The convictions continue, and persecution but also (attempts at) resistance within Hong Kong prisons

Way too many Hong Kongers have been inside 

vans like this in recent years :(

 

Three more people were convicted today of rioting in the vicinity of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University in November 2019.  And no, it's scant consolation that two others standing trial at the same time were cleared of rioting; this particularly since of that duo, one ended up being convicted of possessing instruments fit for unlawful purposes -- specifically, cable ties -- along with one of the trio convicted of rioting.  

 

These convictions came one day after five Chinese University of Hong Kong students were found guilty of rioting at their educational instutition (and -- to add insult to injury -- also of breaching the face mask ban), also in November 2019.  Something that's worth pointing out: it actually wasn't established by the prosecution that the quintet -- who, incidentally, are aged between just 20 to 23 years -- had actually committed any violent acts against the police.  Instead, their having been seen to have "stayed with protesters who threw petrol bombs at police officers on November 11, 2019, with the only explanation being that they had wanted to encourage the protesters to commit acts of breaching the peace" was alone to get them convicted of rioting and, presumably, being handed prison sentences that will be on the lengthy side.  (Their sentencing is expected to take place only next month -- and, yes, they are to be behind bars through then.)

 

A reminder: November 11th, 2019, was the day that a police officer shot another young man at pretty much point blank over in Sai Wan Ho as well as the day that the siege of Chinese U began.  And, a few days later, on International Students Day, as it so happened, there were urgent calls for people at a protest rally I attended that evening to go over to PolyU to help people besieged on its campus.  

 

Those were dark days indeed for Hong Kong but just because the tear gas and street battles have stopped, do not even for a minute think that things are fine here now.  Among other things, consider political persecution and/or prosecution that seems to be just around the corner for seemingly everyone -- be they well known politicians and political activists, respected lawyers, famous entertainers or previously little known speech therapists.               

 

Truly, I've lost count of the number of political prisoners Hong Kong now has, regardless of whether one would include people convicted of offences such as "rioting" or just accused of it and denied bail while awaiting trial.  And I must admit to worrying quite a bit of how they are being treated while behind bars; this especially after learning of such as Tiffany Yuen having been placed in solitary confinement again -- this time with 17 other inmates at Lo Wu Correctional Institution "for allegedly trying to "build up forces and incited others to participate"" and an elite Correctional Services Department response unit known as the Black Panthers and a dog unit having been called in to deal with those women prisoners.    

I know looks can be deceiving but after seeing Tiffany Yuen hugging her beloved Buzz Lightyear plush (in a video showing what the 47 pro-democrats charged with subversion under the national security law for having taken part in a primary election in July of last year did on their last day of freedom prior to reporting to the police as per orders), it's hard to think of her as a hardened physical fighter who would need to be quelled with the help of "Black Panthers" and dogs.  Indeed, it's much easier to imagine her being prone to giving people hugs to comfort them -- which is what, as K Tse recounted in another Tweet, "Yuen was placed in solitary for 10 days last month for"; with the inhumanity of the correctional system further shown by June 4th candlelight vigil organizer Chow Hang-tung -- who now thankfully is out of jail, at least for the moment -- having been placed in solitary for 3 days for sharing stamps with a fellow inmate.   

 

I can't help but contrast Yuen and Chow's treatment in prison with German student and anti-Nazi political activist Sophie Scholl, as depicted in the 2005 dramatized telling of her story, Sophie Scholl: The Final Days.  It may not have been faithful to what actually occured but it surely says something that the prison guards and workers depicted in this feature film set in Nazi Germany appeared more humane than the ones in contemporary Hong Kong!  

 

At the same time, thank goodness that there no longer is capital punishment in Hong Kong -- the way that there was in Nazi Germany, and there continues to be in Mainland China.  And yes, that's one more reason why so many Hong Kongers were opposed to China extraditions.  Also, yes, there are indeed fears now that, with the authorities in Hong Kong looking so much to Beijing for instruction and support, in the not so distant future, the death penalty will be reinstated on this side of the Hong Kong-Mainland China border.