Diabetic and stuck in solitary confinement at the age of 77, Jimmy Lai is the epitome of Hong Kong’s abandonment of basic democratic norms in favour of a purge. Those who stand up to the State are often journalists, and Jimmy Lai and his now defunct Apple Daily newsroom are not forgotten, writes Globe and Mail editor-in-chief, David Walmsley.

More than three years ago, Mr Lai and his Apple Daily team were awarded The Golden Pen of Freedom for holding the democratic line against a strengthening State crackdown on individual rights, and with it, the demolishing of the Hong Kong free press.

The Golden Pen of Freedom Award is an annual recognition to an individual or group who promote press freedom, awarded by the World Association of News Publishers. Last year’s winner was Carlos Fernando Chamorro, editor-in-chief of Confidencial, permanently in exile.

In his acceptance speech last year, Mr Chamorro said: “This recognition encourages us not to give in to censorship and self-censorship, and to do more and better journalism, which is the only defence we have to protect freedom and democracy.”

Together, we are stronger

The award reminds the recipients they are not alone. It means something to me personally. The recipient in 1977 was Roy Lilley, the editor who hired me and gave me the beginnings of my career, in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

The award goes back to 1961.

Because Jimmy Lai is beyond our reach, held in solitary confinement and a verdict (of near certain guilt) not expected until late this autumn, Mr Lai’s fate stays too often in the background.

Silencing the Press must seem attractive to those apparatchiks who deep freeze their emotions to apply and condone torture such as that facing Mr Lai. But the over-reach takes only the life-force from them.

Mr Lai, a British citizen whose government is working to release him from the former British colony, hasn’t been able to see family or friends. He could have abandoned home before the crackdown came but he chose to stay, to support those who were fighting for democracy, even though his decision meant arrest was inevitable.

Meeting his son Sebastien, an urbane, gentle man, much like I imagine his father to be, is to see the living loss of false imprisonment.

To confront Hong Kong’s tainted Apartheid-like judiciary as it holds on to Asia’s oldest political prisoner for prosecuting journalism, will always be a great statement on the theft of freedom of the press.

As the World Congress of news organisations meets in Krakow, Poland, let us redouble our efforts to support all journalists and editors facing reprisals.

David Walmsley is editor-in-chief of Canada’s Globe and Mail, and incoming president of the World Editors’ Forum of the World Association of News Publishers.

Photo: AFP with thanks