Advertisement

Updated October 15th, 2020 at 19:12 IST

China deserves condemnation for abusive interrogations of 12 Hongkongers: US rights group

A US-based human rights monitoring group called on the global community to condemn the "abusive interrogations” of 12 Hong Kong residents by China.

Reported by: Kunal Gaurav
China
| Image:self
Advertisement

A US-based human rights monitoring group called on the international community to condemn the “incommunicado detentions and abusive interrogations” of 12 Hong Kong residents. The Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) stressed that the rights of the detainees must be respected that they should get access to family-appointed lawyers and medical care. The independent agency of the US government monitors human rights and rule of law in China.

The statement comes after 12 people, some of them linked to pro-democracy protests, were detained while they heading to Taiwan. According to local media reports, pro-democracy activist Andy Li was among the group of people detained on their way to Taiwan. Hong Kong government officials refused to interfere with the arrests made by Chinese authorities. 

In September, United Nations experts raised serious objections over the draconian national security law imposed on Hong Kong which undermined the city’s autonomy. In a letter to the Chinese government, the UN human rights experts said that the measures adopted in the security law do not conform with the international legal obligations, especially with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Read: 'No locus Standi On Internal Matters': India Reminds China On Ladakh, Arunachal Remark

Read: China Irked After US Warship Sails As 'routine Transit' In Taiwan Strait; America Responds

The 14-page letter was published on the UN human rights office on September 4, 48 hours after it was sent to the Chinese government. The UN special rapporteurs on human rights warned that parts of the legislation which define organising, planning, committing or participating in secession or subversion, “appear to criminalise speech acts, including political writing.”

CECC on previous arrests

The controversial law has been used to arrest several pro-democracy activists, including Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai who was later released after international outrage. CECC Commissioners had then said that vague national security law is being used to justify human rights abuses, silence anyone critical of Beijing’s policies, and repress democratic voices.

“As the heavy hand of repression descends on Hong Kong, Members of Congress will continue to shine a bright light on officials undermining the rule of law who are complicit in human rights abuses,” the commissioners said in a statement.

Read: US Releases Report On 10 Individuals Undermining Freedom, Rule Of Law In Hong Kong

Read: Hong Kong Police Arrest Protestors For 'unauthorised Gathering' On China's National Day

Advertisement

Published October 15th, 2020 at 19:13 IST

Your Voice. Now Direct.

Send us your views, we’ll publish them. This section is moderated.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Whatsapp logo