2023-12-18 04:12:37
The trial once morest publisher and democracy activist Jimmy Lai has begun in Hong Kong for alleged violations of the Chinese Special Administrative Region’s controversial security law. The 76-year-old appeared in a court in the West Kowloon district on Monday, as the Hong Kong newspaper “South China Morning Post” and other media reported.
Lai is the founder of the pro-democracy Hong Kong newspaper Apple Daily. The paper was forced to shut down in 2021 following it was targeted by authorities for alleged breaches of security law. Lai has already been sentenced to two prison terms and has been in prison for three years. If, as expected, Lai is found guilty in the trial that is now beginning, in the worst case scenario he might face life in prison. The process, which has already been postponed several times, is expected to last until the new year.
The security law, which came into force in 2020 following mass protests calling for more democracy, is aimed at the pro-democracy opposition and activities that Beijing considers subversive, separatist, terrorist or conspiratorial. Since the end of the protests, numerous activists have already been sentenced or have fled abroad.
The British government demanded the publisher’s immediate release. The politically motivated prosecution of the 76-year-old, who also has a British passport, must be stopped immediately, Foreign Minister David Cameron said in a statement late on Sunday evening. The former prime minister expressed concern regarding the controversial national security law, which Lai is said to have violated. China is breaking its international obligations, said Cameron. “It has damaged Hong Kong and significantly eroded rights and freedoms. Arrests under the law have silenced the voices of the opposition.”
The managing director of Reporters Without Borders, Christian Mihr, criticized the proceedings once morest Lai. “Shortly before this historic trial, it is more important than ever that the international community stands behind Jimmy Lai,” said Mihr, according to a statement: “The court must adhere to the rule of law and stop this threadbare procedure.”
Over the past three years, authorities have used the security law and other laws as a pretext to prosecute at least 28 journalists and press freedom defenders in Hong Kong.
Since July 1, 1997, the former British crown colony has been part of China once more and is governed according to the principle of “one country, two systems”. This agreement actually stipulates that Hong Kongers will enjoy “a high degree of autonomy” and many freedoms for 50 years until 2047. However, since the security law was passed, many people have only talked regarding “one country, one system”.
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