After being postponed for more than a year, the trial of the most well-known activist publisher in Hong Kong, who was detained during China’s campaign against dissidents, will begin on Monday.
About three decades ago, Jimmy Lai, now seventy-six, entered the once-freewheeling world of the city’s media, armed with the conviction that disseminating information equates to defending freedom. Now, his own freedom is in jeopardy because he might be found guilty under a national security statute Beijing adopted in the wake of the 2019 pro-democracy rallies and receive a life sentence.
Many see the historic case as a trial for press freedom and a test for judicial independence in the former British colony, which was promised that its Western-style civil liberties would remain intact for 50 years after returning to Chinese rule in 1997. The case is linked to the now-defunct pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, which Lai founded.
Lai is accused of plotting with others to produce seditious publications and of coordinating with foreign forces to jeopardize national security.
Lai took to the streets during the 2019 protests and met with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and then-Vice President Mike Pence to talk about the contentious extradition law that had caused the protests but had now been withdrawn. He publicly criticized the security measure when it was passed, declaring that the city he had known “is dead.”
Hong Kong Despite the absence of a definite leader for the 2019 protest movement, Lai’s prominence rendered him a target for the government. According to the legislation, he was arrested in August 2020, and Apple Daily was compelled to close its doors in June 2021 after authorities searched its offices, froze $2.3 million in assets, and detained several of its senior editors and executives on suspicion of engaging in international cooperation to jeopardize national security.
While awaiting his security trial, Lai is now serving a five-year, nine-month sentence on fraud charges related to lease violations in a different case.Hong Kong
Hong Kong has never held a trial for alleged coordination with foreign forces, as Lai’s has. He is charged with one count of collaboration under the security law and two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces. In addition, he faces charges of sedition under legislation from the colonial era that has been utilized more frequently to suppress dissent.
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Hong Kong Because the cases were being heard by judges who had received government approval, the court denied a request to end the proceedings in May.
One of Lai’s attorneys, Robert Pang, drew attention to the judges’ appointments’ lack of openness, arguing that this could undermine public trust in the legal system.Hong Kong
Hong Kong Lai’s trial, which was supposed to begin in December of last year, was also delayed while Beijing was persuaded by the Hong Kong authorities to obstruct his attempt to retain a British defense attorney. Following that, the city’s authorities disallowed Timothy Owen, the attorney, from defending Lai, stating that doing so would probably jeopardize national security.
In August, the judges suggested postponing the trial one more time.Hong Kong
Sebastien Lai, the son of Lai, met with the foreign secretary of Britain last week to advocate for Britain’s assistance in releasing his father, who is a British citizen and has been described as “one of the most notorious anti-China elements” by China’s Foreign Ministry.
After the British government shared a picture of the younger Lai with Cameron, stating that the nation will continue to “stand by Jimmy Lai,” the younger Lai told The Associated Press that he felt “a lot more confident” that he would see his father again.Hong Kong
However, Sebastien Lai stated that he doesn’t think the trial would be impartial.
Considering my father’s age and the fact that he has served three years in prison, I find it extremely concerning,” he remarked.Hong Kong
