Hong Kong (AsiaNews) - Joshua Wong, a leader of Homg Komg’s pro-democracy movement Occupy Central, has been banned from criticizing Beijing and disseminating details about his detention. That is according to today's Bangkok Post in its online edition.
The young 19 year old was set to attend a conference at Chulalongkorn University marking 40 years since the massacre of students by Thai security forces of the time. But 20 Thai policemen stopped him as he got offfrom the plane in Bangkok and detained him for 12 hours before sending him back to Hong Kong. Wong then gave his speech at the University with a 30-minute video last night (see photo).
But the Bangkok Post today reveals that Wong had to submit to the demands of the Thai authorities who demanded that there were no details about his detention and that there was no criticism of Beijing in his speech. If he did not obey, his video would have been blocked.
The Thai newspaper says Wong at the end, "consented" and in the video spoke only of his personal experience, the way Hong Kong is changing after the Occupy Central experience.
The "solidarity" shown to China from Thailand - currently a military dictatorship - has left much of Hong Kong's population dismayed.
The Group of Lawyers for progress, formed by lawyers who support human rights, has accused Thailand of betraying the UN Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. They suggested Bangkok to apologize to the young man and compensate him. According to the group, the government of Hong Kong and China should express a formal protest against Bangkok for "illegal detention" of their nationals.
The Thai premier Prayut Chan-o-cha said that the action taken against Wong was made at the request of the Chinese government.
Thai authorities to Joshua Wong: If you criticize Beijing, you will also be silenced on video
The Bangkok Post reveals the backstory of "a favor" in Beijing by the Thai authorities. Lawyers for Human Rights: Bangkok has violated the UN Convention, and must apologize. And Hong Kong and Beijing must issue a formal complaint for "illegal detention."
by Paul Wang
