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The Diplomat
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Diplomat
Repressive Laws Are Increasingly Being Used to Silence Activists Across Asia
From Hong Kong to India, governments are passing and weaponizing new laws to pursue and jail whoever speaks up for human rights. Four years ago, on the 32nd anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre, plain clothes police arrested human rights lawyer and pro-democracy activist Chow Hang-tung outside her office in Hong Kong. Her alleged crime? Publishing two social media posts advertising a public vigil to remember the notorious crackdown in Tiananmen Square. At the time, Chow was the vice-chair of the now defunct Hong Kong Alliance in Support of the Patriotic Democratic Movement of China, the main organizer of annual Tiananmen vigils. Chow is a target of Hong Kong's draconian National Security Law, which grants authorities in the territory sweeping powers to crush any form of dissent. Today, Tiananmen vigils in Hong Kong are no more, and Chow remains locked up at the Tai Lam Women's Correctional Center, fighting baseless charges of subversion and sedition. Sadly, such repression is not unique to Hong Kong. Across Asia, authoritarian and democratic governments alike are passing and weaponizing new laws – in clear violation of international law and standards – to pursue and jail whoever speaks up for human rights. Today, on Nelson Mandela International Day, we call for the release of Chow Hang-tang, who is part of CIVICUS' Stand As My Witness campaign, as well as other human rights defenders unjustly locked up in Asia around the world. Beijing pushed the repressive National Security Law in 2020 in response to mass pro-democracy protests a year earlier. Since then, the National Security Law, and further legislation passed in 2024, has been used to target hundreds of activists, journalists, protesters and critics. The CIVICUS Monitor, which tracks civic space conditions across the world, now rates Hong Kong's civic space as 'closed,' the worst possible ranking. Hundreds remain behind bars as police systematically use the new laws to arrest and prosecute people on trumped-up charges. Often, the process itself becomes the punishment as activists spend years in detention before they are even tried. These laws have created a chilling effect, forcing independent news outlets and civil society groups to shut down. In April this year, Hong Kong's oldest and largest pro-democracy political party moved to disband as Beijing's sweeping crackdown has left opposition groups without room to operate. Meanwhile, Hong Kong authorities are trying to take their repression international, by offering bounties for activists-in-exile charged under the National Security Law and by arresting the father of a prominent U.S.-based activist, Anna Kwok. Such repression should be viewed with disdain, but rather than being an outlier, Hong Kong's National Security Laws have become something of a model for other Asian governments looking to stifle dissent. Look no further than Beijing's rival, India, often called the world's largest democracy, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government resorts to similar laws to consolidate power and silence his critics. Dozens of activists have been jailed under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), a draconian anti-terror law. Under the UAPA's provisions, activists remain in pre-trial detention for long periods and are denied bail, including human rights defender Khurram Parvez, who was arrested in November 2021. His trial has yet to start, four years on. In neighboring Pakistan, the government also weaponizes anti-terror legislation against activists like Mahrang Baloch, who languishes in prison on terror charges for speaking out against ongoing violations of ethnic minority rights by the Pakistan security forces in Balochistan. In Thailand, more than 270 individuals have been arrested or prosecuted under lese-majeste or royal defamation laws since early 2020, many of whom have received long consecutive sentences from the courts. Human rights lawyer Arnon Nampa, for instance, received multiple convictions and 26 years in jail for calling for democratic reforms and reforms of the Thai monarchy. Meanwhile, Cambodia's Han Manet regime has used 'incitement' laws as their weapon of choice to silence activists, journalists, and members of the opposition. With legal repression spreading across Asia, the international community must do more to push back and stand with these brave activists. Foreign governments must not only speak out when activists are convicted, but step in much earlier when these human rights defenders are arrested. Diplomats should visit wrongly arrested activists in detention, monitor their trials, and engage with their families. Foreign governments must also use international platforms like the United Nations Human Rights Council and bilateral meetings to highlight their cases and call for their release. Activists-in-exile also need support and assistance, especially when they face transnational repression. The recent G-7 Leaders' Statement on Transnational Repression was a good start, but strong rhetoric must now turn into serious action. Failure to undertake such actions will see a further regression of democracy and repression of civic freedoms in Asia and elsewhere. However, foreign governments won't apply pressure unless we, as people and activists around the world, push them to take action. Wherever we are, we must use our voices to speak up for human rights defenders behind bars, including through campaigns like Stand As My Witness, which has helped contribute to the release of over 30 human rights defenders since its inception five years ago. After all, jailed human rights defenders aren't giving up on themselves or their causes. This year, on the fifth anniversary of her arrest, Chow Hang-tung went on a hunger strike behind bars to commemorate the Tiananmen Square massacre and to reaffirm her commitment to the struggle despite her imprisonment. It's time for all of us to stand in solidarity with her and other jailed human rights defenders in Asia and across the world.
