The Intelligence from The Economist The next of 1,000 cuts: Hong Kong activists on trial
Feb 17, 2021
Su Lin Wong, the China correspondent for The Economist based in Hong Kong, discusses the legal battles faced by pro-democracy activists in a city sliding into authoritarianism. Mariana Palau, covering the violence against activists in Colombia, highlights the alarming rise in threats and killings following the 2016 peace deal. Both guests shed light on the dire circumstances for advocates of change, while drawing parallels to Oregon’s drug decriminalization experiment, pushing for comprehensive solutions to social issues.
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Hong Kong Activists on Trial
- Pro-democracy activists are currently on trial in Hong Kong.
- The charges stem from protests prior to the introduction of the national security law.
Peaceful Protest Leads to Arrests
- On August 18, 2019, over a million people protested in Hong Kong despite heavy rain.
- The protest was peaceful compared to previous ones, yet activists face trial.
Targeting of Moderate Activists
- The targeting of older, moderate activists suggests the government aims to suppress the entire democracy movement.
- This is a shift from focusing on those deemed violent.