Military cuts off the internet again; Public “flower strike” mourns the dead; Demonstrators support the “federal army” and burn the military charter
Two months and one day since the coup in Myanmar, the death toll has reached at least 543. The military cuts off the national internet again, optical fibre fixed network also significantly slowed down. Today (2nd April) is nearly the Myanmar New Year and Songkran. But the local area did not splash water to celebrate the New Year as previous. Instead, the public filed the bus stops with flowers, using “Flower Strike” to mourn the deads who were shot and killed by the military. The candle night ceremony yesterday had many people raised to support the organisation of the anti-coup, Federal Army, using force against the military government. There were also demonstrators who burnt the Myanmar version of “Charter 08” drafted by the military.
According to Reuters, demonstrators tried to use different methods for replacing the network, including underground stations, communication platforms that do not need to be connected, SMS news, etc. There were also some demonstrators who encouraged people to use the old technology again, “listen to the underground broadcasts together and phone each other!”
The netizens posted some photos which raised three fingers with flowers on Twitter and stated that “we will never forget the heroes who died for us, and never forgive the military”.
Source: Stand News #Apr02
https://bit.ly/3wHJdqb
#Myanmar #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar #FlowerStrikeMynamar #PoliceBrutality #Reuters #Twitter
Two months and one day since the coup in Myanmar, the death toll has reached at least 543. The military cuts off the national internet again, optical fibre fixed network also significantly slowed down. Today (2nd April) is nearly the Myanmar New Year and Songkran. But the local area did not splash water to celebrate the New Year as previous. Instead, the public filed the bus stops with flowers, using “Flower Strike” to mourn the deads who were shot and killed by the military. The candle night ceremony yesterday had many people raised to support the organisation of the anti-coup, Federal Army, using force against the military government. There were also demonstrators who burnt the Myanmar version of “Charter 08” drafted by the military.
According to Reuters, demonstrators tried to use different methods for replacing the network, including underground stations, communication platforms that do not need to be connected, SMS news, etc. There were also some demonstrators who encouraged people to use the old technology again, “listen to the underground broadcasts together and phone each other!”
The netizens posted some photos which raised three fingers with flowers on Twitter and stated that “we will never forget the heroes who died for us, and never forgive the military”.
Source: Stand News #Apr02
https://bit.ly/3wHJdqb
#Myanmar #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar #FlowerStrikeMynamar #PoliceBrutality #Reuters #Twitter
立場新聞 Stand News
【緬甸政變】軍方再斷網 民眾「鮮花攻勢」悼死者 示威者支持「聯邦軍」 焚燒軍方憲章 | 立場報道 | 立場新聞
緬甸政變至今兩個月又一日,死亡人數已達至少 543 人,軍方再次切斷全國流動網絡,光纖固網亦大幅減速。今日(2...
Myanmar Demonstrators Burnt Chinese Factories; The Military Attacked “Protest Camp” and Killed 11 People
More than two months since the coup in Myanmar, according to the statistics of the local organisation assisting political prisoners, the death toll has reached at least 581. A Chinse factory in Yangon was burnt by the protesters today (7th April) while some protesters raised the slogans of boycott Chinese brands “Xiaomi” and “Huawei”. The military also attacked Hpruso Township in Kayah (Karenni) State, a “Tarhan protest camp” occupied by protesters, making 11 people died.
According to Reuters, some protesters raised the slogans with boycott Chinese brands in Yangon and burnt the flag of China to protest that China has been friendly to the military government who initiated the coup. Because of that, the protesters burnt 32 Chinese factories in Yangon last month, and today they burnt a Chinese clothing factory called JOC.
Source: Stand News #Apr07
https://bit.ly/3gvFxlu
#Myanmar #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar #China #Protest #Xiaomi #Huawei #Reuters #JOC #Yangon #Karenni
More than two months since the coup in Myanmar, according to the statistics of the local organisation assisting political prisoners, the death toll has reached at least 581. A Chinse factory in Yangon was burnt by the protesters today (7th April) while some protesters raised the slogans of boycott Chinese brands “Xiaomi” and “Huawei”. The military also attacked Hpruso Township in Kayah (Karenni) State, a “Tarhan protest camp” occupied by protesters, making 11 people died.
