China’s Long Arm of Repression: Daily Brief

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July 4, 2023
By Andrew Stroehlein
Contact me at DailyBriefTeam@hrw.org and Twitter @astroehlein.

In today's Daily Brief:

From Beijing to Hong Kong to Your Country
Lawmaker Boasts of Russian Atrocities?
UK Ignoring Asylum Seekers with Disabilities
Take Note: Other Key Stories
Quote of the Day: The Netherlands

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China’s Long Arm of Repression

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Hong Kong authorities have issued groundless arrest warrants and bounties of HK$1 million (US$128,000) on eight exiled democracy activists and former lawmakers.

This is China extending its political intimidation campaign beyond its borders.

The charges would be too ridiculous to mention if they didn’t so clearly demonstrate Beijing’s blinkered authoritarian mindset.

Hong Kong’s national security police absurdly allege the eight people have “committed serious crimes endangering national security.” Charges against individuals include things like “colluding with foreign forces,” “inciting secession,” “subversion,” and “inciting subversion.” Also – my personal favorite – authorities claim they “intimidated Hong Kong officials.”

Again, these folks are all democracy activists and former lawmakers facing government persecution. The idea they “intimidate” the authorities, who hold all the power, is laughable.

But the paranoia is also revealing. Hong Kong and Beijing see them as threats because they see any mention of democracy and human rights as threats to their power. So much so, in fact, they can’t dare admit people have the right to hold opposing views and express them freely.

This authoritarian absolutism has devastated Hong Kong over the past three years. They’ve wrongly prosecuted pro-democracy leaders. They’ve dismantled civil society organizations and independent labor unions. They’ve shut down the most popular pro-democracy newspaper; censored films, books, and songs; and imposed “patriotic education.”

And they have been trying to extend their dictatorial powers beyond their borders. Beijing has been harassing critics abroad, undermining academic freedom internationally, and trying to undermine global human rights institutions for years.

As they now prepare to pursue these eight exiles abroad, authorities say they might request assistance from Interpol, the International Criminal Police Organization. It wouldn’t be the first time China has tried to abuse the Interpol system of “red notices” for political purposes.

Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States – where the eight exiles live or have taken refuge – have all rightly condemned the groundless warrants and bounties. They will also hopefully actively protect these individuals and others living in their territories from China’s long arm of repression.

But that’s not enough. All foreign governments need to face down Beijing’s attempts to expand its authoritarian reach. They should say enough is enough and impose targeted sanctions on government officials implicated in serious abuses, including these eight cases.

No government should accept China’s attempt to export persecution.

Lawmaker Boasts of Russian Atrocities?

A senior Russian lawmaker has claimed Russian forces have taken 700,000 children from Ukraine to Russia since February 2022.

Now, I don’t know if that large a number is accurate or not, of course. It comes from Grigory Karasin, head of the international committee in the Federation Council, the upper house of Russia’s parliament. Ukrainian authorities say the number is more like 19,500, and the US last year estimated it to be 260,000.

But regardless of the exact figure, it’s a bizarre boast, because the forced transfer of populations from occupied territory is a war crime.

It’s particularly odd, given this is the exact crime Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russia’s children’s rights commissioner, Maria Lvova-Belova, stand accused of by the International Criminal Court. It’s why they’re both international fugitives.

Why would anyone want to brag about their country’s mass abductions of children?

Karasin said on his Telegram channel that the 700,000 Ukrainian children “have found refuge with us, fleeing the bombing and shelling from the conflict areas in Ukraine.” That’s the same bombing and shelling happening in the context of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, of course.

So, the logic is, Russia is rescuing children from Russia’s invasion by abducting them to Russia?

It makes no sense at all, Mr. Karasin, but thanks for reminding the world of this massive atrocity against children.

UK Ignoring Asylum Seekers with Disabilities

(written by Chiara Cera)

The UK Home Office has turned its back on more than 50 asylum seekers - most of whom have disabilities and life-limiting conditions – living in a former care home in Essex.

Many of them have fled conflict zones, such as Sudan and Afghanistan, and have physical and sensory disabilities, and need medical assistance. However, there are no health workers or qualified nurses in the facility, opened by the government in November 2022.

This is not the first time the UK government has been caught overlooking asylum seekers with disabilities. In the past months, in fact, there have been several reports of inadequate and inhumane living conditions for asylum seekers with disabilities in the country.

The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities requires governments to ensure equal access to basic services, like medical care. As a signatory to the Convention, the UK should stop turning its back on refugees and instead ensure asylum seekers with disabilities receive the support and services they are entitled to.