It’s political prosecution plain and simple, Jimmy Lai supporters say
Hong Kong authorities are conducting “political prosecution” of Jimmy Lai and tailoring the national security law to their own agenda, supporters of the pro-democracy Hong Kong media tycoon say.
Lai, 73, was on Saturday denied bail at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Court over one count of “collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security.” The Apple Daily founder is also facing a fraud charge, for which he previously could not secure bail either. Both cases are adjourned until April.
Outside court, dozens of people gathered to show their support, standing opposite a handful of pro-establishment protesters who called for Lai to be sent to jail. Lai’s supporters included retired Hong Kong bishop Cardinal Joseph Zen, protester Alexandra Wong, also known as Grandma Wong, Democratic Party vice chair Lam Cheuk-ting, and former lawmakers Albert Ho and “Long Hair” Leung Kwok-hung.
A woman, who only gave her surname as Yau, said Lai’s arrest was clearly one of “political prosecution” as he and several other pro-democracy figures had recently been brought to court over and over again on additional charges.
Yau went on to criticize the way the “red line” of the national security law was constantly shifting and how authorities could seemingly make up any offenses to their liking under the sweeping legislation, which banned subversion, secession, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces.
She was worried that ordinary people would soon be targeted, once the government had exhausted its list of political adversaries.
Another supporter agreed with Yau, saying the government had falsely accused Lai and that it was tailoring the national security law to suit its own agenda.
She also believed government prosecutors had no real evidence, seeing that they had requested more time so as to be able to fully inspect over a thousand tweets and comments made on Lai’s Twitter account.
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