and) seriously destroy the Hong Kong government’s legal execution of duties,” stated John Lee, Hong Kong’s safety minister, in a information convention.
On Wednesday morning, a legion of 1,000 nationwide safety forces was deployed as part of Beijing’s sweeping clampdown on Hong Kong’s opposition figures. About 53 folks had been arrested, together with an American lawyer John Clancey, who served as treasurer for a gaggle that helped organise the casual major elections and in addition searched the premises of regulation agency Ho Tse Wai & Partners.
Besides, the police additionally raided the home of Hong Kong’s most distinguished pro-democracy supporter Joshua Wong, claiming that the activist had participated within the primaries. Mr Wong is serving a 13-months jail sentence in connection together with his position within the 2019 Hong Kong protests, an accusation not linked with the brand new nationwide safety regulation forcibly handed by China in June final yr.
The legislative election that may have adopted the unofficial primaries was postponed by a yr by Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam, who cited the general public well being dangers through the coronavirus pandemic. Mass resignations and disqualifications of pro-democracy lawmakers have left the legislature largely a pro-Beijing physique.
National Security Law offers unbridled powers to China to undermine opposition and suppress pro-democracy forces
With the latest arrests, the Chinese authorities has escalated its efforts in weakening the opposition in Hong Kong and eliminating their presence from the governmental establishments. However, this isn’t the primary time that China has used the whip of the nationwide safety regulation to quell the opposition.
Last yr, the federal government disqualified pro-democracy lawmakers from operating in September election within the Legislative Council. Subsequently, the legislative council elections had been postponed by a yr by Hong Kong chief government Carrie Lam citing coronavirus issues. But, many within the pro-democracy camp claimed that the officers had been making an attempt to avert an embarrassing loss for the pro-Beijing legislators.
A number of months later, in November, the Hong Kong authorities disqualified one other 4 pro-democracy legislators, who it stated had advocated or had been insufficiently vital of the US sanctions on town.
Media mogul Jimmy Lai and pro-democracy activists hauled up by Hong Kong authorities beneath the NSL
Ever since China handed the sweeping nationwide safety regulation in Hong Kong, successfully ending its autonomy, it has sought to make use of the statute of the regulation to command whole obedience. In December 2020, media mogul Jimmy Lai was charged with overseas collusion offences and endangering nationwide safety beneath the draconian nationwide safety regulation (NSL). The proprietor of Hong Kong tabloid Apple Daily, Lai has been some of the fierce pro-democratic voices in Hong Kong.
The transfer got here per week after the Hong Kong authorities jailed activists Joshua Wong, Agnes Chow, and Ivan Lam with the sentence between for 7 to 13 months for his or her roles in an unauthorised protest exterior police headquarters final yr. A complete of 16 pro-democracy activists, together with college students concerned in a peaceable campus demonstration, had been arrested by the authorities.
A number of days in the past, on December 29, Hong Kong pupil activist Tony Chung was sentenced to 4 months in jail for insulting the Chinese flag throughout a protest in May final yr. The 19-year-old activist was responsible of illegal meeting and defiling the Chinese flag beneath the nationwide safety regulation after he was filmed throwing the flag to the bottom throughout scuffles exterior Hong Kong’s parliament in 2019.