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Forty-seven pro-democracy figures in Hong Kong have been accused of conspiracy to commit subversion in a landmark political case. Many of the defendants have been in jail for nearly two years while awaiting trial.
The case highlights the power of national security laws China is using to tighten its grip on the city after anti-government protests. These are politicians, academics and activists who are now facing prison sentences.
Benny Or58 years old, is a professor of law at the University of Hong Kong.
Joshua Wong26, became a prominent activist at the age of 14.
The same twelve elected members of parliamentwho have often used their presence in the legislature to protest China’s encroachment on Hong Kong’s autonomy.
Mo has been a member of parliament for eight years and is known as “Aunt Mo.”
Better known as “Long Hair,” Leung has been a mainstay of the opposition for nearly two decades.
Chan is Hong Kong’s first gay member of parliament.
Twenty one already elected county officialsincluding younger activists elected in the months following anti-government protests in 2019.
Sham is the leader of an activist group that organized a pro-democracy rally in 2019.
Others are the same prominent activist who have worked in various social causes.
Ng is a former flight attendant who became a union leader.
Ho was a famous journalist in 2019 when, during a live broadcast of a mass attack on protesters, he himself was beaten by thugs.
Wong is a student leader who started his activism when he was still in high school.
Prolonged Detention Without Trial
The first 47 defendants were charged in February 2021 with subversion in a case centered on an unofficial primary vote.
Unlike other types of offenses, national security cases impose a high threshold for bail, which essentially allows authorities to hold the accused for months or even years before trial. Critics say there is a presumption that the defendants are guilty.
In the pre-trial hearing, 16 pleaded not guilty and 31 pleaded guilty, including Benny Tai and Joshua Wong. Most, if not all, of the 47 are expected to receive prison terms, which could range from less than three years to life.
The defendants and their attorneys are barred from commenting on the case. But legal experts say democracy advocates may be under great pressure to plead guilty because of long detentions, dwindling financial resources and the difficulty of winning in courts modeled after China’s authoritarian system.
“The process is designed to be painful,” said Samuel Bickett, a lawyer and activist based in Washington, DC, who was jailed in Hong Kong after scuffling with police officers in 2019.
The Transformation of Hong Kong’s Political Landscape
Hong Kong has seen many protests demanding greater freedom from China since June 2019. To quell the unrest, Beijing enacted a national security law in June 2020, a few days before 47 democrats held primary elections that would lead to arrests a few months later. for subversion.
Nearly three-quarters of the 47 have been in prison since then, spanning almost two years. His absence led to a lack of anti-establishment voices in Hong Kong’s legislature, which passed controversial measures without opposition such as the “patriots only” litmus test for political candidates.
The protest started
Mass anti-government protests began and grew in intensity over the months.
A national security law was created
The new law outlaws the vague crimes of secession, subversion and terrorism, with sentences of life in prison.
Mainly pro-democracy
Pro-democracy candidates hold primary votes ahead of the upcoming Legislative Council elections. 47 defendants helped organize or participated in this event.
Original date of election
47 people were charged, most of them were not released
He was charged with “conspiracy to commit subversion,” for organizing and participating in the main pro-democracy movement. Most were denied bail and held in custody while the lengthy legal process began.
New election rules announced
China announced new rules for Hong Kong elections, restricting candidates to only those deemed loyal to Beijing.
A “Patriots only” election was held
More than 30 accused are currently in custody. Most of them had been in prison for almost two years before the trial began.
The trial is expected to last three months.
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