Father Mella started a three-day protest in front of Shek Pik prison. He encourages imprisoned activists not to lose hope. In January he also called for the release of Catholic newspaper tycoon Jimmy Lai. Since the security law was imposed, the police have arrested almost 200 people; 113 were sent to trial.
Hong Kong () – A protest began today in front of Shek Pik prison to demand the release of pro-democracy activists and figures detained under the draconian National Security Law. Father Franco Mella, a PIME missionary, told the media present that he will go on a three-day hunger strike, despite the torrid heat he is experiencing at the moment.
The 74-year-old priest is not new to protests of this kind. Last January, along with other Catholic and Protestant personalities, Fr. Mella called for the amnesty of Catholic publishing magnate Jimmy Lai and other democratic figures. All of them are in custody or in preventive detention accused of having violated the security measure, which includes life sentences. Some of them have been awaiting trial for more than a year.
Since 1999, Father Mella has demonstrated every year along with other people for the right to family reunification of Chinese children and wives, related to people from Hong Kong. As Reuters reports, in 2019 he participated in the pro-democracy demonstrations that sparked the Beijing crackdown.
Pointing out the intense heat of these days, Fr. Mella spoke of the suffering of those in prison and sent them a message: “We are with you, do not lose hope. We will continue to fight for everyone’s freedom.” The missionary added that the city’s inhabitants would have more confidence in the future if the authorities released imprisoned pro-democracy personalities.
Imposed by the Chinese central government two years ago, the National Security Law led to the arrest of almost 200 people; 113 were accused, although many of them have more than one charge. But the arrests are not the only problem. With the introduction of the measure, several pro-democracy parties and groups were dissolved, many independent media outlets closed their doors or moved abroad, and thousands of people fled the city.
In May, the National Security Police also arrested Card. Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, bishop emeritus of the city and a well-known supporter of the democracy movement. The initial charge was serious: “collusion” with foreign forces. A court later sent Cardinal Zen and five prominent members of the democratic front to trial on the less serious charge of failing to properly register a humanitarian fund of which they were trustees. The trial against him will begin on September 19.
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