Jimmy Lai for the first time after four years in the courtroom in Hong Kong

Jimmy Lai for the first time after four years in the courtroom in Hong Kong

Jimmy Lai, the combative media magnate from Hong Kong, whose now closed boulevard newspaper Apple Daily spread fear and horror at Beijing, will testify to his own process for national security on Wednesday. This happens in the context of a high -risk procedure that could possibly bring him behind grids for the rest of his life.

background and support for democracy

The 77-year-old is known for his decades of commitment to the pro-democratic movement in Hong Kong and his open criticism of the leading minds in China. Since it was arrested almost four years ago, in the course of an intensified repression against different opinions, Lai has no longer appeared in public. But on Wednesday he will take a seat on the witness bank for the first time to defend himself.

The situation for the Pro Democracy movement

In the US courts, it is often advised against testifying as a defendant; In Hong Kong, on the other hand, the statement in court offers a rare opportunity for detained representatives of democracy to raise their voice. The negotiation takes place at a time when over 40 prominent pro-democratic figures were sentenced to prison terms of up to ten years in a separate procedure for overcrowdings. This also includes Joshua Wong, a former student leader who, when he left the court, called: "I love Hong Kong."

international reactions and support

LAI only gives his statement a few weeks after Donald Trump's victory in the White House, who had previously promised to free the media mogul. Great Britain has also called for Lais release, which has a British passport. The British Prime Minister Keir Strander spoke the topic during a meeting with the Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Brazil, expressing his concern about Lai's health.

indictment points and legal context

since December 2020, Lai has been in prison while waiting for the process for several charges that are related to his support for the democracy movement in Hong Kong. He became known as the founder of Apple Daily, a pro-democratic newspaper that was closed in 2021. Among other things, Lai sees two charges for conspiracy with foreign forces and an indictment for turmoil. He has not pleaded guilty on all charges and he threatens to be in prison in the event of a conviction.

The change in Hong Kong

The processes in Hong Kong, including that of Lai, are carried out without jury and are led by three judges, which have been selected by a national security committee, which is approved by the Hong Kong head. After the National Security Act passed, there were mass arrests of opposition and pro-democratic actors, while numerous civil society organizations had to close.

The role of Lais in international politics

Lai, who as a businessman made a wealth through the sale of clothing, has always made a clear position against China's leadership. He was an active supporter of Donald Trump and campaigned internationally for printing on Beijing, which met with little understanding among the Chinese leaders. In the 2019 protests, Lai traveled to Washington, where he met with the then Vice President Mike Pence to talk about the political situation in Hong Kong.

The influence on media freedom

After the imposing of the National Security Act, the media landscape in Hong Kong has changed dramatically. Many independent and opposition media were forced to stop operating. Hong Kong, once a retreat for freedom of the press, has lost its position as such - this is also evident in the ranking of reporters without borders, which Hong Kong in 2023 classified in 135th place of press freedom, a drastic decline in place in 2019.

conclusion

The upcoming developments in the procedure against Jimmy Lai could not only significantly influence his personal freedom, but also the fate of the pro-democratic movement in Hong Kong. The international community remains attentive and continues to work for the rights of citizens and freedom of the press in Hong Kong.