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Authorities within the central Chinese province of Hunan are investigating outstanding rights activist Ou Biaofeng, who’s at present underneath felony detention for “subversion,” for supporting the Hong Kong pro-democracy motion, RFA has discovered.
An individual aware of the case informed RFA on Friday that the Hunan police’s line of enquiry had emerged after they summoned a number of fellow activists and questioned them about Ou’s actions throughout a visit to Hong Kong as early as 2014.
“The state security police are claiming that he went to Hong Kong to ‘study,’ which likely refers to [alleged] training by hostile foreign forces,” the particular person mentioned, including that that they had additionally questioned individuals about whether or not Ou had acquired cash from anybody whereas he was within the metropolis.
“Going to collect money also points [in their minds] to collusion with hostile foreign forces,” the particular person mentioned. “There’s not much a rights activist can do when they decide they are going to charge you with that kind of thing.”
Ou Biaofeng was taken away from his house in Hunan’s Zhuzhou metropolis by officers of the Lusong district police division on Dec. 3, who held him underneath administrative detention for 15 days for “picking quarrels and stirring up trouble.”
However, he wasn’t launched on the finish of the 15 days, prompting considerations that the authorities have been planning to pursue felony prices.
The particular person aware of the case mentioned the cost of “subversion of state power” had been not too long ago added by state safety police, who now appear to be looking for proof to assist it.
Police entry accounts
Ou’s account on the messaging app Telegram not too long ago confirmed him on-line, suggesting that police, who confiscated his gadgets, have been accessing his account.
“He was shown as online, then went offline again after a few minutes,” the particular person mentioned. “I thought that was strange, because how could he get online if he doesn’t have his phone?”
The particular person mentioned the police had possible pressured Ou handy over the passcodes to his gadgets.
“He had two phones — both iPhones, which can’t be accessed without a password — so I don’t know what has transpired [in the detention center],” he mentioned.
“The state security police typically like to copy all of the data on [suspects’] devices and then go through it with a fine-tooth comb.”
Called for Hong Kong democracy
Prior to his detention, Ou had been a vocal supporter of the pro-democracy motion in Hong Kong, ranging from the 2014 Occupy Central marketing campaign for common suffrage, which later broadened into the Umbrella Movement, and persevering with together with his assist for the 2019 anti-extradition motion, which broadened to incorporate calls for for full democracy and accountability for police violence in opposition to largely peaceable protesters.
In August 2020, after nationwide safety police raided the headquarters of the pro-democracy Apple Daily newspaper and its mother or father firm Next Digital, Ou posted a photograph of himself to social media holding a replica of the Apple Daily.
He additionally expressed his assist for Next Digital’s founder, pro-democracy media magnate Jimmy Lai, who’s at present behind bars awaiting trial underneath a draconian nationwide safety regulation imposed on Hong Kong from July 1, 2019.
Ou additionally known as on his buddies to mail copies of the Apple Daily to Hunan to point out assist for the paper, as Hongkongers lined as much as purchase copies in solidarity following the raid.
Ou’s spouse Wei Huanhuan informed RFA she was not too long ago suspended from her instructing job, along with her employer citing the coronavirus pandemic.
“They started out saying there had been a directive from higher up because of the coronavirus pandemic,” Wei informed RFA. “They said that’s why the school was putting me on furlough.”
“Then they said they knew I’d been pretty busy lately, and that that I’d continue to be busy,” she mentioned. “I thought, what is that supposed to mean?”
Wei, who has been the only real breadwinner for the family for a while, mentioned she is now in search of authorized recommendation.
“They know very well that what they’re doing is illegal … it’s a bit crazy … They’ve taken away my classes.”
Reported by Gao Feng for RFA’s Mandarin and Cantonese Services. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
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