Instant International
Written by: Xu Yi'an
2020-12-29 22:40
Last update date: 2020-12-29 23:03
Twelve Hong Kong citizens suspected of committing the crime of crossing the border from the Mainland are still being held in Shenzhen Yantian Detention Center.
The People’s Procuratorate of Yantian District, Shenzhen formally prosecuted them on December 24, and will hold a closed hearing for the remaining two minor Hong Kong residents to decide whether to prosecute.
The case was officially opened in Shenzhen Yantian People's Court on the 28th.
The European Union issued a statement on December 29 asking China to release them.
The EU spokesperson pointed out in a statement dated on the 29th: "The defendant is not allowed to choose a lawyer according to his wishes, and there are strict restrictions on the defendant’s contact, the trial is not conducted in a public court, and diplomatic representatives cannot be in court proceedings. Attendance, as well as the family members of the detainees, were also blocked from attending the trial.
The defendants were not permitted to appoint lawyers of their choice, and access to them in custody has been heavily restricted. The trial was not held in open court. Diplomatic representatives were unable to attend the court proceedings and the attendance of relatives of the detained was impeded.
EU Spokesperson Statement
The statement pointed out that the defendant’s right to obtain a fair trial and fair legal procedures in accordance with international human rights law and China’s Criminal Procedure Law was not respected.
The EU calls on China to ensure that these people have fair and just legal procedures.
In addition, the EU requires the immediate release of these 12 people and allow them to return to Hong Kong as soon as possible.
The defendants' rights to a fair trial and due process-in accordance with international human rights law and as provided by China's Criminal Procedure Law-have not been respected. We call on China to guarantee procedural fairness and due process of law for these individuals.
EU Spokesperson Statement
Zhang Zhan, a Chinese citizen journalist who had visited Wuhan to cover the novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) epidemic, was convicted on December 28 and sentenced to 4 years in prison.
The European Union issued a statement on the 29th, demanding that China release her and other prisoners, lawyers and activists.
It is worth noting that the EU issued a statement on the eve of its expected signing of a China-EU investment agreement with China.
EU officials said that China and the EU may reach a China-EU investment agreement this week, "to be confirmed on Wednesday (December 30)."
The 27 EU member states have reportedly agreed to reach a comprehensive investment agreement with China, and no member states object.
China criticizes Britain to confuse right and wrong
In addition to the European Union, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab issued a statement on December 28, criticizing China's lack of transparency in the rule of law and calling on China to hear the case in a fair and transparent manner.
In response to this, the spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in the UK said that the relevant personnel had been prosecuted in accordance with the law for the crime of illegally crossing the border or organizing others to cross the border.
Some Hong Kong and Shenzhen Municipal People’s Congress deputies, CPPCC members, journalists and relatives of the defendant attended the trial.
The British remarks disregard facts and confuse right from wrong. China expresses its strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to this, and urges the British side to earnestly abide by international law and basic norms of international relations, stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs, stop interfering in China's internal affairs, and stop interfering in China's judicial sovereignty.
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