Families of Activists Who Flee Xinjiang Pay a Heavy Price
 
For members of the Uyghur diaspora – people of Turkic descent who have left the Xinjiang region of China, where state repression runs deep – the decision to speak publicly about arbitrarily detained family members or to criticize human rights violations can be excruciating. Will doing so bring greater protection or greater torment to their family members effectively held hostage by Xinjiang authorities?

In recent years, speaking out has become increasingly risky. Many Uyghurs in the diaspora have been cut off from their family members since 2017, after Chinese authorities stepped up their latest “Strike Hard” campaign and imposed collective punishments on relatives still in Xinjiang. European Commission will investigate.  
 
Source: Human Right Watch #Jun09

https://t.co/il5fphViMV

#China #Xinjiang #Uyghur

Drop in Xinjiang birthrate largest in recent history: report

Xinjiang in far western China had the sharpest known decline in birthrates between 2017 and 2019 of any territory in recent history, according to a new analysis by an Australian think tank.

The report from the Australian Strategy Policy Institute, obtained exclusively ahead of publication by The Associated Press, showed the 48.74% decline was concentrated in areas with many Uyghurs, Kazakhs and other largely Muslim ethnic minorities, based on Chinese government statistics over nearly a decade.

Source: AP News #May13

https://t.co/GM5V3meddu

#Xinjiang #Uyghur #Kazakh #Muslim #Birthrate

#PoliticalProsecution #PoliticalPrisoner #WhiteTerror
HK Police Charges #AppleDaily Editor-in-chief and #NextDigital CEO with #NationalSecurityLaw

At 10pm on June 18, 2021, deputy editor of Apple Daily, #ChanPuiMan, left the Tseung Kwan O police station on bail after being detained for over 40 hours.

Photos:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30148

She told the media that she was proud of her colleagues at Apple Daily who carried on their duty and responsibility, undeterred.

"I am proud of their professionalism," Chan said outside of the police station.

On June 17, 2021, 3 editors and 2 executives of Apple Daily were arrested by the Hong Kong police for #NationalSecurityLaw violation.

Read more:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30130

While chief executive editor #CheungChiWai and the chief operating officer #ChowTatKuen were also released on bail; the police pressed charges on the newspaper's editor-in-chief #RyanLaw and the chief executive of #NextDigital #CheungKimHung.The two will be mentioned in court the next day on June 19, 2021.

Before leaving, deputy editor Chan Pui-man said she will support her colleagues in court. Chan then left with her husband #ChungPuiKuen, the editor-in-chief of #StandNews.

Source: Stand News; Apple Daily #Jun18

https://bit.ly/3vDEN1R

#Censorship #PressFreedom #Professionalism #PoliceState

====
Related stories:

We Will Press On": Apple Daily Prints 500,000 Copies Despite Police Raid

https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30142

Hongkongers Rush to Support Apple Daily After Midnight

https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30140

#Newspaper
#AppleDaily Arrests Make Headlines Across the World: "Blatant Attack on Journalism", "Silencing All Dissent"

Source: BBC; AFP; Associated Press; #Jun17

Image: Stand News

Read more
⬇️⬇️
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30152

#Newspaper
#AppleDaily Arrests Make Headlines Across the World: "Blatant Attack on Journalism", "Silencing All Dissent"

News of national security arrests of #AppleDaily senior staff on June 17, 2021 in Hong Kong has been widely reported by mainstream news outlets across the world. 

On June 18, 2021, the Hong Kong police presses charges on the newspaper's editor-in-chief #RayLaw and #NextDigital CEO #CheungKimHung.

The two are mentioned in court on June 19, 2021.

Read more:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30148

Below are excerpts from several news reports, in addition to other news media from Europe, Canada, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, and more.

====

#BBCNews:

//Police entered the Apple Daily office premises at around 07:30 local time on Thursday (23:30 GMT Wednesday) and blocked off all entrances and exits.

Police said in a statement that they conducted a search operation at a media company, adding that their warrant "covered the power of searching and seizure of journalistic materials".

The police separately visited the homes of editor-in-chief Ryan Law, parent company Next Digital's CEO Cheung Kim-hung, COO Chow Tat-kuen, Apple Daily publisher Chan Pui-man and Director Cheung Chi-wai, and arrested them.