According to Reuters, some protesters raised the slogans with boycott Chinese brands in Yangon and burnt the flag of China to protest that China has been friendly to the military government who initiated the coup. Because of that, the protesters burnt 32 Chinese factories in Yangon last month, and today they burnt a Chinese clothing factory called JOC.
Source: Stand News #Apr07
https://bit.ly/3gvFxlu
#Myanmar #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar #China #Protest #Xiaomi #Huawei #Reuters #JOC #Yangon #Karenni
立場新聞 Stand News
【緬甸政變】示威者再燒中資工廠 軍方襲「示威營」殺 11 人 | 立場報道 | 立場新聞
緬甸政變至今兩個多月,根據當地協助政治犯組織的統計,鎮壓死亡人數已達至少 581 人。仰光一間中資服裝工廠今日...
Hungary prevents the EU from discussing Hong Kong related bills, members of the European Parliament denounced as “Trojan Horses” for China
According to the report from South China Morning Post, EU withdrew the proposal which related to China tighten Hong Kong governance, since they cannot get the recognitions from 27 member countries. Reuters stated that the proposal was rejected by Hungary. Hungary is considered to have close relations with China, and it is one of the countries that have signed the “One Belt One Road” agreement, and China was the biggest overseas investor of Hungary in 2020. SCMP quoted from a member of the European Parliament, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is being a “playing a double game” and attempting to profit by travelling between the EU and China. He described Hungary is “Trojan Horses” of China.
SMCP stated, this proposal originally scheduled for EU action, to respond to the “major electoral reforms implemented in Hong Kong”, saying that these reforms are different from Hong Kong’s ultimate promise of universal elections. The proposal listed 12 concrete actions, including comprehensive review the relations between EU and Hong Kong, discuss China’s “Extradition Law” with member countries, coordinate relations with Hong Kong with the United Nations and G7, review the rule of law in Hong Kong, respond to the Hong Kong version of the “National Security Law” which also applicable to local people in European Union, and strengthen cooperation with civil society to promote freedom of speech, and liaise with business and civil society organisations to “build a new platform for Hong Kong”.
This is not the first time that Hungary stops EU for taking actions to China. There were reports from last month which stated Hungary stops EU for announcing a statement condemning China’s implementation of the National Security Law in Hong Kong. The report quoted Senior EU diplomat and indicated, “The point of view of Hungary is, EU and China already have so many problems”.
Source: Stand News #May06
https://bit.ly/3uMxMfe
#Hungary #EuropeanUnion #HongKong #China #UnitedNations #SMCP #Reuters #ExtraditionLaw #NationalSecurityLaw
According to the report from South China Morning Post, EU withdrew the proposal which related to China tighten Hong Kong governance, since they cannot get the recognitions from 27 member countries. Reuters stated that the proposal was rejected by Hungary. Hungary is considered to have close relations with China, and it is one of the countries that have signed the “One Belt One Road” agreement, and China was the biggest overseas investor of Hungary in 2020. SCMP quoted from a member of the European Parliament, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is being a “playing a double game” and attempting to profit by travelling between the EU and China. He described Hungary is “Trojan Horses” of China.
SMCP stated, this proposal originally scheduled for EU action, to respond to the “major electoral reforms implemented in Hong Kong”, saying that these reforms are different from Hong Kong’s ultimate promise of universal elections. The proposal listed 12 concrete actions, including comprehensive review the relations between EU and Hong Kong, discuss China’s “Extradition Law” with member countries, coordinate relations with Hong Kong with the United Nations and G7, review the rule of law in Hong Kong, respond to the Hong Kong version of the “National Security Law” which also applicable to local people in European Union, and strengthen cooperation with civil society to promote freedom of speech, and liaise with business and civil society organisations to “build a new platform for Hong Kong”.
