Bill will allow China to target ‘political opponents’ in Hong Kong
A huge number of Hong Kong citizens participated in a demonstration Sunday against a controversial Chinese extradition bill. The protesters fear that China would use the law to punish political opponents in Hong Kong.
According to the organisers of the protest, about one million people participated in the agitation, while the local police put the figure at 2,40,000.
If the estimates given by the organisers were actually correct, it would be the largest demonstration held in Hong Kong since it came under Chinese control in 1997.
The extradition bill would allow Chinese authorities to make extradition requests from respective authorities in Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. These requests would then be decided on a case-by-case basis.
Critics of the bill in Hong Kong argue that the legislation would expose Hong Kong to China’s flawed justice system. Moreover, China lacks sufficient legal protections for defendants, the critics say.
Meanwhile, the state-owned media responded to the protests by calling it a foreign conspiracy against China.
“Some Hong Kong residents have been hoodwinked by the opposition camp and their foreign allies into supporting the anti-extradition campaign,” said an editorial of China Daily.
Moldovan President Igor Dodon removed by top court
Moldova, which has been witnessing intense power struggle for the past few months, braces for more political instability as the country’s top court has removed President Igor Dodon and appointed an interim head Sunday. The newly appointed interim president, Pavel Filip, immediately called for fresh elections.
There has been a political impasse in Moldova ever since February’s inconclusive electoral results. During those elections, Russia-leaning Socialist Party managed to get the highest number of seats, but fell short of majority.
Dodon, who used to head the Socialist Party before becoming the President, was removed by the country’s constitutional court for failing to perform his duties by calling for a fresh election on time.
Moldova is a poor country and a former Soviet Republic. It is located between Ukraine and Romania.
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