Police did not name those arrested but confirmed that the five people, aged between 47 and 63, were arrested for "collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security".//

Full article: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-57507256

=====

#AssociatedPress

//In an apparent show of force, more than 200 police officers were involved in the search of Apple Daily’s offices.

Police also froze 18 million Hong Kong dollars ($2.3 million) in assets belonging to three companies linked to Apple Daily, said Li Kwai-wah, a senior superintendent at Hong Kong’s National Security Department.

Trading in shares of Next Digital was halted Thursday morning at the request of the company, according to filings with the Hong Kong stock exchange.

[Hong Kong Journalists Association Chairman Chris Yeung] said that the court warrant that allowed police to search the offices of Apple Daily had undermined journalists’ ability to protect their materials, a vital part of upholding press freedom.//

Full article:
https://apnews.com/article/hong-kong-arrests-business-97e0fbed611073be258763dcf80c4b7f

=====

#AFP

//The arrests are the latest police operation targeting the popular tabloid that has unapologetically supported the financial hub's pro-democracy movement.

It is the second raid on Apple Daily in less than a year.//

Full Article:

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210617-hong-kong-police-raid-pro-democracy-newspaper-apple-daily-arrest-five

#PressFreedom #PoliceState #Censorship #PoliticalProsecution

Image: Stand News

https://bit.ly/3q9AmdJ

#Respect #Conscience
#RTHK Programme Staff Union thank Reporter #NabelaQoser for Speaking out for justice

RTHK’s Assistant Programme Officer Nabela Qoser, who has repeatedly asked sharp questions at government press conferences, did not receive a contract renewal and May 28, 2021 was her last day at work.

The RTHK Programme Staff Union posted a message on Facebook, stating that politics now overrides professionalism, journalists asking questions has now become a sin. In the post, they thanked Qoser for standing her ground and speaking out for justice.

It is reported that Nabela Qoser wanted to hand out going-away gifts to colleagues at RTHK Broadcasting House, but was stopped by security. In the end, she was only able to enter the building under the supervision of administrative staff and security guards.

Source: Stand News #May28

https://bit.ly/3fuv4px

#HongKongJournalist #Journalism #PoliticalSuppression

The Hong Kong government launches reward programmes to boost vaccination, such as relaxing social distancing measures and shortening the quarantine period, and asks the media to promote the campaign.

#COVID19 #Vaccine #Socialdistance #GoHKgraphics

China denounces G7 after statement on Xinjiang and Hong Kong

China has accused the G7 of "political manipulation" after it criticised Beijing over a range of issues.

In a joint statement at the end of a three-day summit, leaders of the G7 countries urged China to "respect human rights and fundamental freedoms".

Issues highlighted included abuses against the Uyghur Muslim minority group and the crackdown on Hong Kong pro-democracy activists.

China's embassy in the UK accused the G7 of "baseless accusations".

"Stop slandering China, stop interfering in China's internal affairs, and stop harming China's interests," a spokesman said on Monday.

Source: BBC News #Jun14

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-57466576

#China #G7 #Xinjiang #HongKong

China may hit back against Japan over Taiwan issue but economic action unlikely, analysts say

China is not likely to shy away from retaliating against Japan over the Taiwan issue but it is expected to take security rather than economic measures, according to analysts.

Tensions have escalated after Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga discussed China-related issues with US President Joe Biden on Friday during talks at the White House. The two leaders called for “peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait”, the first reference to Taiwan – which Beijing claims as its territory – in a joint statement in over 50 years. They also said they would counter China’s “intimidation” in the Asia-Pacific region.

Source: SCMP #Apr20

https://t.co/UJxhaRFwtZ

#China #Japan #Taiwan #Economic

#Newspaper
#NationalSecurityLaw Charges Over #AppleDaily Editors and Executives Raise Concern Over Hongkongers' Situation Across the World

Source: Bloomberg; Reuter; The Guardian; CNN #Jun17

Image: Stand News

Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30158

#Newspaper
#NationalSecurityLaw Charges Over #AppleDaily Editors and Executives Raise Concern Over Hongkongers' Situation Across the World

The Hong Kong police arrest of #AppleDaily senior staff on June 17, 2021 has been widely reported by news outlets across the world. 