This is not the first time that Hungary stops EU for taking actions to China. There were reports from last month which stated Hungary stops EU for announcing a statement condemning China’s implementation of the National Security Law in Hong Kong. The report quoted Senior EU diplomat and indicated, “The point of view of Hungary is, EU and China already have so many problems”.
Source: Stand News #May06
https://bit.ly/3uMxMfe
#Hungary #EuropeanUnion #HongKong #China #UnitedNations #SMCP #Reuters #ExtraditionLaw #NationalSecurityLaw
立場新聞 Stand News
匈牙利再阻歐盟討論香港相關議案 歐洲議會議員斥為中國做「特洛伊木馬」 | 立場報道 | 立場新聞
《南華早報》報道,歐盟再因無法取得 27 成員國的認可,撤回一份有關中國收緊香港管治的議案。《路透社》指議案是...
Samoa Suspends Beijing’s Port Plan;
Prime Minister-Elect: Samoa Has Long Owed China a Heavy Debt
Fiame Naomi Mataafa, the Prime Minister-elect of Pacific Island Samoa, promised to suspend the port plan led by Beijing, costing about 100 million USD. She also pointed out that a small country with huge debts to China does not need such a large port.
Prime Minister-elect Fiame Naomi Mataafa defeated opponents last month, becoming the first woman prime minister in Samoa. She indicated that Samoa would keep a favourable relation with China, but there are more pressing issues to deal with at the moment. The port plan has already caused controversy in China and is one of the most influential issues in the local election in April.
Mataafa stated in a Reuters interview, “Samoa is a small country. Our seaports and airports cater for our needs. It's very difficult to imagine that we would need the scale that's being proposed under this particular project when there are more pressing projects that the government needs to give priority to.”.
Source: Stand News #May20
https://bit.ly/3vAxBnQ
#Samoa #Beijing #China #Debts #PacificIsland #Port #Mataafa #Reuters
Prime Minister-Elect: Samoa Has Long Owed China a Heavy Debt
Fiame Naomi Mataafa, the Prime Minister-elect of Pacific Island Samoa, promised to suspend the port plan led by Beijing, costing about 100 million USD. She also pointed out that a small country with huge debts to China does not need such a large port.
Prime Minister-elect Fiame Naomi Mataafa defeated opponents last month, becoming the first woman prime minister in Samoa. She indicated that Samoa would keep a favourable relation with China, but there are more pressing issues to deal with at the moment. The port plan has already caused controversy in China and is one of the most influential issues in the local election in April.
Mataafa stated in a Reuters interview, “Samoa is a small country. Our seaports and airports cater for our needs. It's very difficult to imagine that we would need the scale that's being proposed under this particular project when there are more pressing projects that the government needs to give priority to.”.
Source: Stand News #May20
https://bit.ly/3vAxBnQ
#Samoa #Beijing #China #Debts #PacificIsland #Port #Mataafa #Reuters
立場新聞 Stand News
薩摩亞擬擱置北京主導港口計劃 候任總理:國家早欠下中國重債 | 立場報道 | 立場新聞
太平洋島國薩摩亞候任總理 Fiame Naomi Mataafa 承諾將擱置由北京主導、造價約 1 億美元的港...
Australian-Chinese writer who has been arrested for more than two years, was charged with espionage and tried in Beijing. His wife and Australian ambassador to China were refused to attend
Australian-Chinese writer Yang Hengjun detained by the Chinese authority for more than two years and charged with espionage. The case was being heard in Beijing No.2 Intermediate People’s Court this morning, and it is expected that it will take at least one day for deliberation. Fu Guanhan, Australia ambassador to China attended but being refused to listen due to pandemic reason.
Some reporters at the scene posted photos outside of court on the social platform Twitter before the trial, however there were multiple police being alerted. After Australia ambassador to China Fu Guanhan was refused to attend the court hearing, he told the out-of-court media, “Unfortunately, we have just been refused entry into the courtroom on the grounds of epidemic, but the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also stated that the case involves national security, so we are not allowed to listen”. Reuters quoted the friends of Yang and stated, Yang’s wife Yuan Ruijuan was also being refused to enter.
