Biodun Iginla, BBC News

Biodun Iginla, BBC News
Showing posts with label pro-democracy activists. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pro-democracy activists. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 30, 2018

Thai junta charges activists for protesting at poll delay


by Wang Yang and Biodun Iginla, France24, Bangkok


    © AFP/File | Photo taken last December shows Thailand's junta number two Prawit Wongsuwan covering his eyes, displaying a watch he is wearing. He is mired in a graft scandal over his dazzling collection of luxury watches but says they were borrowed from friends

    BANGKOK - 
    The Thai junta has filed charges against seven pro-democracy activists who led a 100-strong rally calling for elections, authorities said Tuesday, as the regime seeks to smother dissent over its latest poll postponement.
    The activists, who organised the demonstration in central Bangkok on Saturday, are accused of "inciting unrest" and violating a junta ban on gatherings of more than five people that has been in place since the 2014 coup.
    The rally, which drew an unusually large crowd, was held to protest against the military government's move last week to delay elections scheduled for November until 2019.
    "They have incited the unrest and incited people not to obey the law," read the charges filed by the junta's lawyers on Monday. They carry up to seven years in prison.
    The group includes a prominent human rights lawyer and several high-profile activists who have been rare voices of dissent under the junta, Thailand's most authoritarian government in a generation.
    Police have summoned the group to report by February 2, said a senior officer who requested anonymity.
    The junta has repeatedly reneged on promised poll dates since its power grab.
    After nearly four years, anger at prolonged military rule is growing across the political spectrum, with politicians on both sides calling for a swift return to democracy.
    The junta is also battling mounting public anger over a graft scandal that has engulfed a top general with a penchant for luxury watches.
    Deputy premier Prawit Wongsuwan is now facing a corruption probe after online sleuths dug up photos of some 25 high-end watches worth $1.2 million that he allegedly failed to report when declaring his assets.
    Prawit, who has been dubbed "the Rolex General", denies any corruption and says the watches were borrowed from friends.
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    Sunday, March 26, 2017

    BREAKING: Hong Kong election: Beijing-backed Lam first female leader

    • Mar 26, 2017  08H:24  GMT/UTC/ZULU TIME
      •  
    • From the sectionChina


    Media captionHong Kong's three candidate: the nanny, Mr Pringles or the judge?

    by Coco Jiang and Biodun Iginla, BBC News, Hong Kong

    Carrie Lam has been elected as Hong Kong's new leader - the first woman to hold the top job.
    Mrs Lam, 59, had the backing of the Chinese government in Beijing and was widely expected to win.
    Hong Kong has a degree of autonomy from Beijing but protests have been growing over Chinese interference.
    The chief executive is not chosen by public vote but by a 1,200-strong committee dominated by pro-Beijing electors.
    Pro-democracy groups held protests outside the election venue, calling the process a sham.
    Mrs Lam's main rival, former finance chief John Tsang, was the public's favourite, according to opinion polls.
    The third candidate, and the most liberal, was retired judge Woo Kwok-hing.
    Mrs Lam garnered 777 votes to Mr Tsang's 365. Mr Woo received 21.
    Calls for fully free elections have failed, despite intense demonstrations, known as the "umbrella protests", in 2014.
    Hong Kong's Election Committee picked Mrs Lam to succeed current leader CY Leung, who will step down in July. She was formerly his deputy.
    Mrs Lam, a long-time civil servant, is nicknamed the nanny because of her background running numerous government projects.
    During the 2014 protests, she took the unpopular stance of defending Beijing's concessions for political reform - allowing Hong Kong people to choose their leader but only from pre-approved candidates.

    Pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong (centre) at protests on election day in Hong KongImage copyrightREUTERS
    Image captionPro-democracy activist Joshua Wong (centre) at protests on election day

    Pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong, who was among those protesting and was a lead figure in the umbrella movement, has called the current electoral process "a selection rather than an election".
    When the result was announced, he tweeted that Mrs Lam had been elected with "only 777 votes".
    On Facebook, an online protest was launched called No Election in Hong Kong Now, which showed a video montage of regular citizens going about their business as the election took place to highlight how they were not entitled to participate.

    Hong Kong leadership candidates Woo Kwok-hing, Carrie Lam and John TsangImage copyrightREUTERS
    Image captionCandidates Woo Kwok-hing, Carrie Lam and John Tsang pose as they greet election committee members on Sunday

    Mr Leung has proved unpopular with large swathes of Hong Kong residents who consider him too tightly aligned to Beijing.
    At the end of the 2016, he made the unexpected announcement that he would not run again, citing family reasons.

    Hong Kong's outgoing leader CY LeungImage copyrightAFP / GETTY IMAGES
    Image captionOutgoing leader CY Leung was elected in 2012 and, unusually, only served one term

    Hong Kong is governed under the principle of "one country, two systems", under which China has agreed to give the region semi-autonomous status since its 1997 handover from Britain.
    The Election Committee includes 70 members of the territory's legislature, the Legislative Council - half of whom are directly elected.
    However, most of the Election Committee is chosen by business, professional or special interest groups.
    Critics say entities that lean towards Beijing are given disproportionately large representation.
    Last year, pro-democracy activists secured 325 seats on the committee - the highest number ever, but not enough seats to determine the next chief executive.

    Protesters clash with riot police on September 28, 2014 in Hong KongImage copyrightGETTY IMAGES
    Image captionThe 2014 "umbrella protests" were so-called after protesters used umbrellas to shield themselves from pepper spray fired by police

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