By: Fábio Bosco (11/19/2024)
On November 19, Hong Kong judicial authorities announced the sentences against 45 opposition figures for organizing election primaries to unify the so-called “pan-democratic opposition” in July 2020, which was attended by 610,000 voters.
The sentences range from 4 to 10 years in prison. Jurist Benny Tai, an associate professor at the University of Hong Kong, was sentenced to ten years in prison for being considered the “mastermind” of the primaries.
Left-wing activist Leung Kwok-hung “Long Hair” was sentenced to 6 years and nine months in prison. Former president of the independent trade union confederation HKCTU, Carol Ng, was sentenced to 4 years and five months in prison. Winnie Yu, president of the Alliance of Hospital Workers, was sentenced to 6 years and 9 months in prison.
Relatives, friends and political supporters lined up to enter the courtroom, but only 5 were allowed into the audience. Chan Po-ying, the chair of the left-wing League of Social Democrats and the wife of “Long Hair” said:
“My only thought is that it’s a miscarriage of justice and that they [the democrats] should not have been detained for even one day. What they did – participating in the primary election – was hoping to use the rights authorised by the Basic Law, to veto the government budget and to pressure the government to follow the public’s will, the will of most people in the general public.” (1)
The arbitrary trial was also criticized by Amnesty International representative Sarah Brooks, who said: “The call is not for a ‘review’. It is for a ‘repeal’ and an unconditional ‘release’. Human rights law demands nothing less.”
Most of the opposition members have been in prison since February 2021, and may have their prison time compensated. However, if there are other convictions, they will be added together. This is the case of “Long Hair”, who was sentenced to 18 months in prison for participating in two street demonstrations in 2019. (2)
The conviction of the opposition members is based on the National Security Law imposed by the Chinese regime on June 30, 2020. The suppression of dissenting voices aims to impede the freedom of expression and organization of the gigantic Chinese proletariat, who today are victims of the exploitation and oppression of Chinese imperialist capitalism. (3)
The Brazilian Labor and People’s Federation CSP-Conlutas sent a message of solidarity with “Long Hair” and the 45 oppositionists during the protests against the G20 (see photo above), which met in Rio de Janeiro on November 18 and 19, and was attended by the Chinese President Xi Jin-Ping.
The struggle for democratic freedoms in Hong Kong is inextricably linked to the struggle for democratic freedoms in China, against the oppression and exploitation of the Chinese capitalist and imperialist State.
NOTES:
(1) https://hongkongfp.com/2024/11/19/we-will-survive-this-mixed-emotions-for-families-of-hong-kong-democrats-jailed-in-landmark-national-security-case/
(2) https://litci.org/en/hk-opposition-guilty/
(3) https://litci.org/pt/2024/06/14/liberdade-para-long-hair-e-todos-os-presos-politicos-de-hong-kong/?utm_source=copylink&utm_medium=browser
