(Ottawa) The Canadian government condemns Hong Kong’s police, which have issued bonuses and arrest warrants against 19 pro-democracy activists, some of which live in Canada.
In a joint statement, the Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, Anita Anand, and the Minister of Public Security, Gary Anandasangaree, said on Saturday that Canada would not tolerate this attempt by Hong Kong “to exercise a transnational repression abroad”.
PHOTO HASNOOR HUSSAIN, ARCHIVES REUTERS
Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, Anita Anand
This statement comes after Hong Kong police announced on Friday by arrest warrants targeting 19 activists for “alleged offense” to the National Security Act, due to their role in promoting self -determination in the Chinese Special Administrative Region.
Some of the appointed activists, including the Canadian Victor Ho, were already the subject of arrest warrants following an announcement from Hong Kong in December. A reward of 1 million HK (174,000 CAD) is promised for any information that can lead to his arrest.
“The new mandate … will help attract the attention of the international community to the toxic and dangerous nature of transnational repression [en Chine] Aiming ordinary citizens who exercise their freedom of expression, ”said Ho in a text message addressed to the Canadian press.
He added that he was not surprised to hear his name appearing on the new list of people referred to in the mandate. For him, the best way to manage the situation is to “continue the daily activities as if nothing had happened”.
The new list of 19 people includes at least three other Canadian residents for whom a reward of $ 200,000 HK (35,000 CAD) is offered, including activist Keung Ka-Wai, based in Vancouver.
Mr. Keung said that he was somewhat concerned about his security, but does not plan to stop his work in the Hong Kong Democratic Movement. The latter has already been arrested nine times and imprisoned twice for his involvement in the movement before his departure for Canada.
“It is very important for us, because it is our dream,” said Mr. Keung speaking of the pro-democracy movement. And we have to do what is necessary to develop democracy in Hong Kong.
“I think it’s really important to me and for each Hong Kong. »»
Hong Kong police said in her statement that she called people wanted to come back and go to the place of “making other mistakes”, which Mr. Keung does not intend to do so.
Mr. Ho has abounded in the same direction, adding that he did not care about his personal security and that he had cut any contact with his Hong Kong family members since last year. Global Affairs Canada has contacted it to find out how many people living in the country are targeted by Hong Kong.
In their joint declaration, the ministers Anand and Anandasangaree criticized the arrest warrants and declared that Canada was “united” of the other “international partners including citizens, and residents and residents were also affected by this act of transnational repression”.
“Among the people targeted yesterday under the National Security Act imposed by Beijing in Hong Kong are Canadians and people with close ties to Canada,” they said in their declaration.
“Canada reiterates its previous calls in favor of the repeal of this law, which violates Hong Kong’s obligations in matters of international rights, and the withdrawal of all mandates and related premiums”
Last December, Mr. Ho reacted on Facebook to the publication of his name on the list of sought after, calling it “more beautiful Christmas gift”.
“A Canadian citizen like me […] benefits from the protection of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and has exercised his right to freedom of expression, “said HO, former editor -in -chief of Sing Tao Daily.
Mr. Ho contributed to the launch of a project in Canada aimed at electing an unofficial “Hong Kong Parliament” in 2022. The organizers’ Facebook page indicates that the vote ended in June and collected 15,702 votes in total.
With information from the Associated Press