The New Macau Association (ANM) issued a press release stating that it is deeply concerned over the escalation of abuse of power by the Macau authorities during Premier Li Keqiang’s visit to Macau. The rule of law should not be further undermined in the name of a state leader’s visit, ANM said.
The ANM received reports of alleged human rights violations during Li’s visit; the police seizure of the mobile phones and belongings of Hong Kong LegCo members and a Macau resident being coerced to stay at home.
The association stated that the police may not seize the belongings of residents and visitors without due process of law. Also, it stated that authorities have the responsibility to protect the personal liberty of Macau residents against unlawful restrictions.
For the cases of arbitrary entry bans, the ANM tried making a complaint to the ombudsman but they were not successful. The association said it is working on the creation of a database of alleged human rights violations in Macau which will be open to public submissions. The information on entry bans will be compiled into a special file. The database will be made available to the UN treaty bodies when they review the ratification of human rights instruments in Macau.
Media reports yesterday indicated that more than ten residents who tried to see Li were taken to police cars. These people were intercepted in the vicinity of Keang Peng School, which Li visited. After having seen many police officers around the school, they were curious to check the surroundings.
At around 2:50 p.m., more than 10 police officers suddenly drove the residents away from the area, and even asked some of them to present their IDs. According to a report by All About Macau, the police told some who questioned them that “[we] will tell you what’s going on when you get in the car.”
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