On June 19, the newspaper's editor-in-chief #RayLaw and #NextDigital CEO #CheungKimHung were mentioned in court for national security charges and were remanded afterwards. The next trial will take place in August 2021.

June 20, 2021 marks the 26th anniversary of the establishment of Apple Daily in Hong Kong. It is the only pro-democracy Chinese-language newspaper in print in the city.

===

#Reuters

//Five hundred Hong Kong police officers sifted through reporters’ computers and notebooks at pro-democracy tabloid Apple Daily on Thursday, the first case in which authorities have cited media articles as potentially violating the national security law.

“This is a blatant attack on the editorial side of Apple Daily,” Mark Simon, an adviser to Lai who is outside Hong Kong, told Reuters. “They’re arresting the top editorial folks.”

Asked how long he thinks the newspaper can survive, Simon said: “They decide, not us,” referring to authorities.//

Full article:
https://www.reuters.com/article/hongkong-security-apple-daily/update-2-hks-apple-daily-says-police-arrest-five-directors-in-latest-blow-to-tycoon-jimmy-lai-idUSL2N2NZ006

=====

#TheGuardian

//The raids were condemned by journalism and human rights groups.

Steven Butler, Asia program coordinator of the Committee to Protect Journalists, said the arrests destroyed “any remaining fiction that Hong Kong supports freedom of the press”.

“China, which controls Hong Kong, may be able to eliminate the paper, which it sees as an annoying critic, but only at a steep price to be paid by the people of Hong Kong, who had enjoyed decades of free access to information.”//

Full article:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jun/17/hong-kong-police-arrest-editor-in-chief-of-apple-daily-newspaper-in-morning-raids

====

#CNN

//Press freedoms are a fundamental right guaranteed by Hong Kong's Basic Law, the city's mini-constitution. But experts have worried about the usage of the national security law, and there have been indications of pressures on other media in the city. 

A recent ranking of worldwide press freedoms, meanwhile, indicates that the environment in Hong Kong has deteriorated. The international watchdog Reporters Without Borders — which qualifies such freedoms based on data on abuse and acts of violence against journalists along with a questionnaire to experts — ranked Hong Kong 80 out of 180 countries for press freedom, down from 18 out of 138 in 2002.//

Full article:

https://edition.cnn.com/2021/06/16/media/apple-daily-arrests-intl-hnk/index.html

=====

#Bloomberg

//“Hong Kong has been left with little free speech under the national security law, which is really aimed at silencing all dissent,” said Victoria Hui, an associate professor of political science at the University of Notre Dame. “Beijing has reined in Hong Kong and will continue to take whatever it takes to silence any dissenting voices.”

In a letter to readers on Thursday afternoon, Apple Daily said police officers confiscated a “large number of items,” including the computers of 38 journalists, over the course of a five-hour search of the company’s offices.

The newspaper said it now “faces an unprecedented crackdown by the regime,” but vowed its staff would be “standing firm” despite the growing pressure.

“Hong Kong’s press freedom is now hanging by a thread,” the letter said. “Though we are facing a sweeping clampdown on our publication, the staff of Apple Daily will hold fast to our duties faithfully and press on till the end to see the arrival of dawn.”//

Full article:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-06-16/hong-kong-arrests-apple-daily-editor-on-security-law-scmp-says

#PressFreedom #PoliceState #Censorship #PoliticalProsecution

Image: Stand News

#PoliticalSuppression
#RTHK Fires Popular Radio and TV Host Tsang Chi-ho from #Headliner

#TsangChiHo, a popular radio and TV program host in Hong Kong, was sacked by the public broadcaster RTHK on June 18, 2021.

The sudden news shocked the audience and Tsang has confirmed it with Stand News.

Before the station terminated his employment, Tsang had been hosting the radio show "Crazy and Happy", one of the longest-running programmes,
every weekday. Tsang used to co-host the popular news commentary program Headliner, which had been taken down in 2020 due to political pressure.

44-year-old Tsang graduated from the School of Journalism at the Hong Kong Baptist University.