Source: Stand News #May27
https://bit.ly/2SdNhz3
#Australia #China #writer #Beijing #Espionage #Pandemic #Trial #NationalSecurity #Reuters
Australian-Chinese writer Yang Hengjun detained by the Chinese authority for more than two years and charged with espionage. The case was being heard in Beijing No.2 Intermediate People’s Court this morning, and it is expected that it will take at least one day for deliberation. Fu Guanhan, Australia ambassador to China attended but being refused to listen due to pandemic reason.
Some reporters at the scene posted photos outside of court on the social platform Twitter before the trial, however there were multiple police being alerted. After Australia ambassador to China Fu Guanhan was refused to attend the court hearing, he told the out-of-court media, “Unfortunately, we have just been refused entry into the courtroom on the grounds of epidemic, but the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also stated that the case involves national security, so we are not allowed to listen”. Reuters quoted the friends of Yang and stated, Yang’s wife Yuan Ruijuan was also being refused to enter.
Source: Stand News #May27
https://bit.ly/2SdNhz3
#Australia #China #writer #Beijing #Espionage #Pandemic #Trial #NationalSecurity #Reuters
立場新聞 Stand News
被捕逾兩年 澳籍華裔作家楊恆均遭控間諜罪北京受審 妻及澳駐華大使被拒旁聽 | 立場報道 | 立場新聞
澳洲籍華裔作家楊恆均被中國當局扣留兩年多被控間諜罪的案件今早(27 日)於北京市第二中級人民法院開庭審訊,預料...
#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
#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
Reuters
HK's Apple Daily raided by 500 officers over national security law
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.
#WhiteTerror #FrozenAsset
#Reuters: HK’s Pro-democracy Newspaper #AppleDaily to shut within days according to #JimmyLai adviser
Source: Reuters #Jun21
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30169
#Reuters: HK’s Pro-democracy Newspaper #AppleDaily to shut within days according to #JimmyLai adviser
Source: Reuters #Jun21
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30169
#WhiteTerror #FrozenAsset
#Reuters: HK’s Pro-democracy Newspaper #AppleDaily to shut within days according to #JimmyLai adviser
//Hong Kong pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily will be forced to shut “in a matter of days” after authorities froze the company’s assets under a national security law, Mark Simon, an adviser to jailed owner Jimmy Lai told Reuters on June 21, 2021.
The closure of Apple Daily would undermine the former British colony's reputation as an open and free society and send a warning to other companies that could be accused of colluding with a foreign country, media advocacy groups said.
Next Digital (0282.HK), publisher of the top-selling 26-year-old newspaper, would hold a board meeting on Monday [June 21, 2021] to discuss how to move forward after its lines of credit were frozen, the adviser, Mark Simon, said.
"Vendors tried to put money into our accounts and were rejected," he said by phone from the United States.
"We thought we'd be able to make it to the end of the month. It's just getting harder and harder. It's essentially a matter of days."
Apple Daily said on Sunday the freezing of its assets had left the liberal newspaper with cash for “a few weeks” for normal operations.”
In May, Reuters reported exclusively that Hong Kong's security chief had sent letters to tycoon Lai and branches of HSBC and Citibank threatening up to seven years' jail for any dealings with the billionaire's accounts in the city...
Authorities are also prosecuting three companies related to Apple Daily for alleged collusion with a foreign country and have frozen HK$18 million ($2.3 million) of their assets...
Simon told Reuters it had now become impossible to conduct banking operations in the global financial hub.
"We can't bank. Some vendors tried to do that as a favour ... and it was rejected."
The newspaper has come under increasing pressure since owner and Beijing critic Lai, who is now in jail, was arrested under the national security law last August and has since had some of his assets frozen...
Simon said some reporters had received threatening phone calls from unknown sources.
