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WORLD NEWS Tuesday 28 March 2017

Hong Kong police arrest more 2014 democracy protest leaders

KELVIN CHAN ing grip on the semiauton-
Associated Press omous city. “We expect a
HONG KONG (AP) — A day large-scale political pros-
after Hong Kong picked a ecution,” tweeted Joshua
new Beijing-backed lead- Wong, the young activist
er, police launched a fresh who helped lead the 2014
round of arrests of student protests and co-founded
leaders and other promi- Demosisto, one of a new
nent figures involved with wave of pro-democracy
the huge 2014 “Umbrella parties that advocate “self-
Movement” pro-democra- determination” or even in-
cy protests. dependence from China.
Nine activists targeted by Wong has already been
police were defiant as taken to court several times
they turned themselves for his part in the protests,
in at police headquarters but is not among those be-
on Monday evening, ac- ing targeted this time.
companied by dozens of Those targeted for arrest in-
supporters. Police notified clude two university profes-
them earlier in the day that sors, Benny Tai and Chan
they would be arrested Kin-man, and the Rev. Chu
and charged with commit- Yiu-ming. They founded a
ting a public nuisance, ac- civil disobedience cam-
cording to the Demosisto From right, former student leaders Eason Chung, Tommy Cheung, activist Raphael Wong, lawmak- paign that helped spark
ers, Tanya Chan, Shiu Ka-chun, former legislator Lee Wing-tat, founders of the Occupy Central
political party. civil disobedience movement, Benny Tai, Chan Kin-man and Chu Yiu-ming pose for a picture the 79-day protests de-
Hong Kong police, who before walking toward a police station in Hong Kong Monday, March 27, 2017. A day after Hong manding free elections for
have arrested more than Kong picked a new pro-Beijing leader, police are planning to arrest the student leaders and other Hong Kong’s leader.
200 people for involve- prominent figures involved with the huge 2014 “Umbrella Movement” pro-democracy protests, “Today, we are going to
ment in the protests, did activists said Monday. be arrested, and we will
not reply to inquiries. The (AP Photo/Vincent Yu) be charged. We will face
Department of Justice said very lengthy legal action,”
police would prosecute ter the end of the massive Beijing loyalist Carrie Lam arrests have fueled fears Tai said before entering the
nine people based on its protests, could reignite po- promised to mend politi- of a wider crackdown on police station. “No matter
legal advice. litical tensions in Hong Kong cal divisions after she was pro-democracy supporters what the results will be, we
The arrests, which come as the city prepares for its named Hong Kong’s next amid rising concerns about won’t give up. We will nev-
more than two years af- leadership transfer. leader on Sunday, but the mainland China’s tighten- er give up.”q
South Korean prosecutors push to arrest ousted president

HYUNG-JIN KIM extort from companies and according to court officials. she should also be arrested fused to meet with prose-
Associated Press committed other wrongdo- An arrest is the next step because her alleged ac- cutors. Prosecutors accuse
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) ing when she was in office. before Park can be formal- complice, confidante Choi Park of conspiring with Choi
— South Korean prosecu- The Seoul prosecutors’ of- ly charged with crimes such Soon-sil, and other suspects and a top presidential ad-
tors said Monday that they fice said in a statement as extortion, bribery and in the scandal have been viser to pressure 16 business
want to arrest former Presi- that it asked a local court abuse of power. A bribery arrested. Political analysts groups, including Samsung,
dent Park Geun-hye over to issue an arrest warrant conviction alone is punish- have said that arresting to donate 77.4 billion won
the corruption allegations for Park. The Seoul Central able by up to life in prison. Park would also boost ten- ($69 million) to two non-
that triggered a huge po- District Court said it would Park has denied any legal sions and create a back- profits that Choi controlled
litical scandal and toppled hold a hearing Thursday to wrongdoing. lash from her conservative and allegedly used for per-
her from power. decide on the prosecutors’ Even if the court dis- supporters ahead of an sonal profit. The companies
The move comes after request. misses the request, pros- election in May to choose told investigators that they
prosecutors grilled Park for The court is expected to ask ecutors can still indict and her successor. couldn’t refuse because
14 hours last week over sus- Park to attend the hearing, charge her. Prosecutors While in office, Park had they feared business disad-
picions that she colluded and its decision on her fate said Park’s alleged crimes presidential immunity from vantages such as govern-
with a jailed confidante to will likely come by Friday, were “grave,” and that prosecution and had re- ment tax investigations.q