Tsang's co-host in Crazy and Happy, Chan Po-ling, was reportedly sacked, despite the popularity of the show.

The event shows another change of personnel since a new management team hss been formed at RTHK.

Source: Stand News #Jun18

#WhiteTerror #Intimidation

Canadian PM Asks Trudeau Whether to Ban the PLA Scientists into Sensitive Research Facilities and Trudeau Indicates Against Racial Discrimination

Is criticizing the Chinese government an action to discriminate against Asians? Recently, the Chinese government's infiltrating the Canadian laboratories attracts attention. A Parliament Member questioned whether the Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau would prohibit the Chinese government and the military from sending scientists to Canada’s sensitive research facilities. Trudeau indicated that he “will not greet and succumb to anti-Asian's discrimination”. Michael Chong, a Canadian Parliament Member being sanctioned by China for Hong Kong issues, announced a joint statement with Kenny Chiu to criticize Trudeau for conflating the two matters and falling into the trap of the CCP, and to ask him to withdraw his remarks.

Source: Stand News #May28

https://bit.ly/3pRQ8Ka

#Canada #China #Trudeau #PrimeMinister #Discrimination #CCP #Military

Shifting Focus, NATO Views China as a Global Security Challenge

Prime Minister Mario Draghi of Italy spoke for many when he connected this summit with the Group of 7 summit meeting just concluded in Britain and compared them unfavorably with the period of Mr. Trump. “This summit is part of the process of reaffirming, rebuilding the fundamental alliances of the United States,” which were “weakened by the previous administration,” Mr. Draghi said.

And he pointed to Mr. Biden’s similarly important meetings on Tuesday with the leaders of the European Union, which Mr. Trump considered an economic competitor and even a foe. “We are here to reaffirm these alliances, but also to reaffirm the importance of the European Union,” Mr. Draghi said.

Source: NYTimes #Jun14

https://t.co/DquI7YvXqP

#NATO #China #MarioDraghi #Italy

Has a 'gold rush' mindset blinded Australian businesses pursuing 'mercurial' China market?

It was in the mid-2000s during a regular meeting with a client that Bob Cronin realised he'd grossly underestimated the challenges of doing business in China.

They were heady days in the bilateral relationship between Canberra and Beijing when the sky seemed the limit for enterprising Australians in the Middle Kingdom.

Yet the veteran newspaperman got a harsh reality check not long into his stint editing the Shanghai Daily, the English language Chinese journal then part-owned by Australian billionaire media proprietor Kerry Stokes.

Source: ABC #May23

https://t.co/9ozLkmuVtw

#Australian #China #Canberra #Beijing

#FailedState
HK Government suspected of un-shelving another 16 books involving topics of #CivilDisobedience and #Protests in #PublicLibrary

Source: Apply Daily #May29

Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30164

#FailedState
HK Government suspected of un-shelving another 16 books involving topics of #CivilDisobedience and #Protests in #PublicLibrary

The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (#LCSD) of the Hong Kong Government is suspected of un-shelving 16 books from public libraries.

These include:

- The writings of pro-democracy activist and former law professor Benny Tai;

- Reverend Chu Yiu-ming's “Civil Disobedience and the Occupation of Central: Reflections on the Faith of Christians in Hong Kong” (公民抗命與佔領中環：香港基督徒的信仰省思);

- “To All of Those Who Have Worn Black Before” (給穿過黑衣的人) by Scholarism;

- Former legislator Raymond Wong Yuk-man’s book “I Wouldn’t Have Argued If I Did’t Have To” (予豈好辯哉).

In addition, the two issues of “#Breakazine!” about the Anti-Extradition Law (#AntiELAB) Protest, are also removed.

These 16 books were all published before the #NationalSecurityLaw came into effect, yet they are no longer available on the public library website.

So far, the government has removed at least 34 books in total.

Source: Apply Daily #May29

https://bit.ly/2R20IRR

#NSL #Censorship #BannedBooks #Regime #DissentLiterature

#PoliceState #GrearFireWall
Hong Kong Police demand Website Builder to Disable Pro-Democracy Website "2021 Hong Kong Charter"

Source: Stand News #Jun3

Read more
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https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30167