Joshua Wong denounces “illegal assembly” in Hong Kong over Civil Rights News

A pro-democracy activist in Hong Kong, four people were accused of participating in the 1989 Tiananmen massacre commemoration ceremony.

Hong Kong democracy activist Josu Wong is one of four people accused of attending an illegal assembly on June 4 last year to remember the repression of protesters in and around 1989 in Tiananmen Square, Beijing.

It was the first time surveillance had been banned at the global financial center, and police, at all demonstrations last year, mentioned coronavirus restrictions at group rallies. A similar fate is expected this year.

Still, tens of thousands of people lit candles across the city last June when it was largely a peaceful event, a brief barricade incident with riot police in a neighborhood.

Wong, who was already in jail, pleaded guilty to participating in the 2019 pro-democracy protests and organizing an unauthorized assembly in the district court on Friday.

Other activists found guilty were Lester Shum, Jannelle Leung and Tiffany Yuen. Eddie Chu was asked to suspend another activist and his case will be heard on June 11 because 19 other people have similar charges.

The June 4 anniversary sparked a particularly sensitive nerve in the former British colony last year, and as soon as Beijing was ready to introduce new security legislation, it punishes anyone who punishes China as a link to foreign forces with subversion, secession, terrorism or life in prison.

While in prison, Wong was arrested in January on suspicion of violating a new law introduced in July 2020 for postponing elections since he took part in an unofficial vote to select opposition candidates, authorities said it was a “malicious plot.” ”To“ throw out ”the government.

According to the Hong Kong Free Press, dozens of people gathered in front of Wan Chai Court on Friday to support the defendants.

Not only Wong, but also Shum and Yuen are under arrest in a national security case related to the July 2020 primaries.

This year, the June 4 event is particularly uncomfortable for Beijing as it celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Communist Party. Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam, when asked if the memory of the Tiananmen victims will violate the new security law, said it was important to show respect for the Party this week.

Memories of the Tiananmen crackdown are banned in mainland China, but Hong Kong has traditionally held its largest vigil every year, as some freedoms were promised when it returned to Chinese rule in 1997, including rights to expression and assembly.

China has never given full news of the 1989 Tiananmen Square violence. Officials said the death toll was around 300, most of them soldiers but rights groups and witnesses say thousands could be killed.