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The only logical conclusion is that the Communist Party today is a regime devoid of any ideology, except one: ultranationalism. This is clear not just in HK but also Macau, Taiwan, Xinjiang, Tibet, the South China Sea, and beyond. Xi's "China Dream" is just territorial ambitions.
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With everything going on right now, this statement from the Chinese Liaison Office probably isn't the most important, but it reveals Beijing's mindset. It calls the HK protesters' "yellow economy" (i.e. buying only from pro-democracy stores) a violation of free-market principles.
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The timing of the arrests was tactical.
abc.net.au/news/2020-05-0…
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If HKGov arrested political leaders, including Martin Lee, in Nov, 100000 people would've taken to the street immediately that night in different districts. But due to safety concerns over the coronavirus which make it difficult to gather people on the street, it has taken adv.
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#MilkTeaAlliance 1/ Joshua added his voice to the throng, posting a meme of three figures clinking glasses of milk tea and calling for pan-Asian solidarity “to fend off all forms of authoritarianism from China.” (Interview from @niccijsmith @Telegraph)
telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/05/0…
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4/ The alliance represented not only widespread anger over China’s stance on Hong Kong, Taiwan, Xinjiang and Tibet, but also wider regional issues linked to growing Chinese influence and expansion through its Belt and Road initiative and infrastructure development, he added.
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5/ More recently, the hashtag has been aligned with news of satellite evidence showing that Chinese dams withheld water from the lower Mekong region during a damaging drought in downstream countries, raising alarm in Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam.
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Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls on the World Health Organization (WHO) to lift its ban on Taiwanese journalists, which violates the universal right to information and is undermining efforts to combat the coronavirus epidemic.
rsf.org/en/news/corona…
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[Beijing is paving the path to disqualify all 70 LegCo councillors if 35 or more are Pro-Democrats]
1/Towards the end of Easter holiday, HKMAO of the State Council unexpectedly released a statement alleging the misconduct of Legislators in public office.
telegra.ph/Beijing-is-pav…
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11/ HKMAO's statement is a reminder for HKers to be vigilant & prepared. Of course, we must strive to get more than half the seats! But even if we succeed in achieving this miracle, the regime may still use ever more creative ways - like oath violations - to unseat Legislators.
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12/ This is why I wrote "Fight at any cost internationally", linking existing LegCo's survival with survival of HK's separate status as a tax haven. On the chessboard of international politics, only with a tight grasp of regime's weaknesses do we stand a chance against Beijing.
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Thank you for @Reuters capturing these important moments of Hong Kong history! The photography staff of Reuters has won the Pulitzer Prize for breaking news photography for its coverage of last year's protests in Hong Kong. reut.rs/2W3nkRV
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1/ Since the protest from last summer, 34 male protesters, less than 21, have been remanded in custody in Pik Uk Prison, while 14 now remains behind bars. They were violently abused until they lost balance & fell. Prison guard jumped & forcibly smashed their backs with elbows.
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@demosisto's has received requests for assistance from protesters that were previously remanded at Pik Uk Prison. Three victims, 3 victims testified that they were subject to torture & cruel treatment by prison staff.
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3/ After political prisoners sang "Glory to HK” in secret, prison guards brought them to areas not covered by CCTV & slapped their faces with force. After prison guards had felt exhausted, they were ordered to continue slapping themselves forcefully. youtu.be/sG0x_q3Rq8I
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2/ During their remand period in prison, protesters were discriminately abused by prison guards, roughly 3 to 5 times every week. Prison wardens even threatened to withhold meals from protesters as a punishment to their criticisms on the Hong Kong government and police forces.
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4/ With wooden rods, metal rulers, plastic rulers or batons, they also beat their hands & feet & ordered them to count every strike aloud: “Thank you, Sir. One … Thank you, Sir. Two ….” Protesters were beaten at least 20 times for each limb. thestandard.com.hk/breaking-news/…
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2/ Appearing via Skype shown at a press conference organised by @demosisto's Joshua Wong, the young men recounted how they were violently abused by guards who hit them with their elbows, and with wooden rods, metal rulers and batons.
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3/ The three, whose names were given as Tom, Jackson and Ivan, claimed the abuse happened while they were on remand at Pik Uk Correctional Institution in Sai Kung over charges relating to the anti-government movement.
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1/ Three protesters said that they had been tortured and abused while detained in a prison, alleging they were taken to areas away from surveillance footage and beaten and slapped.
news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/compon…
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4/ They said on one occasion, protesters were caught singing the movement's anthem "Glory to HK". Guards took them out of sight of CCTV & slapped them in the face, they said, adding that when the guards became tired, they were ordered to repeatedly slap themselves instead.
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5/ They also said protesters were made to count aloud and shout "Thank you, sir", as prison staff beat their hands and feet. Tom said that when prison staff weren’t satisfied with any answers they got from new inmates, they would start swearing at them and hitting them.
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6/ "I was called outside and taken to a room without CCTV. He [a guard] grabbed my head and banged my head against the wall about four or five times… I was dizzy for two days," he said.
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8/ "The fundamental problem is that without CCTV footage and without enough CCTV inside the prison, of course prison staff or prison guards can do what they want to abuse their power and torture inmates without any penalty or any pressure," he said.
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9/ Joshua added that they may file a complaint with the United Nations. "Those abuses of power violate international standards on human rights."
@joshuawongcf
* CURRENTLY IN JAIL, ACCOUNT MANAGED BY FRIENDS *
—
Hong Kong activist〡joshua@joshuawongcf.com〡#UnfreeSpeech: hyperurl.co/unfreespeech〡#MilkTeaAlliance