Dozens of Hong Kong (((pro-democracy))) figures arrested in ...

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[color="Red"]My sincere condolences Stewie

Dozens of Hong Kong pro-democracy figures arrested in sweeping crackdown

Campaigners and politicians held in wave of arrests under the national security law

More than 50 people, including pro-democracy politicians and campaigners, have been arrested in early-morning raids across Hong Kong in an unprecedented crackdown by authorities that was condemned as a “despicable” assault on freedom.

The activists were reportedly held under the national security law (NSL), with some accused of “subverting state power” by holding primaries and saying they intended to win a majority of seats in the Hong Kong election. Under the law, subversion carries a maximum penalty of life in prison for “principal offenders”.

The raids on Wednesday sent shockwaves around the once semi-autonomous city, as social media posts and news reports confirmed arrest after arrest. By mid-morning, lists of more than 50 individuals emerged, including every candidate to have run in the unofficial pan-democrat primaries last year, organisers and pollsters, and the first known foreigner – an American lawyer – to be arrested under the law.

The unprecedented sweep more than doubled the number of people arrested under the Beijing-imposed NSL, which Hong Kong’s leader, Carrie Lam, once assured the public would be used against only a small group of criminal elements, and would not affect the lives of regular Hongkongers.

Some of the targets live-streamed their own arrests, with at least one video confirming the accusations against them: participating in primary polling for the pro-democracy camp, with the ultimate aim of winning a majority in the legislative council. Under the new laws this was subversion, authorities said.The election was ultimately delayed by Lam for a year, purportedly because of the pandemic.