(03-02 15:25)
Hong Kong pro-democracy lawmakers were arrested and then released Monday over their involvement in mass protests for free elections, the latest step in a widespread investigation that has been accused of seeking to intimidate activists. Police have vowed to investigate the "principal instigators'' of the street blockades that ended in December when rally camps were cleared. Albert Ho Chun-yan and Helena Wong Pik-wan, both of the Democratic Party, voluntarily turned themselves in at Wan Chai police headquarters Monday morning on the request of the police. Both were holding small paper yellow umbrellas -- the symbol of the democracy movement -- as they went into the police station while supporters carrying umbrellas and placards shouted "We want universal suffrage''. "Today Albert Ho and myself were formally arrested,'' said Wong after she was released. She said that during questioning police showed her a video and two Facebook photos taken during the protests to illustrate that she had participated in an ''unauthorized assembly''. Ho said he was questioned over the same allegations. Both Wong and Ho said the possibility of future charges remained. "I think this is a kind of political prosecution against those who fight for true democracy,'' Wong added. Police had no immediate comment. A number of protest leaders have already been arrested and only to be released without charge -- including prominent student leaders Joshua Wong Chi-fung and Alex Chow Yong-kang-- in a controversial procedure which some say is harassment. The street protests, which began in September and lasted for more than two months, kicked off after Beijing said that candidates for the 2017 vote for Hong Kong's next leader would be vetted by a loyalist committee. Campaigners have described the decision as "fake democracy'', but Hong Kong's leadership says that any public vote must take place within Beijing's framework and has granted no concessions over the election process. Police have said they reserve the right to prosecute those who have been released. "These pre-arranged arrests are a waste of resources and money,'' former lawmaker Audrey Eu Yuet-mee, who will turn herself in later Monday afternoon, told supporters. "The police are trying to intimidate Hong Kong people,'' she added, saying that she was being brought in for inciting and organizing an unauthorized assembly. Former lawmaker and veteran campaigner Martin Lee Chu-ming handed himself in Monday morning to shouts of "Go, Martin, go'' from supporters, and was later released. Lawmaker Charles Mok also turned himself in to police. --AFP
The rest is here:
Lawmakers arrested and released over democracy protests
(03-02 11:26)
Hong Kong pro-democracy lawmakers handed themselves in to police today over their involvement in mass protests for free elections. Police have promised to investigate the principal instigators'' of the street blockades which ended in December when rally camps were cleared. A number of protest leaders have been arrested and released without charge, in a controversial procedure which some say is harassment. Albert Ho and Helena Wong, both of the Democratic Party, turned themselves in at Wan Chai police headquarters in the morning today morning after being requested to attend. Each of them was holding a small yellow paper umbrella the symbol of the democracy movement as supporters shouted: We want universal suffrage.'' We Hongkongers who have tried to fight for true democracy are not the ones who have done something wrong... it is the ridiculous Hong Kong and Chinese governments taking away our democratic nominations,'' Wong said before she went inside. Prominent student leaders including the teenage face of the protests, Joshua Wong, have already been through the police procedure. They were formally arrested and questioned when they handed themselves in, then released without charge hours later. Police said they reserved the right to prosecute those who were released. Both Chow and Wong questioned the process, saying police should charge them if they had the evidence. It engenders a sense of uncertainty and they are using that, in my view, as a method of control, said Michael Vidler, the lawyer representing Joshua Wong, after the teenager was released. These pre-arranged arrests are a waste of resources and money,'' former lawmaker Audrey Eu, who will also turn herself in the afternoon, told supporters. The police are trying to intimidate Hong Kong people,'' she added, saying that she was being brought in for inciting and organizing an unauthorised assembly. Former lawmaker and veteran campaigner Martin Lee also handed himself in today to shouts of Go, Martin, go'' from supporters. Pro-democracy lawmaker Charles Mok was due to attend the police station later.AFP
Read this article:
Pro-democracy lawmakers condemn police intimidation
HONG KONG: Hong Kong pro-democracy lawmakers were arrested and then released yesterday over their involvement in mass protests for free elections, the latest step in a widespread investigation that has been accused of seeking to intimidate activists.
Police have vowed to investigate the principal instigators of the street blockades that ended in December when rally camps were cleared.
Albert Ho and Helena Wong, both of the Democratic Party, voluntarily turned themselves in at Wan Chai police headquarters yesterday morning on the request of the police.
Both were holding small paper yellow umbrellas the symbol of the democracy movement as they went into the police station while supporters carrying umbrellas and placards shouted We want universal suffrage.
Today Albert Ho and myself were formally arrested, said Wong after she was released.
She said that during questioning police showed her a video and two Facebook photos taken during the protests to illustrate that she had participated in an unauthorised assembly.
Ho said he was questioned over the same allegations.
Both Wong and Ho said the possibility of future charges remained.
I think this is a kind of political prosecution against those who fight for true democracy, Wong added.
Police had no immediate comment.
Read the original post:
Site Last Updated 12:45 am, Tuesday
Democracy in Crisis (Sousa)
Democratic systems of government are supposed to reflect the interests of ordinary citizens, and not some shadowy political elite. But more and more, we see ...
By: Philosophy Talk
Go here to see the original:
Democracy in Crisis (Sousa) - Video
Rare Earth Crysis! Let #39;s play: Democracy 3: Clones and Drones
Hi guys and here we are back to leading the USA through the new amazing expansion of Democracy 3... Clones and Drones... Are we ready to face the realities o...
By: caramida9
See the original post:
Rare Earth Crysis! Let's play: Democracy 3: Clones and Drones - Video