Hundreds rallied in a Hong Kong court on Monday after 47 pro-democracy activists were charged with cracking down on national security – arrests that led to the conviction of Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the European Union. (…)
The 47 were among more than 50 arrested in January and face charges of “conspiracy to commit subversion” under a draconian national security law imposed by the Chinese Communist government aimed at stifling dissent.
They were accused of conducting an informal primary poll in July last year to choose candidates in the 2020 legislative elections, which were postponed due to coronavirus.
Hong Kong authorities said the intention of the poll was to “overthrow” the government.
Blinken demanded the release of the 47 protesters in Hong Kong.
“We condemn the detention and charges against the Pan-Democratic candidates in the Hong Kong elections and call for their immediate release. Political participation and freedom of expression should not be crimes. The US is with the people of Hong Kong ” he said in a post on Twitter Sunday.
The EU said the arrests showed “clearly that legitimate political pluralism will no longer be tolerated in Hong Kong,” spokeswoman Nabila Massrali said in a statement.
“The EU urges the Hong Kong and Beijing authorities to honor their commitments to fundamental freedoms and the rule of law, as enshrined in the Basic Law and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The EU calls for the immediate release of those arrested, “she added.
The revolt against Hong Kong’s manipulation of China comes as a new Gallup poll released Monday shows that US views on China have fallen to historic lows.
The Americans’ favorable ratings for China reached a record high of 20% – a drop of 13 percentage points from 33% a year ago.
20 percent was the lowest of the 33 percent favorability rating recorded in 1997 and 34 percent since 1989 following the Chinese government’s crackdown on protesters in Tiananmen Square.
With Post threads