After new charges laid against Joshua Wong, Amnesty International warns he risks life in prison
The well-known pro-democracy activist has been charged again under the infamous national security law for "conspiracy to collude with foreign forces”. This is an attempt by Hong Kong authorities to keep him in prison. He risks a life sentence, human rights groups warn.
Hong Kong (AsiaNews) – New serious charges have been levelled at Joshua Wong, a well-known Hong Kong activist already in detention; he was charged yesterday with “collusion with foreign forces” under the National Security Law.
The new charges against Wong are “arbitrary, cruel and outrageous,” said Maya Wong, China director at Human Rights Watch. “While imprisoned under one trumped-up charge, Joshua Wong has been suddenly slapped with yet another,” she added.
According to Amnesty International, the government wants to keep him behind bars. “Hong Kong’s National Security Law is turning five years old at the end of the month, and these new charges against Joshua Wong show that its capacity to be used by the Hong Kong authorities to threaten human rights in the city is as potent and present as ever,” said Sarah Brooks, China director at Amnesty International.
Brooks noted that the charge, which is vague and open to interpretation, is being misused. “Once again, the vague and sweeping offence of ‘collusion with foreign forces’ is being weaponised to justify an attack on the freedoms of expression and association.”
Joshua Wong, who was previously jailed for his participation in informal primary elections, was due to be released in about a year and a half. However, if this new case were to proceed, he could face up to life in prison.
For Brooks, “This latest charge against him underscores the authorities’ fear of prominent dissidents and shows the lengths they will go to keep them behind bars for as long as possible – in so doing, continuing a chilling effect on civic activism in the city. The Hong Kong government must drop these charges and cease enforcing the National Security Law immediately, as called for by UN bodies. All people jailed simply for exercising their human rights must be set free.”
Specifically, Wong is accused of conspiring with exiled activist Nathan Law and “other persons unknown” between July and November 2020 to urge foreign countries and organisations to impose sanctions, blockades, or engage in other hostile activities against Hong Kong and China.
The new charge carries a potential life sentence. Wong was previously sentenced to four years and eight months for "conspiracy to commit subversion”.
The human rights situation in Hong Kong has terribly deteriorated since 2020, with more than 300 people arrested for violating Beijing's National Security Law.
In addition, Article 23, introduced by local authorities last year, has further intensified the crackdown and silenced opposition voices in the city.
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18/05/2022 14:22
01/02/2021 15:19
