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https://theconversation.com/bounties-on-exiled-hong-kong-activists-show-the-ambitious-reach-of-chinas-political-repression-209029>
"The Hong Kong government has extended its efforts to suppress political
dissent overseas, issuing arrest warrants for eight exiled pro-democracy
figures and offering bounties of HK$1 million (around A$191,000) each.
The targeted pro-democracy figures, who now live in Australia, the US and UK,
were selected from a longer list of wanted dissidents. There is a curated feel
to their profiles – three ex-legislators, three activists, a unionist and a
lawyer – that suggests the list is symbolic, as well as pragmatic.
It is reminiscent of the infamous “Umbrella Nine” trial that capped years of
prosecutions after Hong Kong’s 2014 “Umbrella Movement” protests. Three
academics, three politicians and three activists were tried and convicted
together to send a message to “troublesome” sectors of civil society.
The mugshots of those issued with arrest warrants this week depict not
gun-slinging outlaws, but amiable-looking intellectual types.
Their “very serious crimes”, according to police, consist mostly of calling for
sanctions to turn the tide of political repression in Hong Kong. In the terms
of the controversial national security law under which the warrants were
issued, this is considered “subversion of state power”, an offence punishable
by up to life imprisonment."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
