2023-12-18 06:19:00
The trial of pro-democracy tycoon Jimmy Lai for “collusion with foreign forces”, during which he risks life in prison, opened in Hong Kong on Monday morning after calls from Washington and London for his immediate release.
The billionaire, making his first public appearance since 2021, arrived at the Hong Kong court on Monday morning dressed in a suit, smiling and waving towards the seats where his family members sat.
Mr. Lai, who just turned 76, is accused of “collusion with foreign forces” among other national security violations.
He has already been imprisoned for three years under a radical national security law, imposed by Beijing in 2020, a year after major pro-democracy protests.
The trial, which is to take place in open court over the next 80 days, should make it possible to assess the level of civil liberties in Hong Kong and the independence of the judiciary from Beijing.
A large security system was deployed around the court, in front of which residents had waited all night in the cold to hope to attend.
Among them, Alexandra Wong, an activist better known as “Grandma Wong”, shouted “Support Apple Daily, support Jimmy Lai” while waving the British flag, before being pulled away by police.
“Older, thinner”
The owner of the Apple Daily newspaper, closed in 2021, is one of the most famous figures in the pro-democracy movement.
His newspaper, a severe critic of Beijing, supported the major pro-democracy demonstrations of 2019 and called for international sanctions against Chinese and local authorities.
His case aroused indignation and condemnation from the international community, particularly in the United States.
“We urge the authorities in Beijing and Hong Kong to respect press freedom in Hong Kong” and to “immediately release Jimmy Lai and all other people imprisoned for defending their rights,” declared the spokesperson for the US State Department, Matthew Miller, in a statement Sunday.
The United Kingdom, of which Mr. Lai is a citizen, also reacted on Sunday with a press release from its head of diplomacy David Cameron.
“Jimmy Lai was targeted in an obvious attempt to prevent the peaceful exercise of his rights to freedom of expression and association,” said the minister.
Mr Cameron said he was particularly concerned about “the politically motivated prosecutions” against the press boss, calling on the Hong Kong authorities “to release Jimmy Lai”.
David Cameron met the dissident’s son, Sebastien Lai, in London on Tuesday.
“Lord Cameron said that (this matter) was a priority and that he had discussed it with his counterpart Wang Yi,” Sebastien Lai told AFP on Saturday, referring to the highest Chinese diplomat.
Recently discovering photos in the press of his father appearing “older, thinner” in the courtyard of his prison, Sebastien Lai was “heartbroken”, he confided.
“I have no illusions about the independence of Hong Kong’s justice system,” he added.
Jimmy Lai will be tried, without a jury, by three judges chosen by the leader of Hong Kong from a group of hand-picked magistrates.
His imprisonment since Hong Kong’s highest court denied his release on bail in late 2020 marked a shift in Hong Kong’s pre-trial detention.
The trial suffered multiple delays as Hong Kong authorities blocked Mr. Lai from being represented by Tim Owen, a British human rights lawyer, citing security risks.
“Parody of justice”
Since Hong Kong’s national security law took effect in 2020, rights advocates say it has effectively muzzled dissent and reduced civil liberties.
According to Reporters Without Borders (RSF), more than 100 media executives from around the world co-signed a statement earlier this year calling for Lai’s release.
“We ask the court to respect the rule of law and, if it does, it should naturally close the case,” Cédric Alviani of RSF told AFP on Friday.
In a statement, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday that this trial was “a travesty of justice” which taints the rule of law in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong authorities said they would step up security around the West Kowloon courthouse building.
“If anyone attempts to disrupt the trial or intimidate those involved in the legal proceedings, we will not hesitate to take immediate action,” city security chief Chris Tang warned on Friday. .
12/18/2023 05:17:24 – Hong Kong (AFP) – © 2023 AFP
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