China Enacts Security Law, Asserting Control Over Hong Kong
Beijing's top legislative body has unanimously passed a sweeping national security law for Hong Kong, a controversial move that could effectively criminalize most dissent in the city and risks widening the rift between China and western countries who have criticized the law.
The news was first reported by local Hong Kong media: cable televsion station NOWNews; the city's public broadcaster; and a slew of newspapers, including Wei Wen Po and Ta Kung Pao, two pro-Beijing outlets which often signal official Chinese policy.
Hours later, the official Chinese news agency Xinhua reported President Xi Jinping had already signed the measure into law. Xinhua said it will be incorporated into Hong Kong's Basic Law, the city's mini-constitution, and become effective Wednesday, the anniversary of Hong Kong's 1997 handover from British to Chinese Rule.
Hong Kong security law: Anger as China's Xi signs legislation
One key pro-democracy group said it was now ceasing all operations. Demosisto announced the move on Facebook after Joshua Wong, one of Hong Kong's most prominent activists, said he was leaving the group, which he had spearheaded.
[...] Demosisto said several members had asked to be delisted and it had decided to "dissolve and stop all meetings". It said that the fight against "totalitarian oppression" would have to continue in a "more flexible manner". Joshua Wong said the law marked "the end of Hong Kong that the world knew before".
Also at NYT, Reuters, and Hong Kong Free Press.
(Score: 5, Informative) by DeathMonkey on Wednesday July 01 2020, @07:54PM (5 children)
The US never charged him with anything until Trump was elected.
You can't drop charges that were never brought...
WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange Charged in 18-Count Superseding Indictment - Thursday, May 23, 2019 [justice.gov]
(Score: 2) by Freeman on Wednesday July 01 2020, @08:56PM (3 children)
A mere formality, when it became convenient to do so.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indictment_and_arrest_of_Julian_Assange [wikipedia.org]
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 2) by DeathMonkey on Wednesday July 01 2020, @09:04PM (2 children)
You understand that those quotes prove me correct, right?
2012/2013: No indictment, AKA no charges.
2018: An indictment, AKA charges.
(Score: 3, Informative) by Freeman on Wednesday July 01 2020, @09:15PM (1 child)
The point I was trying to get across is that he may not have been officially charged until then, but the moment it looked like or that he did step out of the embassy, is when charges would have been filed. Obama just didn't have to deal with it, because of how long he remained in asylum. Obama could have nipped it in the bud, but he didn't. Trump could have too, but it seems unlikely that he will.
Assange's only hope has always been that the place he is at, won't extradite him.
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 2) by DeathMonkey on Wednesday July 01 2020, @09:59PM
He left the embassy over a year AFTER that indictment. (Apr 11, 2019) [cnet.com]
(Score: 1) by khallow on Thursday July 02 2020, @01:57AM
How do you know charges were never brought? They didn't have to make them public until they're trying to extradite Assange.