2023-12-21 20:48:10
WORLD – The trial of pro-democracy tycoon Jimmy Lai opened Monday, December 18 in Hong Kong. He is accused of endangering national security and could be sentenced to life in prison. The United States and the United Kingdom demand his release.
The current trial of Jimmy Lai in Hong Kong is of historic significance by testing two fundamental pillars that China pledged to uphold for 50 years following the return of the former British colony to its rule in 1997. authority: freedom of the press and independence of the judiciary.
The first principle suffered a serious setback with the closure of media outlets critical of the regime, including Lai’s founding newspaper, theApple Daily. The second principle shows signs of drifting towards increased control of the judiciary, aligned with the model prevailing in the rest of China. Numerous convictions have been handed down against activists who participated in pro-democracy demonstrations in 2019. But the one who finds himself in the dock today is a big fish, a billionaire businessman , patron of numerous political movements and students who fought in the streets for freedoms.
Jimmy Lai, 76, has been in detention in a high-security prison since December 2020, undergoing severe isolation, 23 hours a day. Although he has already been convicted of illegal assembly and fraud, his trial, which opened on Monday December 18, is of particular importance, since he is accused, the first in Hong Kong, of “collusion with foreign forces”, an offense that can carry a life sentence under Beijing’s national security law. This law erased a large part of the autonomy promised to Hong Kong according to the principle of: “One country, two systems”.
The symbol of the 2019 protests
The protests that rocked the city in 2019, and which spiraled into a spiral of destruction and clashes between demonstrators and riot police, were characterized by the absence of a clear leader. For Beijing and the local executive, Jimmy Lai, who has British nationality, was an obvious target because he was the most high-profile, powerful and influential activist abroad.
The businessman even met with then-US Vice President Mike Pence and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to explain the extradition bill that sparked the protests. For these meetings (among others), he is accused of colluding with foreign forces to endanger national security. An accusation which is part of a “conspiracy” case in which he is also accused of “publishing seditious material” and “inciting public hatred against the authorities”.
A highly anticipated trial that raises concerns about judicial transparency
Everyone in Hong Kong knows the story of Jimmy Lai, a poor boy who moved illegally to the city at the age of 12, worked in a clothing factory, then founded his own brand before embarking on construction. a media empire. This is why the media had high expectations for Lai’s arrival at the West Kowloon court on Monday morning, December 18.
The local press reported that 388 seats had been reserved for the press and the public. We were therefore fighting to closely follow this trial before the High Court which should last around 80 days.
Robert Pang, one of the defendant’s lawyers, expressed concern about the “lack of transparency in the appointment of judges”, particularly the three judges who were directly approved by Hong Kong’s chief executive. Kong, favorable to Beijing. The tycoon’s team claimed he was denied his choice of legal representation, with Lai wanting to appoint a British lawyer.
International calls for the release of Jimmy Lai
“I am very concerned about anyone facing prosecution under the National Security Act, and I am particularly concerned about the politically motivated prosecution of British citizen Jimmy Lai”declared Sunday, December 17, the British Foreign Minister, David Cameron, who requested the release of the businessman.
Six months after Lai’s detention in 2020, the newspaper he founded, theApple Daily, closed its doors when authorities froze $2.3 million in its assets and searched its offices, arresting some of its top editors and executives on charges of collusion with foreign powers. Lai is one of 250 activists and lawmakers who have been detained under the national security law.
David Cameron strongly criticized the prosecution of Jimmy Lai, journalist and editor, denouncing the clear violation of the Sino-British declaration by China. He called for the repeal of the national security law and an end to prosecutions.
The US State Department also called for Lai’s release, stressing that the repressive actions undermine press freedom and weaken Hong Kong’s democratic institutions. Lai’s highly publicized trial mobilized more than 1,000 police officers, sparking criticism of its spectacular nature. Sebastien Lai, Jimmy Lai’s son, said his father is being punished for defending Hong Kong’s freedoms.
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