yygall

Faster than one can say “national security threat”, the Hong Kong Police’s National Security Division has, in connection with the Tao Po Fires, arrested a university student who started a concern group and disseminated a leaflet with calls for (1) further support for victims; (2) an independent inquiry into potential systemic and corruption issues which led to the disaster; (3) reforms to the regulation of construction works projects; and (4) that officials who fell short in events/policies that led to the disaster be held accountable. Such demands would be considered the basic starting point in any democracy where such disasters have happened, and are not dissimilar to those demanded by @GrenfellUnited all those years ago. And yet in post-national security crackdown Hong Kong, one gets locked up for making such demands. Another irony in all this is that in Mainland China itself, it is now standard for local officials to be forced to step down after disasters, whereas in Hong Kong even just calling for official accountability can get you arrested for being a national security threat. WESTERN MEDIA, IT REALLY IS TIME YOU STOP JUST REPEATING HONG KONG GOVERNMENT LINES AND SHOWING INAGES OF GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS IN “MOURNING” PHOTO OPS, AND SEEING THE DISASTER AND ITS AFTERMATH FOE WHAT IT REALLY IS.

Here’s petition initiator Miles Kwan, who was detained by police, when he was brought back to his home by officers to gather evidence @inmediahk

@inmediahk reports that HK university student Miles Kwan, who was seen handing out fliers demanding an independent investigation and accountability for the Tai Po fire was detained and taken to the police station. The online petition and related media has since been deleted.

#宏福苑五級火 昨發起聯署人被帶返警署 關注組專頁及帖文消失 bit.ly/3MuYTsX 昨日，有熱心市民組成「大埔宏福苑火災關注組」，並就今次火災發起聯署，列出四大訴求。消息指，發起聯署人之一Miles今午被警方國安處帶返警署，《獨媒》正向警方查詢。

Hong Kong pro-democracy businessman Jimmy Lai was provided with medication and a heart monitor for the start of his final submissions in a landmark national security trial, following health concerns reut.rs/45yPVRn

Italian art org claiming it's inspired by Banksy's subversiveness decides it doesn't like political artists after all — at least in Hong Kong. @badiucao's digital project yanked. He's called a criminal — even before city officials say so. Timothy Snyder's obeying in advance.