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.
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
