BY NBC NEWS
Hong Kong — Jimmy lai, a well-known activist and publisher, goes on trial for a historic national security offense in Hong Kong on Monday. If found guilty, he may receive a life term under a statute Beijing enacted to repress dissidents.
Jimmy Lai, 76, was detained in August 2020 as part of a crackdown on the pro-democracy movement in the city,
which was made possible by the broad national security law that was passed in response to massive protests four years prior. He was accused of plotting with others to release seditious materials and of working with foreign powers to jeopardize national security.
The carefully followed case is generally regarded as a trial of press freedom and a test for judicial independence in the Asian financial capital. It is connected to the now-closed pro-democracy tabloid Apple Daily, which Jimmy lai started.
After regaining control of the former British colony in 1997, China pledged to allow the region to continue enjoying civil rights akin to those of the West for 50 years. However, under the pretext of preserving national security, the Hong Kong administration has significantly restricted the freedoms of assembly and speech and has all but eradicated political opposition in recent years. Prominent campaigners were compelled to go into self-exile, be silenced, or be arrested.
Hong Kong has never held a trial for alleged coordination with foreign forces, as Jimmy Lai’s has. It also goes after the three businesses associated with Apple Daily.
Jimmy Lai entered the courtroom, grinning and waving to his supporters. A few others in the public gave Jimmy Lai a wave of encouragement. Attendees included foreign consulate representatives and a prominent democratic champion in Hong Kong, the Roman Catholic Cardinal Joseph Zen.
Robert Pang, Jimmy Lai’s attorney, who is being prosecuted in court, stated prior to the opening statements that his client’s sedition accusation was not handled in accordance with the law.
Pang contended that the law mandated that the prosecution of sedition charges start no later than six months following the alleged offense, and that in Jimmy Lai’s case, the prosecutors had not done so.
The government-approved panel of three judges is presiding over the proceedings. The anticipated duration of the experiment is eighty days.
The main English-language newspaper in the city, the South China Morning Post, has reported that throughout the next three months, about 1,000 police officers will be stationed outside the West Kowloon Court.
Six former executives of Apple Daily pleaded guilty to accusations of collaboration last year, confessing to the court that they planned to advocate for sanctions or other hostile actions against China or Hong Kong in concert with Jimmy Lai. They were found guilty and are awaiting their prison sentence.
A few of the former executives were scheduled to appear as witnesses for Jimmy Lai’s prosecution, along with two others who had previously entered a guilty plea to accusations of cooperation.
There was a massive police presence outside the courthouse. Hours before the session began, scores of locals lined up to attend.
Jolly Chung, 29, was one of the first in line and declared she would make every effort to enter and watch the proceedings.
“Even though I know he will lose, I want to see this as a Hong Konger,” the woman remarked.
Andy Sung, a forty-year-old man, told Jimmy he came to see history. “Simply making the decision to come here is a tiny act of resistance,” he stated.
The police prevented Alexandra Wong, also referred to as “Grandma Wong,” a pro-democracy campaigner, from entering the courthouse.
She chanted, “Support Jimmy Lai, support the Apple Daily, and support the truth.”
Jimmy Lai’s trial was initially set to begin in December of last year, but it was delayed as the Hong Kong government filed an appeal with Beijing, thereby preventing him from hiring a British defense attorney. Following that, city authorities denied Timothy Owen, the attorney, permission to represent Jimmy Lai, citing probable threats to national security.
Sebastien, Jimmy Lai’s son, met with David Cameron, the foreign secretary of the United Kingdom, last week to advocate for the country’s assistance in releasing his father, who is a British citizen.
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The security statute is a “clear breach” of the Sino-British Joint Declaration, according to a statement from Cameron, and China has violated its international obligations if it continues to be in use.
The agreement, which was signed in 1984 by British and Chinese officials, said that Hong Kong will continue to enjoy significant autonomy and freedoms for 50 years.
Cameron expressed his alarm about Jimmy Lai’s “politically motivated prosecution” in particular. He pleaded with Chinese authorities to free Jimmy Lai and revoke the security law.
According to Cameron, “Jimmy Lai has been singled out in an obvious attempt to thwart his peaceful exercise of his rights to freedom of expression and association.”
According to U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller, the United States denounced Jimmy Lai’s indictment and encouraged Beijing and Hong Kong authorities to uphold press freedom.
He declared, “We demand that Jimmy Jimmy Lai and all others detained for standing up for their rights be released right now by Hong Kong authorities.”
In a statement, the chairs of the U.S. Congressional-Executive Commission on China cJimmy laimed that the trial is just another tragic illustration of the increasingly oppressive tactics of the Hong Kong administration and that it is a “political prosecution pJimmy lain and simple.” They also demanded that Jimmy Lai be freed and that the accusations against him be dropped by the government.
Reporters Without Borders’ most recent World Press Freedom Index placed Hong Kong, which was formerly thought to be a stronghold of media freedom in Asia, in 140th place out of 180 nations and territories. The group cJimmy claimed that since the security law was put into effect in 2020, the city has experienced an “unprecedented setback.”
Due to the crackdown, Stand News, an online news service renowned for its outspoken criticism of the Hong Kong government, was forced to close, and its two former senior editors were charged with sedition.
The laws have been praised by the governments of China and Hong Kong for restoring calm to the city.
