London – Hong Kong pro-democracy politician Nathan Law, who lives in exile in the UK, told CBS News on Wednesday that if he hadn’t fled the city last year, he would be among dozens of arrested politicians and activists in China’s most recent “totally absurd” crackdown under the guise of a new “national security” law.
The arrests of 53 pro-democracy politicians and activists overnight were the biggest action under China’s new national security law since its approval by Beijing last year. The new law was created to suppress dissent in semi-autonomous territory, which, despite belonging to China, had a different system of government that guaranteed fundamental freedoms.
“It is definitely devastating for me. Many people who are arrested are my friends. I’m actually on the list. If I were in Hong Kong, I would be arrested just hours ago, ”said Law.
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The dozens of people arrested were accused of plotting the “mutual destruction” of China and Hong Kong through their participation in unofficial primary elections to reduce opposition pro-democracy candidates to run for seats on the legislative council of the territory (LegCo) . If elected to the council, these candidates could have influenced or blocked laws passed in Beijing.
Law called the government’s explanation that, in trying to be elected, detainees were trying to block government operations, “totally absurd, because in any normal and democratic system, we have checks and balances, and the council’s duty is to control the administrative agency responsible for the measures, including blocking their accounts. “
“This is actually part of the system’s function and power,” he said. “But the government sees it as an act of subversion.”
He said the world would have to “wait and see” if all 53 individuals arrested on Wednesday would actually be prosecuted.
“There are still outstanding questions as to whether this is a genuine process for everyone … or just targeting some of them” who are believed to be the mentors of the political upheaval that Hong Kong saw last year.
Among those Law fears could face tougher sentences is the prominent politician Joshua Wong, who, arrested since early December, could see his sentence increased.
Mass arrests were also the first time that a foreigner was detained under the new national security law. American human rights lawyer John Clancey, who had been involved in pro-democracy work in Hong Kong, was among those arrested.
“This is definitely a big blow,” Law said. “I think the United States government should be very concerned about the case and that it is possibly another variant of Beijing’s hostage diplomacy.”
AP
Law urged the US government and the wider international community to hold China accountable and urged the European Union to suspend an EU-China investment pact.
“None of us should take these freedoms for granted. Even in the United States, around the world, if we are not vigilant enough, they will be removed very, very quickly, ”said Law.
He said this to himself and to other Hong Kongers, who for decades had “the taste of freedom … losing it is a huge blow, and its impact is greater than if you were chasing something you never had” .
“I think it really gives impetus to people who are still a Diaspora community and have left Hong Kong, or even stayed in Hong Kong, to have faith to fight for it, even though the situation is getting more and more difficult.”