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Ramasamy withdraws suit against Chow over Batu Kawan land deal
GEORGE TOWN: Former Penang Deputy Chief Minister II Dr P. Ramasamy today withdrew his defamation suit against Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow over the controversial land sale issue in Batu Kawan. The consent judgment was recorded by Sessions Court Judge Helmi Ghani here after lawyer Dr Shamsher Thind Singh, representing Ramasamy, informed the court that his client agreed to withdraw the suit without the liberty to re-file it. Ramasamy initiated defamation proceedings against Chow on July 18 last year, over a statement published on Chow's official Facebook page on Oct 3, 2023, which Ramasamy alleged gravely damaged his reputation. The suit stemmed from a cancelled deal between Penang Development Corporation (PDC) and Umech Land Sdn Bhd over the sale of 226 hectares of land in Byram, Batu Kawan, which has now been cancelled. Chow was represented by lawyer In the same court, the PDC also withdrew its defamation suit over the same matter against Ramasamy without liberty to re-file and without an order as to costs. Ramasamy also agreed to withdraw statements he made about the PDC as part of the settlement. The Batu Kawan land deal became controversial due to allegations that it was sold below market value.
The Star
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Ramasamy withdraws suit against Chow over Batu Kawan land deal
GEORGE TOWN: Former Penang deputy chief minister II Dr P. Ramasamy on Friday (July 18) withdrew his defamation suit against Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow over the controversial land sale issue in Batu Kawan. The consent judgment was recorded by Sessions Court Judge Helmi Ghani here after lawyer Dr Shamsher Thind Singh, representing Ramasamy, informed the court that his client agreed to withdraw the suit without the liberty to re-file it. Ramasamy initiated defamation proceedings against Chow on July 18 last year, over a statement published on Chow's official Facebook page on Oct 3, 2023, which Ramasamy alleged gravely damaged his reputation. The suit stemmed from a cancelled deal between Penang Development Corporation (PDC) and Umech Land Sdn Bhd over the sale of 226 hectares of land in Byram, Batu Kawan, which has now been cancelled. Chow was represented by lawyer In the same court, the PDC also withdrew its defamation suit over the same matter against Ramasamy without liberty to re-file and without an order as to costs. Ramasamy also agreed to withdraw statements he made about the PDC as part of the settlement. The Batu Kawan land deal became controversial due to allegations that it was sold below market value. - Bernama
Barnama
2 days ago
- Politics
- Barnama
Ramasamy Withdraws Suit Against Chow Over Batu Kawan Land Deal
GEORGE TOWN, July 18 (Bernama) -- Former Penang Deputy Chief Minister II Dr P. Ramasamy today withdrew his defamation suit against Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow over the controversial land sale issue in Batu Kawan. The consent judgment was recorded by Sessions Court Judge Helmi Ghani here after lawyer Dr Shamsher Thind Singh, representing Ramasamy, informed the court that his client agreed to withdraw the suit without the liberty to re-file it. Ramasamy initiated defamation proceedings against Chow on July 18 last year, over a statement published on Chow's official Facebook page on Oct 3, 2023, which Ramasamy alleged gravely damaged his reputation.
