US, UK, Australia and UN criticize Hong Kong’s harsh punishment of pro-democracy leaders – ThePrint – ANIFeed

Beijing (China), November 21 (ANI): The governments of the US, UK and Australia, along with the United Nations, condemned the sentencing of 45 democracy activists and former MPs to up to 10 years in prison for “subversion”. It comes as calls for tougher sanctions on Hong Kong grow and visa programs expanded to help those fleeing ongoing political repression in the city.

In a statement Tuesday, the U.S. State Department announced it would move to impose new visa restrictions on many Hong Kong officials involved in enforcing the 2020 National Security Act, which has been used to prosecute activists. The statement called for the immediate and unconditional release of 45 people and other political prisoners. It was emphasized that these heavy penalties damaged the trust in Hong Kong’s judicial system and damaged the city’s global standing.

British Foreign Secretary Catherine West also condemned the sentence, saying it was a clear example of Hong Kong authorities using the National Security Act to criminalize political dissent. He stated that those convicted only exercised their freedom of expression, assembly and political participation.

Australian Foreign Minister and leader of the government in the Senate, Senator Penny Wong, expressed deep concern in her statement about the sentences given to activists, including Australian citizen Gordon Ng. He called on China to end its crackdown on freedoms such as expression, assembly, media and civil society, in line with the recommendations of the Human Rights Committee and Special Procedures. Wong also called for the repeal of the National Security Law in Hong Kong.

According to the report, the UN Office for Human Rights (OHCHR) said High Commissioner Volker Turk called for an “urgent review” of the convictions and called on Hong Kong authorities to ensure they comply with international human rights law, including the protection of freedom of expression. , peaceful assembly and association. OHCHR emphasized that the scope and definition of national security laws should be precise, and that restrictions on human rights should be permitted only when absolutely necessary for a legitimate aim and in a proportionate manner.

Responding to criticism at a regular press conference on Tuesday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Li Jian said “no one should be allowed to use ‘democracy’ as an excuse to engage in illegal activities and evade justice.” He reiterated that the Central Government strongly supports Hong Kong in protecting national security and punishing any actions that threaten it in accordance with the law. Li also expressed strong opposition to some Western countries interfering in China’s internal affairs and trying to tarnish Hong Kong’s legal system.

Tuesday’s sentence was also condemned by Hong Kong’s last British colonial governor, Lord Patten of Barnes, who called it an “insult to the people of Hong Kong”. In a statement, he strongly criticized the “sham sentences” handed down after a non-jury trial and highlighted the erosion of freedoms of assembly, expression and the press in Hong Kong. He called on the UK government not to allow the outcome of this case to go unnoticed or go unchallenged.

Canadian Senator Leo Housakos, a member of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, called the sentences “serious injustice.” In a statement shared by London-based rights group Hong Kong Watch, he argued that the National Security Law and the investigation into these activists undermine fundamental principles such as freedom, human rights and the rule of law.

Former political lecturer Chan Kin-man, who co-founded the Occupy Central pro-democracy movement with key defendant Benny Tai in 2014, said none of the detainees, many of whom have been jailed for more than three years, should spend even a single night. day in jail. “Benny worked tirelessly as a constitutional scholar to expand the pro-democracy movement through peaceful means,” Chan said, referring to Tai, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison by the Hong Kong High Court on Tuesday. (MOMENT)

This report is auto-generated from ANI news service. ThePrint assumes no responsibility for its content.