Page 11 - aruba today

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WORLD NEWS Tuesday 25 sepTember 2018

In a first, Hong Kong bans pro-independence political party

Associated Press The ban cites a national
HONG KONG (AP) — Au- security law that has not
thorities in Hong Kong on been invoked since 1997. It
Monday took an unprec- is likely to raise further ques-
edented step to quash tions about Beijing’s grow-
separatist voices by ban- ing influence in the former
ning a political party that British colony, which was
advocates independence promised semi-autonomy
for the southern Chinese as part of its 1997 hando-
territory on national security ver.
grounds. Chinese President Xi Jinping
John Lee, the territory’s and other officials have
secretary for security, an- warned separatist activity
nounced that the Hong would not be tolerated.
Kong National Party would The perception that Beijing
be prohibited from opera- is reneging on its prom-
tion from Monday. ise of semi-autonomy and
At a briefing, Lee said eroding Hong Kong’s free
the political party led by elections and freedom of
27-year-old Andy Chan speech is helping fuel a ris-
posed a threat to national ing generation of young
security because it wants activists calling for greater
Hong Kong to be an inde- autonomy, if not outright in-
pendent republic and has dependence.
taken steps to push this In this Aug. 14, 2018, photo, Andy Chan, founder of the Hong Kong National Party, speaks during Huge pro-democracy pro-
agenda. a luncheon at the Foreign Correspondents Club in Hong Kong. tests erupted in 2014 in re-
Lee cited as examples al- Associated Press sponse to the decision by
leged plans by the party to “spreads hatred and dis- city. He accused the party Morning Post newspaper China’s ruling Communist
recruit members and infil- crimination against main- of saying that it would em- said he acknowledged Party to retain the right to
trate schools to promote its landers in Hong Kong,” re- ploy all means to achieve that the party hasn’t actu- effectively pre-screen can-
views. ferring to people from main- its goals, including force ally used violent means to didates for Hong Kong’s
Lee said the party also land China who live in the — though the South China promote its cause. leadership.q
Indonesian teenager rescued after drifting 49 days at sea

By ALI KOTARUMALOS member how many passed top that’s lit at night to at-
Associated Press by “unaware of my ordeal.” tract fish — moored about
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) The Indonesian Consulate 125 kilometers (78 miles) off
— An Indonesian teenager in Osaka, Japan, said the the coast of North Sulawesi.
who survived 49 days adrift 18-year-old was rescued The coastline is not visible
at sea after the wooden by a Panamanian-flagged from the fishing rafts and
fish trap he was employed vessel off Guam on Aug. the numerous rompong are
to mind slipped its moor- 31, about 1,200 miles (1,920 miles apart, said Adilang’s
ings says he ran out of food kilometers) from his original mother, Net Kahiking. Sup-
within a week and survived location, and returned to plies including food and
on fish and seawater he Indonesia with officials ear- fuel for a generator are
squeezed from his clothing. lier this month. dropped off about once a
Aldi Novel Adilang told The He was employed since week.
Associated Press on Mon- age 16 in the one of the The minders, who earn $130 In this undated photo released by Indonesian Consulate General
day that he turned on a world’s loneliest jobs: lamp a month, communicate in Osaka, 18-year-old Aldi Novel Adilang is seen on a wooden
lamp every time he sighted lighter on a rompong — a with fishing boats by hand- fish trap floating in the waters near the island of Guam.
another ship and can’t re- wooden raft with a hut on held radio. q Associated Press