Burst
Written by: Guo Qianwen
2020-01-02 12:35
Last updated: 2020-01-02 12:35Yesterday (1st), the "New Year's Day Parade" launched by the FDC was slashed. Later, police arrested demonstrators in Causeway Bay. About 400 people were arrested throughout the day, including three observers from Civil Rights Watch. Civil Rights Watch criticized police officers for apprehending arrests after they became aware of their status as observers. They questioned the police ’s attempts to deter peaceful protesters from exercising their right to assemble and express their opinions by mass arrests.
Three FNL observers were arrested. (Photo / Luo Guohui)
At more than 8 pm on January 1st, the police seized in Causeway Bay, surrounded dozens of people, intercepted and searched. Intercepted persons must hold their heads with both hands, sit down, squat, or back to the wall. (Photo by Gao Zhongming)
Civil Rights Watch yesterday sent a total of 20 observers to the Hong Kong Island area to record the "New Year's Day Parade". At 5:30 pm, the police decided to slash the parade, and the observers continued to follow up on the latest developments.
Police Public Relations Section aware of observers trapped inside blockade
At 8 pm, a group of observers were besieged by the police outside Sogo Department Store in Causeway Bay. About hundreds of people, including citizens, demonstrators, journalists and first aiders, were on the police siege network. The trapped observers have been in contact with the Civil Rights Watch, and members of the Civil Rights Watch have also reported to the "Police Media Liaison Team" of the Police Public Relations Division. Their observers were trapped inside the blockade. Observers are within the blockade and will be relayed to the police officers present, but the arrest or not needs to be judged by the police officers present.
By midnight, Wang Haoxian saw three observers in police cars through a live TV screen. They were reportedly arrested at the Aberdeen Police Station and lawyers were waiting to be seen. He criticized the police for making arbitrary arrests, "arresting with the knowledge of observer status."
Observers arrested for first time, smooth record of police action
Wang Haoxian said that since the establishment of the observer team in 2018, the first time an observer was arrested explained. Since the outbreak of anti-revision legislation in June last year, Civil Rights Watch has written to the Police Public Relations Section, detailing the observer plan of Civil Rights Watch, including the observer's system, document style, and contact phone to verify identity. In the past, observers successfully entered the police ’s blockade many times to learn about the arrests of demonstrators and successfully record police actions. Civil Rights Watch will also actively report its observations to media organizations.
Civil Rights Watch calls for immediate release of observers
Civil Rights Watch criticized the police for indiscriminate arrests in violation of the "Johannesburg Principles on National Security, Freedom of Speech and Free Access to Information" and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, requiring the police to release three people immediately. Civil Rights Watch also pointed out that during the round-up operation in Causeway Bay, passers-by were unreasonably surrounded or even arrested, criticizing the operation as an arbitrary arrest, and questioning the police's attempt to deter peaceful protesters from exercising their right to assemble and express their opinions by mass indiscriminate arrest. .
New Year's Day parade totals 400 people
Senior Police Superintendent (Operations), Hong Kong Island Headquarters, Wu Lejun said yesterday that the police detained a total of 400 people. Among them, hundreds of people were arrested during the arrest in Causeway Bay at night. Wu Lejun said that some people may not be involved in the case. They will be released unconditionally without involvement. He explained that when the procession could not be guaranteed, the police asked the organizer to terminate the procession at about 5.30 pm, and also informed the organizer about the reasons. The organizer proposed that they would provide time for the march to evacuate. The police agreed to evacuate the procession at 6 pm At 15:50, the peaceful citizens were evacuated. Later, the organizer also informed the assemblers that they hope to leave the scene as soon as possible. The police ’s defense line at Arsenal Street also officially started at 6:30 pm. At that time, the police continued to give warnings to the people at the scene to leave the scene. At 7:58 pm, the police released tear gas bombs on Wan Chai Road and Tianle Lane. Wu Lejun It means that the police have been separated for half an hour from the end of the procession to the use of force, and the location is far from the procession route.
New Year's Day Parade