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Hong Kong activists nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

February 2, 2018

A bipartisan group of US senators and representatives said the Umbrella Movement embodied "the peaceful aspirations" of the people of Hong Kong. China asked the US lawmakers to "stop meddling" in its affairs.

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Umbrella movement protest in 2015
An Umbrella Movement protest in 2015Image: picture-alliance/dpa/A. Hofford

Hong Kong pro-democracy activists Joshua Wong, Nathan Law, Alex Chow and the entire Umbrella Movement were nominated by US lawmakers for the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday. 

The Umbrella Movement began in 2014 with the mobilization of tens of thousands of protesters, who demanded fully free leadership elections to replace the system where Hong Kong's chief executive is selected by a pro-Beijing committee.

Read more: Hong Kong's 20 years under Chinese rule – A failed project?

The bipartisan group, composed of four senators and eight members of the House of Representatives, sent a letter to the Nobel Committee saying the nomination was made "in recognition of their peaceful efforts to bring political reform and self-determination to Hong Kong."

"Wong, Law, and Chow and the entire Umbrella Movement embody the peaceful aspirations of the people of Hong Kong who yearn to see their autonomies and way of life protected and their democratic aspirations fulfilled," the statement read.

Agnes Chow
Activist Agnes Chow addresses a crowd gathered at a protest in Hong Kong in 2017Image: picture-alliance/dpa/Zumapress/L. C. Ren

In reference to the controversial nature of the nomination, the congressional lawmakers reminded the Nobel Committee of its past "willingness to brave the displeasure, and outright retribution, of the Chinese Communist Party and government," with the example of the prize awarded to Chinese political prisoner Liu Xiaobo."

Wong, 21, Law, 24 and Chow, 27, said they were "honored" by the recognition in a joint statement. The young activists welcomed their nomination as a positive development in the midst of setbacks.

Read more: Opinion: Hong Kong's rift with China is growing

Hong Kong activists Joshua Wong and Nathan Law
Activists Joshua Wong and Nathan Law arriving at a sentencing hearing at the High Court in Hong Kong in 2017Image: Getty Images/AFP/A. Wallace

Nomination angers Chinese government

In a Foreign Ministry statement, Beijing asked US lawmakers to "stop meddling" in Hong Kong and China's internal affairs and reminded them that the protests of the movement in 2014 were "downright illegal."

All three of the activists are currently appealing prison sentences delivered in August 2017 for their role in the Umbrella Movement. Two of them were recently banned from running for office.

Read more: Hong Kong bans pro-democracy activist from election

 

jcg/kms (AP, dpa)