HONG KONG — The Chinese language authorized authorities have threatened to revoke the licenses of two attorneys employed to assist a gaggle of Hong Kong protesters who have been arrested final yr whereas attempting to flee to Taiwan by speedboat.
Ten of the activists have been convicted final week by a courtroom within the mainland Chinese language metropolis of Shenzhen of unlawful boundary crossing and sentenced to jail phrases starting from seven months to 3 years. Two different members of the group who have been minors on the time of their arrest in August have been returned to Hong Kong, a semiautonomous Chinese language territory.
For Hong Kong’s pro-democracy opposition, the case has highlighted fears of the Communist Get together-controlled authorized system on the mainland and the dangers it poses to the town’s custom of an unbiased judiciary.
A lot of the group confronted prices in Hong Kong related with antigovernment protests in 2019, together with arson, rioting, assaulting law enforcement officials and weapons possession. One member, Andy Li, was beneath investigation on suspicion of violating the nationwide safety legislation imposed on Hong Kong final yr. They have been arrested by the Chinese language Coast Guard on their option to Taiwan, a self-governing democracy that Beijing claims as its territory, and detained on the mainland.
The 2 attorneys, Lu Siwei and Ren Quanniu, have been employed by relations of the activists however have been barred from representing them. As an alternative, the defendants have been pressured to depend on government-appointed attorneys.
The 2 attorneys have taken on many delicate circumstances. Mr. Lu was formally reprimanded after representing one other human rights lawyer in 2019 who had brazenly criticized the Chinese language management. Mr. Ren lately represented Zhang Zhan, a citizen journalist sentenced final week to 4 years in jail for her reporting on the coronavirus outbreak within the mainland Chinese language metropolis of Wuhan.
Mr. Ren acquired a discover from the Division of Justice in Henan Province, the place he’s licensed, saying he confronted disbarment over his dealing with of a 2018 case by which he represented a member of Falun Gong, the banned non secular group. He mentioned that case was almost certainly an excuse.
“The direct cause is unquestionably associated to the Hong Kongers’ case and Shanghai Zhang Zhan case,” he mentioned in an audio message.
A letter despatched to Mr. Lu by the Division of Justice in Sichuan Province, the place he’s registered, mentioned he was accused of “repeatedly publishing unsuitable language on-line,” with out providing particulars. He mentioned he deliberate to request a listening to, and referred to as the authorities’ case towards him “inexplicable suppression and persecution.”
The Chinese language authorities have for years used annual licensing necessities to intimidate attorneys concerned in delicate circumstances, wielding the specter of disbarment to punish those that don’t again down.
Mr. Lu and Mr. Ren have been every given three days to rearrange hearings over their licenses, however Mr. Ren mentioned he had little hope of a profitable attraction.
A bunch representing relations of the activists mentioned they believed the timing of the actions towards the 2 attorneys indicated that they have been “clearly revenge for his or her involvement” within the Hong Kong case.
“For his or her daring to go towards the powers that be, and persistence in upholding the rights of the twelve, the authorities have resorted to ending their skilled profession and chopping off their livelihoods,” the households mentioned in an announcement.
The households have mentioned they hope to go to their imprisoned family members as quickly as attainable, however to date have acquired little data from the state-appointed attorneys.
Tiffany Could contributed reporting.