A court in Hong Kong has sentenced 45 democracy activists to prison terms of up to ten years. This was announced by the judges in the Chinese special administrative region. The trial against the “Hong Kong 47” group was the largest to date for alleged violations of the controversial security law. Benny Tai, a former lawyer who was described as the “organizer” of the arrested pro-democracy activists, received the maximum sentence of 10 years.
The group includes former parliamentarians, scientists and activists. Among them is former student leader Joshua Wong, who was sentenced to four years and eight months. Wong and 30 other defendants had already pleaded guilty. At the end of May this year, the judges found 14 of the remaining 16 defendants guilty and two were acquitted.
The opposition members were charged with conspiracy to overthrow more than three years ago under the National Security Law enacted by the Chinese government in Beijing. The “Hong Kong 47” were accused of organizing illegal primary elections before the 2020 election for the Legislative Council, Hong Kong’s parliament, which was later canceled due to the corona pandemic. The defendants were therefore guilty of endangering the state and violating the security law. They were originally threatened with life imprisonment. The trial lasted from February 2023 to December of the same year.
The trial was accompanied by a large police presence, and hundreds of people gathered outside the courthouse to show their support for the defendants, including diplomats from Germany, the EU and other countries. “This is such an injustice that it needs to be documented,” Margaret, a 59-year-old woman waiting to be seated outside the courtroom, told Reuters. “I have been following her case for a long time. I want them to know they still have the public’s support.”
The USA and Western countries criticized the process as “politically motivated” and called for the demonstrators to be released.
The governments of China and Hong Kong, on the other hand, defend the security law as necessary to restore order after the mass protests of 2019. The law is seen as a massive encroachment on the autonomy of the former British crown colony, which was guaranteed by the British when Hong Kong was returned to the People’s Republic in 1997 was. Hong Kong’s Supreme Court has already sentenced prominent figures in the democracy movement, including media entrepreneur Jimmy Lai.
Viewer: What implications do the sentences for the democracy activists have on the future of free speech in Hong Kong?
Please find below an interview with two guests providing their perspectives on the recent sentencing of Hong Kong democracy activists under the National Security Law:
Interviewer: Hello and welcome to World Today News. Joining us today are two guests, John, a Hong Kong resident and Alice, a political analyst based in Beijing. Thank you both for being here.
John: My pleasure.
Alice: Thank you for inviting me.
Interviewer: Let’s start with your initial reactions to the sentences handed down by the Hong Kong court against the 45 democracy activists, including the maximum sentence of 10 years for the organizer Benny Tai.
John: I am deeply concerned about these sentences. The National Security Law has been used as a tool to suppress dissent and silence opposition voices in Hong Kong. These activists were simply exercising their right to free speech and assembly, which are basic human rights. The fact that they are being punished so severely is outrageous.
Alice: The National Security Law was introduced to restore order and stability after the 2019 protests, which caused significant damage to Hong Kong’s society. These activists were not peaceful protesters but were involved in subversive activities that endangered national security. The sentences reflect the gravity of their crimes and serve as a warning to others who might consider similar actions.
Interviewer: The trial was the largest to date for violations of the controversial security law. What are your thoughts on the fairness of the trial process?
John: The trial process was anything but fair. The fact that these trials were held behind closed doors, with limited access to evidence, raises serious concerns about transparency and due process. The defendants were denied fundamental rights such as the right to choose their own lawyers and the right to cross-examine witnesses. This was a political show trial designed to intimidate the public and crush dissent.
Alice: The trial was carried out according to international standards, and the defendants had access to legal representation throughout the process. The imposition of the National Security Law ensures that the rule of law is upheld in Hong Kong, and the sentencing will serve as a deterrent to those who seek to undermine the city’s stability.
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