Hong Kong Police Arrests Noted Pro-Democracy Activist Ventus Lau

New Delhi, January 20, 2020:

Hong Kong Police have arrested prominent pro-democracy activist Ventus Lau following a violent protest demanding boycott of the Chinese Communist Party and electoral reforms.

The Hong Kong Civil Assembly Team released a statement citing charges of “obstruction of police administration” and violating terms set when permission was granted for the protest as reasons behind his arrest.

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The organizers, reportedly, had applied for a permit known as a letter of no objection for a march, but the police only agreed to a static rally in a park in the city’s Central district. However, with increasing number of people participating in the protest event, some protesters barricaded roads with umbrellas traffic cones and other street furniture and dug up bricks from the pavement.

Hong Kong Police started to fire tear gas to disperse the crowd. Senior Superintendent Ng Lok-chun said that it was primarily the rioters’ violent acts which had led to the suspension of the gathering. He added that the organizer violated the agreements set in the no objection letter, failed to assist in maintaining the order in the public gathering event, that is why they arrested the activist.

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It may be mentioned here that supporters of democracy and Communist party-ruled central government in Beijing came to a head in June 2019 when the extradition legislation triggered months of mass protests.

Agitation continued for more than seven months even after the withdrawal of the Bill that would have allowed Hong Kong residents to be sent to mainland China to stand trial.

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