Freedom Fighter

A Pop Star Defends Democracy in Hong Kong
By JAY NORDLINGER
Denise Ho performs at the Oslo Freedom Forum in Norway, May 27, 2019. 

In the forthcoming issue of National Review, I have a piece about Tanya Chan, who is a Hong Konger: She is a legislator and a democracy leader, in the thick of it all. 

She is also an inspiration.
Today, I talked with Denise Ho — who is also an inspiration. 

She, too, is a Hong Konger, and a democracy leader, in the thick of it all. 

She is also a pop star — a household name in Hong Kong and beyond. 

Her activism has not come without costs. 

She has paid a price in engagements, endorsements, etc. 

Obviously, she is persona non grata in Mainland China — which is a very big market. 

But she could not remain silent. 

Something within her impelled her to join the others in the streets.
For my podcast with her — a Q&A — go here.
We met at Town Hall in New York City, where the Oslo Freedom Forum was holding a special session. (On the façade of Town Hall, it says in big, bold letters, “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”) 

We talk about her life and career. 

The prospects for democracy in Hong Kong. 

The brutality of the police. 

The question of Taiwan. 

And other key subjects.
She says that all people who favor democracy, freedom, and human rights — wherever they live — are linked. 

They are allies, and should stand together against oppressors.
Usually, Q&A goes out with music by Glazunov (which is how the show is introduced, too) — the last movement of his Symphony No. 5, “Heroic.” 

This time, it goes out with a Denise Ho song. 

Again, here.

China's human rights abuses

Hong Kong legislator urges U.N. rights body to probe police abuse

By  Stephanie Nebehay

Hong Kong pro-democracy legislator Tanya Chan poses after her address to a session of the Human Rights Council at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, September 16, 2019. 

GENEVA -- A pro-democracy Hong Kong legislator called on the top U.N. human rights body on Monday to investigate what she said were “brutal crackdowns” and “police brutality” against demonstrators in the former British colony.
Tanya Chan addressed the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva as Hong Kong’s businesses and metro stations reopened as usual on Monday after a chaotic Sunday when police fired water cannon, tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters who blocked roads and threw petrol bombs outside government headquarters.
“Today marks the 100th day of the movement, but there is no sign the police will exercise restraint. This is a direct result of the lack of democracy in Hong Kong, as the government is not held accountable for its endorsement of police abuse,” Chan said.
Referring to U.N. human rights boss Michelle Bachelet, she said: “Will the High Commissioner support our appeal for this Council to convene an urgent session and establish a Commission of Inquiry, to ensure justice and human rights for the people of Hong Kong?”
China’s diplomatic mission wrote to the United Nations in Geneva at the weekend urging it to deny Chang accreditation for the event, according to a letter seen by Reuters.
It called her a “convicted criminal”, citing her suspended sentence handed down in June after she was found guilty of inciting public nuisance during 2014 pro-democracy protests.
Hong Kong returned to China in 1997 under a “one country, two systems” formula that ensures freedoms not enjoyed on the mainland.
The spark for the latest protests was planned legislation, now withdrawn, that would have allowed people to be sent to mainland China for trial. 

They have since broadened into calls for universal suffrage.

Hong Kong democracy activists charged day after new city leader selected

Nine activists to be prosecuted for street protests two years ago despite new chief executive Carrie Lam pledging her selection would reunite population
By Benjamin Haas In Hong Kong

Hong Kong police have started a crackdown on pro-democracy lawmakers and activists, informing at least nine people they will be charged for their involvement in a series of street protests more than two years ago.
The charges come a day after the Carrie Lam was selected to be the city’s chief executive. 

She was heavily backed by the Chinese government and promised to heal divisions in an increasingly polarised political climate where pro-Beijing elites and businesses have repeatedly clashed with grassroots movements calling for more democracy.
For nearly three months in 2014, protesters surrounded the main government offices and blocked roads in the heart of Hong Kong’s financial district. 

While several high-profile cases were brought in the months after, the vast majority of protesters were not charged.
But on Monday the government announced it would prosecute two lawmakers, Tanya Chan and Shiu Ka-chun. 

The others are former student protest leaders Eason Chung and Tommy Cheung, as well as the founders of the Occupy Central movement, Benny Tai, Reverend Chu Yiu-ming and Chan Kin-man. 

Activist Raphael Wong and former legislator Lee Wing-tat will also be charged.
“This isn’t just my case being prosecuted, it’s prosecution against Hong Kong’s democracy,” Chan said in an interview. 

“Lam said her first job would be to reunite Hong Kong people and this will make that task much more difficult.”
Some of the nine planned to turn themselves in at police headquarters late on Monday, with activists rallying around them in support.
Current chief executive Leung Chun-ying has taken unprecedented steps in recent months to remove pro-democracy lawmakers from office. 

Two were barred from taking their seats last year, and the government has launched legal challenges against four other legislators.
If Chan or Shiu are jailed for more than a month, they could lose their seats in the legislative council. The two will be charged with creating a public nuisance, which carries a maximum penalty of seven years imprisonment.
“Leung is trying to change the result of the legislative election through the courts,” Chan said.

“This is a well planned and well designed action, the timing is very critical.”
Lam said she did not know about the arrests in advance.
“I made it very clear that I want to unite society and bridge the divide that has been causing us concern,” Lam said at a press conference. 

“But all these actions should not compromise the rule of law in Hong Kong.”
The protests that led to the charges were sparked by the Chinese government’s decision to vet candidates for the chief executive. 

Beijing’s reform package was voted down, and only 1,194 or 0.03% of registered voters could cast a ballot in Sunday’s election.
Lam met with student leaders of the pro-democracy protests in 2014, and ended up taking a hard line against concessions on the political reform offered by Beijing.
It is unclear why the government waited more than two years to prosecute the protesters and the police did not responded to multiple requests seeking comment.