中環靜坐閱報 抗議以言入罪 警竟不容? Central Sit-in Reading News to Protest Arrest for “Seditious Words” Deemed Unlawful?

9月6日,國安處警員拘捕泛民「快必」譚得志,被控4項「發表煽動文字」罪,其保釋被拒。今日下午1時,數十市民在中環靜默《蘋果日報》,抗議以言入罪。

9月6日,在當天九龍大遊行幾小時前,國安處警員拘捕泛民人民力量副主席「快必」譚得志,被扣查48小時後,被控4項「發表煽動文字」罪。其保釋被拒,要還押懲教看管。

立法會議員陳志全「慢必」在聆訊後,直指控方以言入罪,本案猶如「文字獄」,控罪與《基本法》及《人權法》有衝突,市民如果不能批評政府,根本無法行使言論自由及表達自由,擔心日後市民無空間表達意見。

有網民發起今日中環快閃「和你Lunch」,捍衛言論自由,抗議以言入罪。下午1時,數十市民在中環皇后像廣場及交易廣場空地聚集,相隔最少1.5米,手持《蘋果日報》,靜默閱報,以示熱愛言論自由,靜坐抗議。附近有最少6輛警車及十幾個警員及在巡邏,竟然截查多個閱報市民,登記身份證,儼如極權警察城市。

On September 6, National Security police arrested “Fast Beat” Tam Tak-chi, vice president of pro-democracy People Power, hours before a planned massive protest march. After being detained for 48 hours for investigation, he was charged with 4 counts of “using seditious words.” His bail was refused and must be remanded in custody of the correctional department.

Legislator Ray Chan, aka “Slow Beat”, accused the government for literary inquisition using colonial-era sedition charges. Chan worries that if Tam were to be found guilty, it could be seen that people would be at risk of being arrested simply for expressing their discontent towards authorities. The charges are in conflict with the Basic Law and the Human Rights Law.

Netizens launched a “Lunch with You” flashmob in Central today to defend freedom of speech and protest against criminalisation of speech.

At 1 pm, dozens of citizens gathered at Statue Square and the open space of Exchange Square in Central, sitting at least 1.5m apart, holding Apple Daily news to read silently, demonstrating their love for freedom of speech. There are at least 6 police vans and a dozen police officers on patrol nearby. They stopped and searched many citizens who read newspapers and registered their ID cards, as if in a totalitarian police state.

楊必興 P H Yang