China Muslims: Volkswagen says “no forced labour” at Xinjiang plant

Volkswagen (VW) has defended its decision to continue operating a car plant in Xinjiang a Chinese region mired in allegations of large-scale human rights abuses by the state.

Even if VW could prove categorically that their own supply chain was clean, the criticism goes far deeper. Because opening a car plant in Xinjiang requires the partnership and approval of the Chinese authorities, the concern is that it risks leading tacit support to the policies of mass incarceration and ethnic repression, for which there is compelling evidence.

Source: BBC #Nov13

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-54918309

#China #ReEducationCamp #Xinjiang #Uyghur #VW

#HongkongersVoice #NeverGiveUp
Pro-democracy Optical Store Owner: "We Will Go Even Further in the Future"

Part 1/2
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/26931

Part 2/2

Mr Chiu, owner of Hong Ming Optical which offers free eyeglasses to pro-democracy students, graduated from the Optometry Department of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (#PolyU).

He started participating in social movement since the anti-Express Rail-link protest against the demolition of the Choi Yuen Village in 2008. “I was moved by the prostrating walk [by the protesters].”

After that, he joined the protest against national education and the 2014 umbrella revolution. When he was asked if society matters a lot to him, he replied immediately, “No, the society is not that important to me, but I can’t stay silent and do nothing.”

The pro-democracy posters and the promotional sticker of “Lost in the Fumes", a 2017-documentary about the localist icon Edward Leung, in the shop are Mr Chiu's answers.

During the interview, Mr Chiu mentioned he had helped in the election campaign of two localist groups "Hong Kong Indigenous" and "Youngspiration" in 2016 Legislative Election.

After Edward Leung, the spokeperson of "Hong Kong Indigenous" was jailed, Mr Chiu felt depressed and asked, “why did the youth have to suffer that? Why couldn't they be rewarded after putting so much effort?”

Just when Mr Chiu lamented that he might be the last generation of Hongkongers, Mr.Chiu changed his mind during the 2019 pro-democracy movement. “I thought the youths nowadays might have been brainwashed [by the authorities] and singing the national anthem," Mr Chiu said, "until I saw those 12 or 13-year-old kids... They were skinny and much shorter than me, but they stood in front of me [during protests].”

"I tried to persuade them to leave, but I failed. Then I have to stand in front of them," Mr Chiu said.

Mr Chiu has more than 50 friends being charged during the pro-democracy movement. That is why he always attends hearings. While Mr Chiu has a strong and muscular built, he cannot help but weeps bitterly in court. In order not to disturb others, he always sits at the last row.

While many professionals seem to have plans to leave Hong Kong, Mr Chiu was asked if he has thought about that. Mr Chiu jokingly replies, “Does working holiday count?” He then gave a serious answer, "Never."

Source: InMedia #Nov22
https://bit.ly/3kRn6Gv

#YellowStore #HongMingOptical #LostintheFumes #HongKongProtests

#FailedState #Censorship
HK Government Censors Fai-Chun by Pro-democracy District Councillors

One year ago, the pro-democracy camp had a landslide victory in the District Council Election, which is the only direct election in Hong Kong. Since then, the government has been suppressing the operation of the District Councils in different ways.

Recently, Wong Tai Sin District Council member Mok Yee-ha said that the District Council planned to print Fai Chun, a traditional decoration with greeting for the Lunar New Year, which reads “Wish the Good a Peaceful Life”.

The government, however, rejected the proposal by claiming that the greeting “Wish the Good a Peaceful Life” implies political meaning and that it is "not a commonly seen new years greeting".

Some Hongkongers described it as "Literary Inquisition" by the government.

Source: Apple Daily #Nov21

#WishtheGoodAPeacefulLife #TheGoodTheBadAndtheUgly
#Censorship #FaiChun #LiteraryInquisition #LunarNewYear #DistrictCouncil

#AsiasFinest #FailedState
Rape, Theft, Drug: Hong Kong Police

In the past 4 to 5 months in 2020, a total of 16 police officers were arrested. Police illegitimacies, such like drug trafficking, theft, rape and assault, were revealed.

