A major civil society group that was behind some of Hong Kong’s biggest protests has disbanded under increasing police pressure.
The Civil Human Rights Front (CHRF) announced its closure on Sunday, saying none of its members were ready to perform secretariat duties after its convener Figo Chan Ho-wun was jailed for 18 months at a 2019 rally. Was.
The 19-year-old umbrella organisation, which in the past had counted several political parties as members, has been a significant presence or organizer of protests in Hong Kong. For years in a row it held the annual 1 July protests, until authorities systematically refused to allow it and other rallies, citing the coronavirus.
The CHRF said in a statement, “Over the course of more than a year, the government has consistently used the pandemic to reject the performance applications of the CHRF and other groups – every member group has been oppressed, and civil society faces unprecedented challenges.” Was doing.” reported by local media.
“The CHRF was originally expected to continue to face the challenge with all of the existing methods, but the convener Figo Chan is already in prison due to multiple cases, and the Secretariat can no longer maintain its operations. With no members attending the Secretariat, we can only reluctantly announce our dissolution.”
Chan, 25, was jailed in May along with other high-profile Hong Kong activists Lee Cheuk-yan, Jimmy Lai, Albert Ho and Leung “Long Hair” Kwok-hung for their involvement in a protest on 1 October 2019 It was one of hundreds. Pro-democracy rallies were held in Hong Kong that year, but which coincided with China’s National Day.
saw that protest Violent clashes and chaos on the streets, by police using tear gas shells and water cannons against protesters, some of whom Throwing Molotov cocktails and lighting a fire. An 18-year-old student was shot by a police officer.
The disruption came just days after the police chief suggested that previous rallies organized by the CHRF may have violated the national security law, despite the CHRF obtaining permits and repeated assurances from officials that the 13-month-old The law is not retroactive.
Police have been investigating the CHRF’s finances since April, and on Sunday the South China Morning Post, citing a source close to the government, said police would continue to pursue the group regardless of its disbandment.
In its Sunday statement, the CHRF thanked the people of Hong Kong for walking with them over the past two decades, which “allowed the world to see Hong Kong, let the light shine through the darkness, and instill democracy and democracy in the hearts of the people.” Sow the seeds of freedom.”
The dissolution of the CHRF comes just days after the announcement of Hong Kong’s largest teachers’ union. Civil society and community groups are under increasing political pressure in the city, where officials continue to crack down on anything that could be interpreted as discontent or anti-Beijing sentiment.
Last month, a speech therapist union had five members Arrested for publishing children’s books About the sheep who are trying to catch the wolves back from their village. Books allegedly explaining the democracy movement to children were accused of having seditious material.
The dissolution of the CHRF and the teachers union followed frequent articles in China’s state media targeting the organizations.
“For any anti-China and trouble-making forces, it is time for them to ruin themselves,” China’s top state media People’s Daily said on Tuesday.