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Tibet supporter Chow Hang-tung put under solitary confinement for marking Tiananmen Massacre anniversary

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Chow Hang-tung pictured ahead of the 32nd anniversary of the Tiannamen Masaccre in Hong Kong, June 3, 2021 (Photo/Lam Yik)

By Tenzin Nyidon 

DHARAMSHALA, June 6: Long-time Tibet supporter, a human rights lawyer and Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Chow Hang-tung who is serving time in prison has been put under solitary confinement for undergoing a 34-hour long hunger strike to commemorate the 34th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre.

Chow Hang-tung, also the vice-chair of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of the Patriotic Democratic Movements of China was arrested for allegedly promoting an unauthorised assembly on the 32nd anniversary of the pro-democracy Tiananmen movement in June 2021. Subsequently,  she was sentenced to 15 months for engaging in the 2021 banned Tiananmen vigil. On December 13, 2021, she was sentenced to 12 months in prison for organising and taking part in the June 4th Tiananmen vigil in 2020 and charged with “inciting subversion” by the Hong Kong Justice Secretary. 

The HKA organises an annual Tiananmen vigil in Hong Kong to commemorate the thousands killed by the People’s Liberation Army in Beijing, led by Deng Xiaoping in 1989 which witnessed China crash peaceful protests with tanks and troops. Since 2020, the top authorities have denied permission for candlelight vigils. HKA disbanded in 2021 in light of the 2020 national security law which cracked down harshly on any dissent and voice against the government.

On the eve of the 34th anniversary of the Tiananmen crackdown last week, dozens of pro-democracy activists including, artists and activists were arrested as they were carrying flowers near Victoria Park, where a vigil was being held and for repeatedly shouting “Don’t forget June 4” and “Hongkongers don’t be afraid” by police in Hong Kong for “breaching public peace,” according to Hong Kong Free Press. 

The UN Human Rights Office on Twitter expressed ‘alarm’ to Hong Kong Special Administrative Region over detentions linked to June 4 anniversary and called for immediate release of the detainees. “We urge the release of anyone detained for exercising freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. We call on authorities to fully abide by obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,” they stated. 

2 Responses

  1. Shocked to hear that Hong Kong is no longer the free place it once used to be. Sad to know that it is now totally under the control CCP but hope remains fresh from youngster such as Chow hang-tung and others like her from the umbrella movement.

  2. The solitary confinement of Chow Hang-Tung is shocking and saddening! The fascist regime in China is extremely scared of the winds of democracy wafting towards communist China from Hong Kong and Taiwan. That is why, they go to any length to snuff out every visage of freedom in these territories. The regime in China is extremely brittle and every day is an existential threat to its survival. That is why, it is extremely harsh on those who are fighting for their freedom in their countries. It had the statue of shame removed from the campus of the University of Hong Kong. It also removed all books and documents pertaining to democracy! It banned the annual anniversary of the June 4th Tiananmen massacre in Hong Kong by running a so called “Chinese cultural show” at Victoria Park to occupy the venue so no Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters could gather at the usual venue! Even an 80 year old grand mother who was holding aloft a bouquet of flowers was arrested!!! All pro-democracy parties such as the Civic Party which has been the most prominent democracy party and Hong Kong democracy poster boy Joshua Wong’s Demosisto have all been disbanded owing to the persistent bullying and threats by the CCP and its henchmen in Hong Kong. News paper proprietors such as Jimmy Lai have been imprisoned and his news paper, the Apple Daily were forced to be shut down! Today, every promise the CCP made to the British Government in 1988 in the Sino-British Joint Declaration has been reneged and consigned to the dust bin. Hong Kong is another occupied territory like Tibet! Just like Tibetans in the aftermath of the Chinese invasion of Tibet in 1949/50 fled the country, more than a million Hong Kongers have left their homeland and sought asylum mostly in the UK and other countries like US, Canada and Australia. The cream of Hong Kong society has left its shores and it has lost its brightest and most qualified people. It’s economy is therefore in shambles and is not attracting any investors owing to the CCP’s draconian “National security Law”. The CCP is a monstrous dictatorship akin to Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Germany. It is anti-people, anti-freedom, anti-religion and anti-democracy! It seeks to impose its own will through sheer violence and intimidation and this is why it’s the greatest menace to humanity. However, owing to the CCP’s war mongering militarism, the world’s democracies are taking note of this menace to humanity and are forming strong alliances to deter the demonic menace. A day will come when the dictator in China through his stupidity will launch an attack on Taiwan just as Putin did upon Ukraine! This will put the CCP in a position akin to Russia today where it will face a the United front of the entire democratic world who have held sway in the world until now to protect their own turf. It will grind the CCP just like Putin is being ground to a halt in his maniacal ambitions. Defeat is staring down on Putin in Ukraine and Russian opposition is daring to discuss post Putin Russia. A similar day will come when Tibetans, Ugyurs, Mongolians, Chinese and Hong Kongers will be doing the same by conducting discussion on post CCP demise! Human spirit for freedom is insatiable and indestructible and cannot be destroyed by force or wiped off from memory through intimidation and coercion. Pursuit for freedom and dignity will never perish but will endure until human beings exist! Chow Hang-Tung and fellow prisoners in Hong Kong must not be dispirited or lose hope. They must believe in their conviction for freedom to come to Hong Kong since every regime collapses no matter how powerful they may be in their hey day!

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