From 2015 to 2018, at least 107 police officers were arrested and at least 6 officers were involved in rapes and sexual harrassement cases.

Examples of police illegitimacies include:

1. Drug

A sergeant was arrested for the possession of crystal methamphetamine totalling 25kg suspected to have been stolen from drugs seized.

2. Abduction and Rape

On 16 November 2020, several police officers went clubbing together. Two officers were suspected of abducting and raping a 20-year-old drunk woman at a love motel in Mong Kok.

One of the officers is a riot police while the other one has recently been transferred to the Organised Crime and Triad Bureau (#OCTB).

3. Theft

An officer of Police Public Relations Bureau (#PPRB) was arrested for stealing helmets, gloves, canned abalone, camera batteries among other items.

4. Credit Card and Identity Theft

A 28 year-old police officer was suspected of misappropriating credit card for the purchase of two iphones, worth a total of HK$25,000.

He was charged with one count of theft and two counts of obtaining property by deception.

Source: Stand News; Now News; Apple Daily #Nov17

https://hk.appledaily.com/breaking/20201117/IQ266DSLBFAPHNL6G5GHYQRVR4/

#Court #CaptainAmerica
Hongkonger Charged Under National Security Law, Bail Denied: "The Fruit of Democracy is Bought with Blood and Sweat"

Ma Chun-man, better known as "Captain America 2.0", was arrested in Tseung Kwan O on charge of "inciting others to commit secession", the trial began on Nov 24, 2020 at West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts.

Prosecutors alleged that Ma shouted the pro-independence slogans for many times and committed the offence on 19 occasions from August 15 to November 22, 2020.

The defendant's bail application was denied. Chief magistrate So Wai-tak considered that Ma had high risk of reoffending as he was arrested for 7 times between August and November, and then ordered the case adjourned until February 10, 2021.

When Ma was taken to the detention room, he shouted for
three times, "Democracy is bought with blood and sweat!"

Source: InMedia #Nov25

Justice is diminishing in all fields in Hong Kong. The slightest offence to China is worse than any other crime.

#injustice #HKeducation #GoHKGraphics #oppression

The Protesters Suspected of Being Beaten to Death by Police; Several Cities in Belarus Demonstrated in Mourning on Saturday

Source from: The Stand News #Nov16

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The Protesters Suspected of Being Beaten to Death by Police; Several Cities in Belarus Demonstrated in Mourning on Saturday

Thousands of people demonstrated in several cities in Belarus on Sunday (15th), not only continuing asking Lukashenko for resignation but also protesting that the police force beat one of the protesters and died during the detention. Protesters lighted up the candle and brought white flowers for mourn, requesting the government to investigate the reason for his death. In capital Minsk, police used tear gas grenade and water cannon vehicles to disperse protesters. According to the local human rights organisation announced, there were at least 928 people have been arrested.

According to foreign media quoted from an eyewitness, suspected plainclothes police officers tried to pull off the red and white ribbon, representing the anti-government camp, outside the Minsk courthouse last Wednesday (11th November). A 31-year-old protester Roman Bondarenko had conflicts with them, but then he had been brought to the police car and got arrested. His family found him in the hospital, and he was still in a coma until last Thursday (12th November), he died because of brain damage. Someone suspected that he was beaten while in detention. However, the local government denied any involvement in his death and said that the fight among the people was the cause for his death.

The EU spokesperson later stated that the incident was the shameful result of violent suppression of the people from the local government, threatened to impose heavier sanctions on the Belarusian government.

Source from: The Stand News #Nov16

https://bit.ly/333JOVM

#Belarus #Lukashenko #PoliceBrutality #Protest #Protesters

Australia and Japan Signed a Security Pact to Counter China's Threat, and Emphasise Importance of Hong Kong's Democratic Processes and Institutions

Source from: Apple Daily #Nov17

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Australia and Japan Signed a Security Pact to Counter China's Threat, and Emphasise Importance of Hong Kong's Democratic Processes and Institutions

Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison visited Tokyo Japan, meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Tuesday (17th November) and will stay for two days. In addition to discussing bilateral tourism and economic cooperation, the greater focus will be on military cooperation. After closed-door talks, the two announced that they had reached an agreement on bilateral military cooperation, to facilitate training and joint operations, strengthen the defence ties against China.

