Authorities in Hong Kong arrested several people on Saturday and banned gatherings held to memorialize the victims who lost their lives decades ago at the Tiananmen Square protests.
Police detained multiple people amid efforts by China to tame any attempt of publicly commemorating the 33rd anniversary of the conflict, AFP reported Saturday.
The Tiananmen demonstrations were held in Beijing on June 4, 1989, when Chinese troops opened fire at student protesters, who were demanding more freedoms. It is estimated that anywhere from several hundred to several thousand people were killed.
Police searched one man for over 20 minutes before asking him to leave Saturday. “They’re even afraid of an old person like me, I’m over 60,” the man, only identified as Chan, told AFP. “Hong Kong is already dead.”
Chinese authorities previously warned that those “participating in an unauthorized assembly” could face up to five years in prison.
Hong Kong and nearby Macao were the only places in China that were allowed to hold large commemorations of the 1989 Tiananmen protests. However, that changed three years ago when China enforced a national security law to crack down on dissent after pro-democracy protests in 2019.
Police also arrested activist Yu Wai-pan, who is a member of the League of Social Democrats (LSD) party, according to AFP. Yu was later on released, according to the LSD.
Another party member, Lau San-ching, was arrested for having a mask that read “mourn June 4” and for wearing a shirt that had a picture of the late Chinese democracy activist Li Wangyang.
Before LSD activist Yu was taken away, the three of them were released after being stopped and searched.Chan told us, ‘The freedom to commemorate is gone. It’s pathetic that even taking such a peaceful action silently is not tolerated.’https://t.co/wh0dJYmxEP pic.twitter.com/uBT3sY5S5m
— Phoebe Kong (@phoebe_kongwy) June 4, 2022
Prior to Yu’s arrest, two other party members, who were wearing white masks with a black cross across the mouth, were taken away by police within 30 seconds after standing silently at Causeway Bay, according to AFP.
They were later released, but stopped then again. This time, Yu was detained by police after approaching Victoria Park, which was a site that used to be packed with crowds who held annual candlelight vigils during Tiananmen anniversaries.
Hong Kong’s Victoria Park saw heavy police presence as authorities said that parts of the park would be closed amid concerns that it might be used for “illegal activities,” NPR reported.
“For 33 years it has always been peaceful, but today it’s like (police) are facing a big enemy,” Chan Po-ying, head of the LSD, said to AFP. “The candlelight will not go out; the hearts of people will live on.”
Newsweek reached out to Hong Kong’s League of Social Democrats party for comment.
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