"Our staff are now just worried about personal safety," he said...//
Read full article:
https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/exclusive-adviser-jailed-hk-tycoon-jimmy-lai-says-apple-daily-shut-within-days-2021-06-21/
Source: Reuters #Jun21
#PoliceState #NationalSecurityLaw #PressFreedom #HongKongMedia #Journalism #PoliticalSuppression #MarkSimon #FreeJimmy
====
Related stories:
[June 17, 2021] HK Police Raids Apple Daily Again and Arrests 3 Editors and 2 Executives
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30130
"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
[June 18, 2021] HK Police Charges Apple Daily Editor-in-chief and #NextDigital CEO with #NationalSecurityLaw
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30149
[21 June, 2021]
Arrests, National Security Charges and Frozen Assets: Apple Daily Might Shut Down in 5 Days
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30172
#Reuters: HK’s Pro-democracy Newspaper #AppleDaily to shut within days according to #JimmyLai adviser
//Hong Kong pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily will be forced to shut “in a matter of days” after authorities froze the company’s assets under a national security law, Mark Simon, an adviser to jailed owner Jimmy Lai told Reuters on June 21, 2021.
The closure of Apple Daily would undermine the former British colony's reputation as an open and free society and send a warning to other companies that could be accused of colluding with a foreign country, media advocacy groups said.
Next Digital (0282.HK), publisher of the top-selling 26-year-old newspaper, would hold a board meeting on Monday [June 21, 2021] to discuss how to move forward after its lines of credit were frozen, the adviser, Mark Simon, said.
"Vendors tried to put money into our accounts and were rejected," he said by phone from the United States.
"We thought we'd be able to make it to the end of the month. It's just getting harder and harder. It's essentially a matter of days."
Apple Daily said on Sunday the freezing of its assets had left the liberal newspaper with cash for “a few weeks” for normal operations.”
In May, Reuters reported exclusively that Hong Kong's security chief had sent letters to tycoon Lai and branches of HSBC and Citibank threatening up to seven years' jail for any dealings with the billionaire's accounts in the city...
Authorities are also prosecuting three companies related to Apple Daily for alleged collusion with a foreign country and have frozen HK$18 million ($2.3 million) of their assets...
Simon told Reuters it had now become impossible to conduct banking operations in the global financial hub.
"We can't bank. Some vendors tried to do that as a favour ... and it was rejected."
The newspaper has come under increasing pressure since owner and Beijing critic Lai, who is now in jail, was arrested under the national security law last August and has since had some of his assets frozen...
Simon said some reporters had received threatening phone calls from unknown sources.
"Our staff are now just worried about personal safety," he said...//
Read full article:
https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/exclusive-adviser-jailed-hk-tycoon-jimmy-lai-says-apple-daily-shut-within-days-2021-06-21/
Source: Reuters #Jun21
#PoliceState #NationalSecurityLaw #PressFreedom #HongKongMedia #Journalism #PoliticalSuppression #MarkSimon #FreeJimmy
====
Related stories:
[June 17, 2021] HK Police Raids Apple Daily Again and Arrests 3 Editors and 2 Executives
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30130
"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
[June 18, 2021] HK Police Charges Apple Daily Editor-in-chief and #NextDigital CEO with #NationalSecurityLaw
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30149
[21 June, 2021]
Arrests, National Security Charges and Frozen Assets: Apple Daily Might Shut Down in 5 Days
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30172
Reuters
EXCLUSIVE HK’s Apple Daily to shut within days, says Jimmy Lai adviser
Hong Kong pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily will be forced to shut "in a matter of days" after authorities froze the company's assets under a national security law, an adviser to jailed owner Jimmy Lai told Reuters on Monday.
Reuters: China puts pressure multinational firms to break ties with Lithuania or be driven out of China market
The relationship between China and Lithuania is still poor. Chinese customs recently removed Lithuania from its list of "countries of origin", making it impossible for Lithuanian goods to enter China, and Lithuania's foreign minister asked the European Union to intervene with China.