After the meeting they announced a joint statement, expressing their "serious concerns about the situation in the South China Sea and reconfirmed their strong opposition to any coercive or unilateral attempts to change the status quo and thereby increase tensions in the region." without directly mentioned China. They also shared "grave concerns" over the situation in Hong Kong, emphasised the "importance of upholding Hong Kong’s democratic processes and institutions, as well as the high degree of autonomy set out in the Basic Law and Sino-British Joint Declaration."

Source from: Apple Daily #Nov17

https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20201117/WQE2OJKKXZFEZOQB32UIYXXZQA/

Terry Glavin: When will Canada join the rest of the democratic join the rest of the democratic world in standing up to China?

After 18-months of massive anti-regime protests, the way of ending democracy in Hong Kong was four lawmakers were disqualified by Beijing and remaining pro-democracy legislative council members have resigned en masses. It’s not just about Hong Kong. It’s about Xinjiang and China’s takeover of key United Nations agencies, its abusive manipulations of the World Trade Organization, and its “hostage diplomacy” in one country after another.

Justin Trudeau’s government can’t follow the allies of “Five-Eyes” to ban Huawei in the core 5G internet connectivity technology. Canada lacks a foreign-agents registration law.

It remains to be seen whether Canada will join the consensus, or remain on outlier.

Source: National Post #Nov11

#China #Canada #FiveEye #HongKong

#Court #Injustice
HK Gov't Files Review, Court Increases Sentence of Civilian Charged with "Unlawful Assembly" from 2 Weeks to 7 Months

An assistant to the Board of Director of a trade company who allegedly helped to move the crowd control barrier when he passed by the protest site at Admiralty on June 12, 2019. The 34-year-old man was charged with joining an "unlawful assembly".

He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two weeks in jail at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts in June 2020.

The Department of Justice (#DoJ) applied for a sentence review. Athough it was overruled by the magistrate, the DoJ continued to bring up the case to the Court of Appeal for review.

The Court of Appeal ruled that the original magistrate Lam Tze-kan was "wrong in principle", citing that the "sentence was apparently too light". The sentence was increased from 2 weeks to 7 months. The court said written reasons for the decision will be given later.

Source: Stand News #Nov23
#PoliceState #Sentence #CourtofAppeal

#NeverForget #AlexChow
Father of pro-democracy student asks for citizens valor and information to uncover truth of his son’s death

Source: DB Channel #Nov23

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#NeverForget #AlexChow
Father of pro-democracy student asks for citizens' valor and information to uncover truth of his son’s death

Stepping into the second week of the Coroner Inquest of 22-year-old #ChowTszlok’s death, witness Mr Mon was summoned and appeared on the 6th day of the inquest.

Chow’s father thanked Mr Mon for testifying in court. He also called on those who witnessed the incident leading to the death of his son to provide information.

Mr Chow expressed that many enthusiastic citizens have contacted him since Monday, November 23, 2020 after he made the first call for information via mass media.

He mentioned that footage of surveillance cameras has shown many passersby in neighboring areas when the incident happened last year.

He also quoted Judge of the Coroner's Court, Ko Wai-hung, who also asked for more witnesses to provide their accounts of the incident.

Chow’s father said in surveillance cameras footage, there were two citizens going in a hurry to the 3/F of the carpark. In another footage of C28 surveillance camera, a black-clad man suddenly appeared nearby the elevator at 01:03:29 on November 4 last year. The man looked around and walked towards the camera before turning right and left the location where Alex Chow was lying after fell down from height. He asked for their courage to provide any information to this case.

Source: DB Channel #Nov23
https://www.facebook.com/109301110486297/posts/384478356301903/?d=n

#PoliceBrutality