Two weeks on with no further updates about their situations, it seems they've been thrown into a black hole of indefinite detention...
1/ As Beijing chips away at the city’s freedoms and our way of life, some Hongkongers choose to risk their lives and flee for asylum by speedboat. Two weeks ago, on 23 August, 12 asylum seekers were captured. They are now being detained in China.
2/ Under the national security law, it could be the first case that HKers will send to China’s court. Under the stricter legislation and criminal laws in China, all detainees may face graver offences. Throughout the criminal justice process, it could be a complete black box.
3/ For a long time, fleeing by sea has been commonly associated with countries grappling with armed conflicts and repression, as with Syria, Libya and Myanmar. It’s tragic that another is set to join them.
4/ What was once a semi-autonomous international financial center has now turned into a tightly controlled region, after Xinjiang. Fleeing has become the only way for the city’s freedom fighters to seek liberation.
5/ As every second passes, the fate of the detained Hongkongers becomes more uncertain. To bring them back safe and free from tortures, we hope the world can keep a close watch on developments and speak up for us when our voices are eventually silenced.
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[MSG IN CUSTODY] 1. Comparing to remanded, #save12hkyouths in China deserves more of our attention. Today marks the 93rd day of their detention. Their families finally received letters from the dozen, signifying that they are still alive. #SAVE12 campaign managed pressure China.
2. But from the content of the letters, they might have been tortured until they agreed to make forced confessions, saying they had appointed lawyers assigned by the authorities, saying they regretted taking part in activism.
3. I wish to pay tributes to our fellow activists who are about to face trials and prison, or to whom in distress for not being able to return home: We're not fearless, but you are the braver ones.
1/ On June 17 last year, it was the day after 2m of freedom-seeking HKers took to the street and called for the withdrawal of the evil law. I was released for the third time in my life on that day. More than one year, I now once again face 3 cases.
2/ Never have I underestimated the chance of imprisonment at the upcoming hearing on Mon, especially at the time when lawmakers were expelled, journalists were sued for mentioning police brutality, and universities were probed in the pretext of national security claims.
3/ After consulting with lawyers, @chowtingagnes, @ivanlamviiv and I will plead guilty, which implies that Mon’s hearing will skip trials and go straight into sentencing. Compare to with 2k HKers are prosecuted and 12 HKers detained in China, the charges that I face are minimal.
1/ No doubt there is a terrible price to pay in standing up to the Beijing and HK government. But after serving a few brief jail sentences and facing the continuing threat of harassment...
2/ I learnt to cherish the freedom I have for now, and I shall devote every bit what I have to strive for the freedom of those who have been ruthlessly denied. Courtroom, visiting prisoners and battle of university remind me of the fact that the fight has not ended yet.
3/ In the coming months, I will be facing a maximum of 5 years in jail for unauthorized assembly and up to one ridiculous year for wearing a mask in protest. But prison bars would never stop me from activism and thinking critically.
1/ Behind the notion of Milk Tea Alliance, we can see gradually there’s a calling for pan-Asian solidarity “to fend off all forms of authoritarianism from China’’.
2/ While the military government in Thailand has fostered a quite good economic partnership with China, under the Belt and Road Initiatives. In return, the military government has been extremely helpful to assist Beijing to oppress dissidents outside China such as Gui Minhai.
3/ The innovative ‘Milk Tea Alliance’ is more about how netizens and key opinion leaders on social media can take a leadership role and generate pressure against the momentum of Beijing’s propaganda machine. It will enhance more students to push forward global solidarity.
1/ ‘’If we are in the new Cold War, HK is the new Berlin.’’ -- for we are now standing between the free world and the dictatorship of China. I’m not an expert in academic but perhaps the historical context would help us shed light on many similarities.
2/ First of all, during the Cold War, Berlin was the forefront of the two competing ideologies - Capitalism & Communism; ironically, at present, Hong Kong has become the wrestling ground for two ideologies-- Democratic values, liberties versus absolute dictatorship.
3/ The communist party is very eager in expanding its influence in the world and setting up satellite states through economic means. The free world is realizing its intention and preparing itself to resist its threat.
[My comment on the mass resignation of pro-democratic camp lawmakers]
1/ After Beijing stepped in and appointed the “provisional legislature” in August, it simply explains that they can't ensure a majority had the election taken place on time. All lawmakers are lack of mandate.
2/ While the authorities decided to unseat four more lawmakers, it's time for all democratic camp lawmakers to resign from this appointed legislature. Act as decorative flower vases inside the institution may just let Beijing take advantage to calm down global discontent.
3/ We wish to warn the world that now the existence of legislature never implying the existence of check and balance. Also, it's time to rise to the fact that win seats in the election and street clash are not the two only scenes in a democratic movement.