Hong Kong Occupy leaders deny public nuisance charges

HONG KONG (Reuters) – Three leaders of the 2014 Hong Kong Occupy Democracy Movement, which had been paralyzing part of the Chinese-controlled city for nearly three months, have denied public nuisance charges while critics International is growing against the erosion of civil liberties.

Law professor Benny Tai, 54, retired sociologist Chan Kin-man, 59, and retired minister Chu Yiu-ming, 74, face charges of conspiracy, incitement to commit a public nuisance and incitement to incitement to public nuisance.

The closely monitored trial illustrates tensions in the former British colony, as discontented Democrat activists repel attempts by Communist Party leaders in Beijing to tighten their grip on the city's freedoms and autonomy .

Each charge is punishable by up to seven years' imprisonment. Six others, including two lawmakers, are also facing charges of public nuisance in a trial that is expected to last about 20 days.

Showing suspicion, the nine defendants and over 100 supporters deployed yellow umbrellas, symbol of the movement, outside the courthouse, applauding and applauding.

They chanted "true universal suffrage" and the end of what critics say amounts to "political persecution" for what has been conceived as a peaceful campaign of civil disobedience.

All nine have denied the charges, including activist Raphael Wong who shouted "I want universal suffrage" by entering his argument.

Chan announced last week that he would be taking early retirement at the Chinese University of Hong Kong in order to avoid the risk of being fired. Tai told Reuters that he hoped the lawsuit would be an opportunity to "restart the spirit of the people".

Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule in 1997 according to a "one country, two systems" formula, with the guarantee of a high degree of autonomy and private freedoms of Chinese citizenship, including the freedom to speech and the right to protest.

However, critics, including foreign governments, business groups and activists, say that the guarantee is increasingly hollow.

"UNLAWFUL OCCUPATIONS"

The court learned how, in 2013, Tai, Chan and Chu began promulgating and planning a non-violent civil disobedience campaign to occupy the streets of the central business district if China did not allow a democratic vote. for his next leader.

The "Occupy" campaign began in September 2014, ahead of schedule, and became an integral part of the biggest populist challenge in Beijing since the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989.

Hundreds of thousands of people, including many young people and students, took to the busy streets of the main streets.

Government Attorney Andrew Bruce explained to the court how the three occupation leaders delivered speeches and interviews to urge more people to join the protest.

He added that this operation was organized in collaboration with others to try to feed the movement for a "prolonged and indefinite" time.

Counsel for the accused, however, questioned the basis of this allegation.

The other five defendants are Lee Wing-tat, a former Democratic Party member, Democratic lawmakers Tanya Chan and Shiu Ka-chun, as well as student leaders Tommy Cheung and Eason Chung.

Some lawyers said the case could affect hundreds of other protesters who have not been charged.

The US-China Economic and Security Review Commission warned in a report to Congress last week that China had "stepped up its interferences" in Hong Kong and "shut down the political space of defenders of democracy to express their dissatisfaction ".

Authorities have banned a political party advocating for the independence of Hong Kong, banned democracy activists from participating in local elections and banned six opposition legislators from sitting in the legislature.

Financial Times reporter Victor Mallet was expelled from the city this month after helping to organize an independent rights activist at the Foreign Correspondents Club in what critics have called an attack against freedom of expression.

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam has repeatedly pointed out that Hong Kong respected the media and other freedoms, but has so far refused to explain why she had refused Mallet's entry.