Hong Kong Inferno: China Cracks Down on Protests, Silences Calls for Accountability
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The devastating apartment complex blaze that claimed over 140 lives in Hong Kong has sparked widespread outrage and demands for accountability. However, the Chinese regime has swiftly responded by deploying draconian laws to quell any dissent, detaining activists and silencing online petitions. A 24-year-old student, Miles Kwan, who was among those detained, had been urging commuters to demand answers for the inferno. Kwan and a handful of activists had been distributing flyers and collecting signatures for an online petition that gained over 10,000 supporters in just a day. Their demands included an independent probe into possible corruption, proper resettlement for residents, and a review of construction oversight processes. However, the National Security Police swiftly arrested Kwan and others on charges of sedition, deleting the online petition in the process. The police refused to comment on the arrest, citing the need to 'take actions according to actual circumstances and in accordance with the law'. The city's once-vibrant political activism has largely faded since Beijing imposed a strict national security law in 2020. The law has been used to silence dissent and stifle opposition, with authorities arresting 11 people in connection with the blaze. The Hong Kong government has announced an inter-departmental task force to investigate the blaze, but many are calling for a full-scale inquiry into the disaster. The city's residents are still reeling from the tragedy, with many questioning whether it was an accident or a man-made disaster. As the city prepares for its legislative elections next week, the government is under pressure to address the public's demands for accountability. The elections will go ahead as scheduled on December 7, despite a record low turnout in the last polls in 2021. The Hong Kong inferno has exposed the deep-seated issues plaguing the city, including corruption, inadequate oversight, and a lack of accountability. As the city mourns its dead, it remains to be seen whether the authorities will take concrete steps to address these issues and prevent such tragedies from happening again.
