Joshua Wong and Other Pro-Democracy Student Activists Charged in Hong Kong

By Christine Khamis

Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

BEIJING, China –

Joshua Wong, Alex Chow, and Nathan Law have been charged for their roles in last year’s Umbrella Movement in Hong Kong. The three men were among the group of students who gathered last September to protest Beijing’s framework for the election of Hong Kong’s next leader.

The students broke into Civic Square, a fenced government area in Hong Kong, and clashed with police, who arrested them. Tens of thousands then gathered in support of the students and another protest group, Occupy Central. The protests gained strength after police began to fire tear gas into the crowds. 79 days of sit-ins followed, creating one of the largest mass protests in Hong Kong’s history.

Student activists clash with police during the Umbrella Movement. (Photo courtesy of BBC)

Mr. Wong, Mr. Chow, and Mr. Law will have their charges heard on September 2nd in magistrates’ court. Mr. Wong, one of the leaders of the Umbrella movement and co-founder of the student activist group Scholarism, has been charged with unlawful assembly and for inciting others to unlawfully assemble. He faces up to five years in prison if he is convicted.

Mr. Chow, former leader of the Hong Kong Federation of Students, has been charged with unlawful assembly. Mr. Law, who is currently the leader of the Federation of Students, has been charged with incitement of others to join in unlawful assembly.

Mr. Wong denies doing anything wrong, claiming that other protests have been held in the Civic Square area without incident. He has stated that he believes the charges are an act of political prosecution, in part because the charges have been made almost a year after the protests. Michael Vidler, Mr. Wong’s attorney, has stated that he may ask the courts to end the action against Mr. Wong.

Mr. Wong and Mr. Law also face separate charges for obstructing police during a different protest last year, which occurred outside the liaison office for the Chinese central government in Hong Kong. They have both pled not guilty to those charges and will appear at a court hearing regarding the charges on Friday.

Mr. Wong says that he will not plan another civil disobedience movement for a few years. Mr. Wong has also stated that there was not a clear route for democracy during last year’s Umbrella Movement and that not enough people were willing to pay the price by protesting. He believes that there will be another Umbrella Movement, but that activists need to better prepare for the next movement.

 

For more information, please see:

BBC – Hong Kong Student Leaders Charged Over Umbrella Movement – 27 August 2015

The Guardian – Hong Kong Student Leader Joshua Wong Charged Over Protests – 27 August 2015

The Independent – Hong Kong Student Pro-Democracy Leader Joshua Wong Decries ‘Political Prosecution’ – 27 August 2015

The New York Times – Sit-In Leaders Are Charged in Hong Kong – 27 August 2015

Reuters – Key Hong Kong Pro-Democracy Students Charged after Occupy Protests – 19 August 2015

BBC – Joshua Wong: ‘We had no clear goals’ in Hong Kong Protests – 2 August 2015

 

Egypt Taking Step Backwards on Media Freedom.

By: Tyler Campbell

Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

 

 

CAIRO, Egypt – –

On Saturday an Egyptian judge sentenced three Al-Jazeera English reporters to three years in prison. The three men, Mohamed Fahmy, Baher Mohamed and Peter Greste appealed this ruling and spent 400 days in jail until released on bail by Egypt’s highest court in January, when it granted them a retrial. This case has some important international connections. Mohamed Fahmy is a Canadian national and Peter Greste is an Australian journalist so any ruling by an Egyptian court could seriously affect the men’s abilities to continue as international journalists.

The three men on trial. (Photo courtesy of The Hindu)

Media and civil right groups around the world are loudly criticizing the verdict as baseless and politically motivated by the current Egyptian regime. This is the same regime that took power two years ago when the military removed president Mohamed Morsi from office. Since the regime change the climate for journalist in Egypt has steadily become more unfavorable. Last Saturday when the Judge read the sentences, the original charge of collusion with a terrorist organization was not present. Instead they are being imprisoned for operating without a broadcast license and broadcasting false news with the intentions of harming Egypt. The journalists stand by that they were just doing their jobs and are now being prosecuted for it by current Egyptian leadership.

The lack of evidence, and the nature of said evidence provided by the prosecution seems to give some credence to the idea that the ruling was politically motivated. For instance one of the pieces of evidence offered by the prosecution was the music video of “Somebody that I used to Know” by Gote. Not only are civil rights groups questioning the ruling but governments around the world have expressed concern. The U.S. State Department said it was “deeply disappointed” with the court’s ruling. State Department spokesman John Kirby said, “The freedom of the press to investigate, report, and comment even when its perspective is unpopular or disputed is fundamental to any free society and essential to democratic development.” The Australian government has also pledged its support to Greste. Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said she would “continue to pursue all diplomatic avenues with my Egyptian counterpart to clear Greste’s name.” The ruling is rather troubling for the state of media rights in Egypt. It looks like they have traded one oppressive regime for another. How the current President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi will handle these calls for action by the world remains to be seen.

For more information, please see: 

The Guardian — Al-Jazeera journalists sentenced to three years in prison by Egyptian court—

29 August 2015

CNN —Egyptian court sentences 3 Al Jazeera journalists to prison—30 August 2015

Al Jazzeera–FAQ: Al Jazeera’s journalists on trial in Egypt—29 August 2015

The Hindu—Egypt sentences 3 Al-Jazeera reporters to 3 years in prison—29 August 2015