The Justice of Hong Kong has declared this Friday guilty two prominent pro-democracy activists, former leaders of the organization of the annual vigil in memory of the victims of the Tiananmen massacre of 1989, for alleged acts of incitement to subversion committed between 2020 and 2021.
According to the Hong Kong broadcaster RTHK, the court has concluded that both Lee Cheuk Yan and Chow Hang Tung, along with the organization they led, are responsible for the charges presented, despite both having defended their innocence at all times.
The judges have emphasized that the accused had called for an end to "the dictatorship of a single party" and have argued that, through their actions, they intended to question the legitimacy of the Communist Party of China." Although the sentence has not yet been made public, the national security law provides for penalties of up to ten years in prison.
For decades, the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China was responsible for calling the candlelight vigil to remember the victims of the violent repression of the Tiananmen protests in Beijing, considered the only public ceremony of its kind throughout Chinese territory.
The celebration of this vigil was interrupted after the entry into force, in 2020, of the national security law promoted in response to the massive pro-democracy protests recorded in Hong Kong.
USA demands the immediate release of the activists
The Government of the United States has rejected this Friday the ruling of the Hong Kong Court and has demanded the "immediate" release of the convicted activists.
"Their peaceful vigils for the Tiananmen Square massacre sought only to remember the past and honor the lives lost in that assault," considered on social media, Riley Barnes, assistant in the Undersecretary of State for Democracy and Human Rights.
Germany, France, and human rights NGOs criticize the verdict
In a joint statement, the governments of Germany and France have expressed their regret for the judicial decision and have highlighted the trajectory of Chow, a lawyer specialized in the defense of Human Rights and pro-democracy activist.
"He worked tirelessly to promote Human Rights and democracy in China, particularly in the special administrative region of Hong Kong. The peaceful defense of Human Rights does not constitute a crime," they have pointed out, also demanding the "immediate release" of all those involved and the "respect for all civil rights and freedoms."
The organization Human Rights Watch (HRW) has also condemned the ruling and has pointed out that the conviction evidences "how public demonstrations in commemoration of these victims have become a crime in Hong Kong."
Elaine Pearson, director for Asia of the NGO, has recalled that "for decades, tens of thousands of Hongkongers defended those who lost their lives protesting for freedom in China." "Now, governments around the world must defend Hongkongers who are being punished for holding Beijing accountable for the elimination of freedoms in Hong Kong," she has stated.