The Reuters news agency on Thursday (9 December) quoted Lithuania's deputy foreign minister and representatives of local industry that China had asked a number of multinational companies to cut ties with Lithuania or else drive them out of the Chinese market.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin responded on Thursday that he did not understand the situation reported by Reuters, but stressed that China has always acted in accordance with WTO rules, criticizing "Lithuania's betrayal of trust and justice, blatantly violating the political promises made to China when the two countries established diplomatic relations, creating ‘one China, one Taiwan’ in the world and seriously undermining China's sovereignty and territorial integrity", and that China is determined to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Reuters quoted Lithuanian Deputy Foreign Minister Mantas Adomėnas as saying that China is putting pressure on multinational companies, saying that if they use Lithuanian-made components and goods, they can no longer sell in the Chinese market or get supplies in China, and some companies have already cancelled contracts with Lithuanian suppliers.
Source: StandNews #Dec10
#Reuters #Lithuania #ChinaLithuaniaRelation #EU #ChineseCustoms #Lithuaniangoods #ChineseForeignMinistry #WangWenbin #LithuanianForeignMinistry #MantasAdomėnas
The relationship between China and Lithuania is still poor. Chinese customs recently removed Lithuania from its list of "countries of origin", making it impossible for Lithuanian goods to enter China, and Lithuania's foreign minister asked the European Union to intervene with China.
The Reuters news agency on Thursday (9 December) quoted Lithuania's deputy foreign minister and representatives of local industry that China had asked a number of multinational companies to cut ties with Lithuania or else drive them out of the Chinese market.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin responded on Thursday that he did not understand the situation reported by Reuters, but stressed that China has always acted in accordance with WTO rules, criticizing "Lithuania's betrayal of trust and justice, blatantly violating the political promises made to China when the two countries established diplomatic relations, creating ‘one China, one Taiwan’ in the world and seriously undermining China's sovereignty and territorial integrity", and that China is determined to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Reuters quoted Lithuanian Deputy Foreign Minister Mantas Adomėnas as saying that China is putting pressure on multinational companies, saying that if they use Lithuanian-made components and goods, they can no longer sell in the Chinese market or get supplies in China, and some companies have already cancelled contracts with Lithuanian suppliers.
Source: StandNews #Dec10
#Reuters #Lithuania #ChinaLithuaniaRelation #EU #ChineseCustoms #Lithuaniangoods #ChineseForeignMinistry #WangWenbin #LithuanianForeignMinistry #MantasAdomėnas
#China Intervenes #UN Human Rights Report on Xinjiang
According to #Reuters report on July 22, 2022, China, through a letter written by the Chinese mission, has asked the U.N.’s Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights to halt the release of the report on the human rights situation in #Xinjiang. This has been confirmed by three diplomats who received the letter.
U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet was widely criticized for her tepid performance during her visit to China in May 2022. Bachelet has since announced that she will not be seeking a second term as High Commissioner, citing personal reasons. However, she has promised to release a human rights report on Xinjiang before her tenure ends at the end of August.
Source: SBS #Jul22
https://www.sbs.com.au/chinese/cantonese/zh-hant/china-wants-to-stop-a-report-on-human-rights-in-xinjiang-why-is-it-piling-pressure-on-the-un
#Beijing #Threat #InternationalSecurity
According to #Reuters report on July 22, 2022, China, through a letter written by the Chinese mission, has asked the U.N.’s Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights to halt the release of the report on the human rights situation in #Xinjiang. This has been confirmed by three diplomats who received the letter.
U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet was widely criticized for her tepid performance during her visit to China in May 2022. Bachelet has since announced that she will not be seeking a second term as High Commissioner, citing personal reasons. However, she has promised to release a human rights report on Xinjiang before her tenure ends at the end of August.
Source: SBS #Jul22
https://www.sbs.com.au/chinese/cantonese/zh-hant/china-wants-to-stop-a-report-on-human-rights-in-xinjiang-why-is-it-piling-pressure-on-the-un
#Beijing #Threat #InternationalSecurity