US and EU Responded to the Mass Disqualification of District Councillors
#HKSAR government demanded all #DistrictCouncillors (DC) in Hong Kong to take an oath earlier. 55 DC lost their seats in total as 49 councillors in democratic parties were disqualified due to invalid vows. 6 directly lost their seats due to the absence of #oath. More than 200 DC had resigned earlier due to the oath request.
The US State Department issued a statement on Oct 21, keeping their concerns to the #HumanRights and the #Freedom in Hong Kong, including the continuous erosion of political participation, especially under the National Security Law (#NSL) which increases prosecution with political motivation.
The statement also said that the prosecution was directed to teachers, unions, lawyers, journalists, medical staff, student unions and citizens. The mass DC disqualification is simply to stop HKers to manage their homeland meaningfully.
US State Department again called Beijing and the Hong Kong authority to release people who are detained unfairly, and stop the suppression of peaceful civil organizations. They also pointed out that HKers and the energetic civil society are always the biggest resources in Hong Kong, as well as the foundation of being a successful international finance hub. The US will continue to support HKers, their rights and their freedom.
EU: Chilling effect occurs under NSL
The #EU External Action Service issued another statement on the same day, saying that HK government disqualifying most of the democratic councillors means denying the DC #election result in 2019. And that excluding the democratic parties from the political participation would weaken Hong Kong democratic governance structure.
The EU indicated that the pressure of civil society is increasing as many unions and organizations in Hong Kong have disbanded. This, again, shows the chilling effect on the rights and freedom in Hong Kong under the NSL and becomes the core of suppressing dissidents.
Source: Stand News #Oct22
https://bit.ly/3DeyQgm
#Disqualification #TakeOath #US StateDepartment
#HKSAR government demanded all #DistrictCouncillors (DC) in Hong Kong to take an oath earlier. 55 DC lost their seats in total as 49 councillors in democratic parties were disqualified due to invalid vows. 6 directly lost their seats due to the absence of #oath. More than 200 DC had resigned earlier due to the oath request.
The US State Department issued a statement on Oct 21, keeping their concerns to the #HumanRights and the #Freedom in Hong Kong, including the continuous erosion of political participation, especially under the National Security Law (#NSL) which increases prosecution with political motivation.
The statement also said that the prosecution was directed to teachers, unions, lawyers, journalists, medical staff, student unions and citizens. The mass DC disqualification is simply to stop HKers to manage their homeland meaningfully.
US State Department again called Beijing and the Hong Kong authority to release people who are detained unfairly, and stop the suppression of peaceful civil organizations. They also pointed out that HKers and the energetic civil society are always the biggest resources in Hong Kong, as well as the foundation of being a successful international finance hub. The US will continue to support HKers, their rights and their freedom.
EU: Chilling effect occurs under NSL
The #EU External Action Service issued another statement on the same day, saying that HK government disqualifying most of the democratic councillors means denying the DC #election result in 2019. And that excluding the democratic parties from the political participation would weaken Hong Kong democratic governance structure.
The EU indicated that the pressure of civil society is increasing as many unions and organizations in Hong Kong have disbanded. This, again, shows the chilling effect on the rights and freedom in Hong Kong under the NSL and becomes the core of suppressing dissidents.
Source: Stand News #Oct22
https://bit.ly/3DeyQgm
#Disqualification #TakeOath #US StateDepartment
The Last Day of #StandNews: Hongkongers' Professionalism and Perseverance
Stand News, an independent news outlet in Hong Kong, was founded in December 2014, and it has come to an end after seven years.
Two years ago in 2019, Hong Kong was caught up in the historic #AntiELAB movement. Stand News provided live streams on the frontlines in various districts, narrating the latest situation live, recording the city's most tumultuous moments. Their efforts made Stand News stand out from the numerous news media platforms.
In June 2021, the National Security Bureau arrested senior personnel from #NextMedia, forcing the shut down of #AppleDaily and leading to the closure of a number of publications. Stand News became the largest open, pro-democracy online news website in Hong Kong.
However, the #HKSAR government singled out Stand News on numerous occasions this year, accusing the company for "misleading" reporting of the CUHK clashes and smart prisons.
Finally on December 29, 2021, after a number of current and former seniors were arrested and the company's assets frozen, Stand News announces to cease operation and to dismiss its entire staff.
Staff members returned to the Stand News office in the afternoon, one after another. By the evening, many of them are still in the office, and rounds of applause are occasionally heard. They also took photographs with the journalists waiting outside the office, recording of their moment in history: "I have fought a good fight."
Stand News suspends its website, Facebook page, Youtube channel, and Twitter and Instagram accounts at 11pm on December 29. All content has been removed.
Source: CitizenNews; InMedia #Dec29
#Media #PoliticalOppression #PressFreedom #Regime #Arrest #PoliceState #PoliticalProsecution #NSL
====
Related News:
Stand News: Operation ceased; social media accounts will be removed
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31757
Hong Kong National Security raid pro-democracy newspaper, arrested 6 senior staff
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31751
Hong Kong Authorities' #Crackdown on Stand News
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31752
Stand News Thanks Hongkongers for Their Support Despite #PoliticalOppression
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31765
Hong Kong Police Issues Arrest warrant for Stand News founder
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31766
The Last Stand of #StandNews in Hong Kong
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31770
Stand News, an independent news outlet in Hong Kong, was founded in December 2014, and it has come to an end after seven years.
Two years ago in 2019, Hong Kong was caught up in the historic #AntiELAB movement. Stand News provided live streams on the frontlines in various districts, narrating the latest situation live, recording the city's most tumultuous moments. Their efforts made Stand News stand out from the numerous news media platforms.
In June 2021, the National Security Bureau arrested senior personnel from #NextMedia, forcing the shut down of #AppleDaily and leading to the closure of a number of publications. Stand News became the largest open, pro-democracy online news website in Hong Kong.
However, the #HKSAR government singled out Stand News on numerous occasions this year, accusing the company for "misleading" reporting of the CUHK clashes and smart prisons.
Finally on December 29, 2021, after a number of current and former seniors were arrested and the company's assets frozen, Stand News announces to cease operation and to dismiss its entire staff.
Staff members returned to the Stand News office in the afternoon, one after another. By the evening, many of them are still in the office, and rounds of applause are occasionally heard. They also took photographs with the journalists waiting outside the office, recording of their moment in history: "I have fought a good fight."
Stand News suspends its website, Facebook page, Youtube channel, and Twitter and Instagram accounts at 11pm on December 29. All content has been removed.
Source: CitizenNews; InMedia #Dec29
#Media #PoliticalOppression #PressFreedom #Regime #Arrest #PoliceState #PoliticalProsecution #NSL
====
Related News:
Stand News: Operation ceased; social media accounts will be removed
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31757
Hong Kong National Security raid pro-democracy newspaper, arrested 6 senior staff
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31751
Hong Kong Authorities' #Crackdown on Stand News
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31752
Stand News Thanks Hongkongers for Their Support Despite #PoliticalOppression
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31765
Hong Kong Police Issues Arrest warrant for Stand News founder
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31766
The Last Stand of #StandNews in Hong Kong
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31770
Telegram
📡Guardians of Hong Kong
#StandNews #Crackdown
Stand News: Operation ceased; social media accounts will be removed
Full translation of the announcement:
Today (Dec 29), Hong Kong Police arrested a number of our current and former management staff, and took away others for investigations.…
Stand News: Operation ceased; social media accounts will be removed
Full translation of the announcement:
Today (Dec 29), Hong Kong Police arrested a number of our current and former management staff, and took away others for investigations.…