Veteran Hong Kong activist arrested ahead of planned Olympic protest

A veteran Hong Kong activist was arrested after he announced a planned protest of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics in front of China’s Liaison’s Office on Friday. 

Koo Sze-yiu sent out a media announcement with the words, in bold, “Coffin Winter Olympics” written on it earlier this week. The announcement said he would be protesting the Olympics in front of the office representing China in Hong Kong at 10 a.m. the day the Games began, The Associated Press reported. 

Hong Kong authorities cited their controversial national security law to arrest him on Friday morning. Koo was identified by the South China Morning Post, as the police would not name him. 

Police said the 75-year-old was arrested for suspicion of inciting subversion, with four others detained for questioning as well, according to the AP. 

“Don’t forget that human rights are being oppressed in Hong Kong!” Koo said in the announcement of his protest.

Koo has been arrested multiple times for his activism as Hong Kong has used the national security law to go after anyone who speaks ill of the government, the AP noted. 

The Winter Olympics have been denounced by human rights activists and sparked diplomatic boycotts by some Western countries. 

China, which controls the semi-autonomous Hong Kong, has pressured the city to crack down on all dissent. The country has also violated the human rights of Uyghur Muslims and other ethnic minority groups, according to the U.S. and several human rights groups.