London – Hong Kong pro-democracy politician Nathan Law, who lives in exile in the UK, told CBS News Wednesday that if he hadn’t fled the city last year, he was one of dozens of politicians and activists have been arrested in China’s latest “utterly absurd” action under the guise of a new “national security” law.
The overnight arrests of 53 pro-democracy politicians and activists were the biggest action under China’s new national security law since it was passed by Beijing last year. The new law was created to quash dissent in the semi-autonomous region, which, despite being part of China, had a different system of government that guaranteed fundamental freedoms.
“It’s absolutely horrible for me. A lot of people who get arrested are my friends. I’m actually on the list. If I were in Hong Kong, I wouldn’t be arrested until a few hours ago,” Law said.
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The dozens of people arrested were charged with plotting the “mutual destruction” of China and Hong Kong through their participation in an unofficial primary to restrict pro-democracy opposition candidates from running for seats on the territory’s legislative council (LegCo ). If elected to the council, these candidates may have been able to influence or block laws passed from Beijing.
The law called the government’s statement that by trying to be elected the prisoners were trying to block the government’s operations “ utterly absurd, because in every normal and democratic system we have checks and balances, and it is the job of the government. counsel to the administrative branch responsible for the action, including the blocking of their accounts. “
“That’s actually part of the function and strength of the system,” he said. “But the government sees it as an act of undermining.”
He said the world should “wait and see” whether all 53 people arrested on Wednesday would actually be prosecuted.
“There are still questions to ask whether this is a genuine persecution for everyone … or just targeting a few of them,” presumably the masterminds of the political turmoil that Hong Kong has witnessed over the past year.
Among those for whom Law fears they could face more severe sentences is prominent politician Joshua Wong, who, while jailed since early December, could see his punishment increase.
The mass arrests also marked the first time a foreigner had been detained under the new national security law. American human rights lawyer John Clancey, who had been involved in pro-democracy work in Hong Kong, was among those taken into custody.
“That’s definitely a big blow,” said Law. “I think the US government should be very concerned about the matter, and that it may be another variant of Beijing hostage diplomacy.”
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The law urged the US government and the wider international community to hold China to account, and it urged the European Union to end an investment pact between the EU and China.
“None of us should take these freedoms for granted. Even in the US, around the world, if we aren’t vigilant enough, they will be taken away very, very soon,” Law said.
He said that for himself and other Hong Kongers, who for decades had “the taste of freedom … losing it is a huge blow, and its impact is greater than pursuing something you’ve never had.”
“I think that really gives impetus to people who are still a diaspora community and have left, or even stayed in Hong Kong, to have the faith to fight for it, even though the situation is getting tougher.”