Hamilton Spectator
2 days ago
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Everyone wants the new TTC subway cars to be made in Canada. So why are Ottawa and city hall butting heads over them?
All three levels of government agree that the badly needed new subway cars for Line 2 should be made in Canada, but the project to replace the TTC trains has been stalled for weeks over an apparent misunderstanding between city hall and Ottawa. A letter obtained by the Star dated June 23, written by federal Housing and Infrastructure Minister Gregor Robertson to Mayor Olivia Chow, notes that it had become 'apparent' that both Toronto and the Ontario government were seeking to ensure the contract for the project would allow the cars to be built within the country, leaving the TTC to change its procurement plans. 'With the procurement of these subway trains, I am supportive of any action that accomplishes a build Canada option in a manner that is consistent with the city of Toronto's legal obligations,' the letter from Robertson to Chow reads. 'Should the (Toronto Transit Commission) decide to effect this change, I look forward to receiving the formal request on their proposed procurement approach as part of the TTC Baseline Funding Capital Plan as soon as possible.' More than three weeks later, the federal government says it is still waiting for the TTC to act. A federal government official with knowledge of the matter, speaking to the Star on the condition they not be named, said the minister's office had not received a response to the June 23 letter from city officials. The mayor's office, however, says it needed approval from the federal government to change the procurement process to allow the 'buy Canadian' approach. 'The mayor has been in regular communication with both the provincial and federal ministers throughout this process and continues to work collaboratively with them,' said Shirven Rezvany, a spokesperson for the mayor. 'Any procurement process is a highly confidential TTC board process and cannot be discussed in detail.' When reached for comment, Robertson's office would not discuss the contents of the June 23 letter, saying in a statement that the 'final decision regarding the procurement for TTC train cars rests entirely within the mandate of the TTC.' Earlier in June, Chow had been enthusiastic about a made-in-Canada approach, saying at a press conference on June 17, that the city was waiting on Ottawa to 'exempt … the tendering process, so we can take the jobs to Thunder Bay.' 'We're waiting for federal government to give us the go-ahead,' Chow added. The city has now received two requests from higher levels of government to ensure the $2.3 billion for 55 new subway cars for the Bloor-Danforth line are spent in Canada amid the economic uncertainty brought on by U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs on Canada. 'The moment we are in calls for action that protects Canadian workers,' Robertson wrote in his June 23 letter, asking for sourcing Canadian components and for the cars to be built in Canada. In a letter to Chow in April , Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria went further, asking for the cars to be built at French train manufacturer Alstom's Thunder Bay plant. The 55 new subway cars are meant to replace the current cars, which are expected to reach the end of their 30-year service life in 2026. Line 2 has 400,000 daily boardings, and the risk of running trains past their service life was underscored when the Scarborough RT derailed in September 2023 , with then TTC CEO Rick Leary warning of similar problems if the Line 2 cars are not replaced . The new subway cars aren't expected to begin rolling out until 2030, and Percy previously said the TTC would undertake a 'light overhaul' of the current Line 2 cars to extend their service life in the interim. The cost of the new subway cars required the city, the province and the federal government to each contribute a third of the cost. The province's third was secured as part of the Ford government's 'new deal' with Toronto and the federal government sealed the deal with funding announced on Nov. 29, 2024 . At that announcement on November, representatives for both the federal and provincial governments said the new trains would be built in Thunder Bay. The TTC's then interim CEO Greg Percy said at the November press conference that the contract for the subway cars would be open to bids from multiple companies, with a request for proposals that went out on Dec. 10. The Thunder Bay factory, which was owned by Bombardier until Alstom took over the company's rail business in 2021, has filled previous orders for TTC subways and streetcars. In 2022 it lost out on a major contract for new trains for the province's Ontario Line project.
