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Koo Sze-yiu

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Koo Sze-yiu
古思堯
Koo in 2022
Born1949 (age 74–75)
Shekki, Chungshan, China
NationalityChina (Hong Kong)
China (Macau)
OccupationActivist
Years active1960s–present
Known forMultiple convictions over protests
Political partyMacao Federation of Trade Unions (until 1980s)
MovementBaodiao movement
Maoism (until 1989)
In this Chinese name, the family name is Koo.

Koo Sze-yiu (Chinese: 古思堯; born 1949), also known by his nickname "Long Beard" (長鬚), is a Hong Kong activist, known for being jailed for 12 times over his protests. A former Maoist, Koo became anti-communist after the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre.

Early life

Koo in 2008, opposing Macau national security legislation

Koo worked as an apprentice in a Macanese shipyard when young. He claimed to be a Maoist in his early years, joining the leftists to storm the Macau Government office, then a Portuguese colony, and clashed with the police in 12-3 incident in 1966.[1] He was a core member of Macao Federation of Trade Unions, but fled to Hong Kong after what he described as "betrayal" by colleagues.[2] Koo turned against the Chinese Communist Party after 1989 Tiananmen Square Crackdown on student activists demanding democracy in China, and urged for ending the one-party dictatorship.

Activism

Koo and Leung Kwok-hung in 2010

After 1989, Koo became committed to Hong Kong's social movements, showing up in different protests, including 1 July marches, and continued after the handover of Hong Kong in 1997. Koo was always seen to protest with Leung Kwok-hung, an ex-MP and also a left-wing activist,[3] and best known for carrying a handmade coffin to protests to show his disapproval of Beijing.[4]

As part of the Baodiao movement, he landed on the Senkaku Islands, or Diaoyutai Islands, on 15 August 2012.[5] During a televised press conference in Hong Kong two days later, Koo swore at a man behind him, telling him to "move over, diu nei lo mo" (企開啲啦，屌你老母),[6] which surprised audiences and became a local meme.[7]

Koo revealed having diagnosed with end-stage colorectal cancer before the march on 1 July 2020. Koo said he disagreed with violent clashes and Hong Kong independence movement, but admitted only radical acts could be effective as both Chinese and Hong Kong Governments no longer tolerate peaceful protests. Koo also called on youngsters not to give up even though jailed for marches and assemblies, saying the authorities should take the blame.[8]

Convictions and jail

Koo (left) and Avery Ng with the famous mock coffin in 2013

In 1998, Koo, along with Tsang Kin-shing, Leung Kwok-hung, and Lau Shan-ching, was fined $3,000 for disorder in public spaces over burning mock coffins during the visit by Jiang Zemin, paramount leader of China.

In 2000, Koo was jailed 14 days over two protests during Legislative Council proceedings.

In December 2008, Koo was accused of attacking guards of Legislative Council during protests against public offering of Link REIT, a real estate investment trust, and was jailed for 7 days after choosing not to pay the $2,000 fine.

On 18 February 2013, Koo was jailed for 9 months for desecrating the national and Hong Kong flags in protest at human rights abuses in China and the alleged murder of Li Wangyang.[9] The jail term was reduced to 4.5 months on appeal.[10] The same April, he was given a 4-month suspended sentence, reduced to 2 months on appeal, over attempt to burn the national flag at the Liaison Office.[10]

In 2016, Koo was sentenced to 6 weeks’ imprisonment for having burnt the Hong Kong flag during the annual July 1 march in 2015.[10] He celebrated his fifth jail sentence near the court.[11][12]

On 27 March 2018, Koo was jailed for the sixth time, after desecrating the Chinese and Hong Kong flags during a candle light vigil in memory of Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo in 2017, and during the Chinese National Day protest in 2017, and New Year march in 2018. He was sent to 2 months in jail before chanting "all hail democracy", "all hail human rights" and "say no to the Chinese Community Party".[13]

On 25 June 2019, Koo was jailed for 6 weeks after desecrating the Hong Kong flag by writing "Shameful Hong Kong Government" in protest against disqualifying Lau Siu-lai's MP seat, amounting to his seventh jail sentence.[14]

On 28 January 2021, Koo received his tenth jail sentence of 4 months after desecrating the Chinese flag by writing "white terror" and "fascist horror" and flying it upside down, to voice out support with 15 democrats charged with illegal assembly. He vowed in court to breach the National Security Law imposed by China.[15][16]

On 14 April 2021, just days after finishing his earlier jail term,[17] Koo was jailed for 5 months over illegal assemblies with Joshua Wong on 5 October 2019, the day Prohibition on Face Covering Regulation was enacted.[18]

Koo was again arrested on 4 February 2022, reportedly under the security law for suspected incitement of subversion, before his planned demonstration outside the Hong Kong Liaison Office to protest China's Winter Olympics and call attention to political activists behind bars.[19][20] Facing charge of attempting to commit a seditious act over a one-metre long coffin and a white flag with language including "down with the Chinese Communist Party" and "end one-party rule" found at his home, Koo was denied bail. Koo was jailed for 9 months after the judge found him guilty.[21]

Family

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Koo Sze-yiu.

Koo's wife and daughter lived in mainland China, and visited Koo in 2012.[22]

See also

References

  1. ^ "社運老將古思堯第十一次坐牢 宣稱為民主定會觸犯國安法". 自由亞洲電台. 2021-04-13. Archived from the original on 2022-02-04. Retrieved 2021-11-01.
  2. ^ "參與澳門騷亂反遭批鬥 古思堯：堅決擁共變反共". Archived from the original on 2017-01-07. Retrieved 2016-05-23.
  3. ^ "《蘋果日報》「隔牆有耳」專欄：《棺材戰士憎人遲到》". Archived from the original on 2007-07-13. Retrieved 2011-03-09.
  4. ^ "Hong Kong activist Koo Sze-yiu jailed for coffin protest plan". South China Morning Post. 2022-07-12. Retrieved 2022-09-17.
  5. ^ "Japan sends back Chinese activists in bid to defuse island row". Reuters. 2012-08-17. Retrieved 2022-09-17.
  6. ^ 17-8-2012 保釣行動委員會成員古思堯: 喂! 喂! 喂! 企開d啦屌你老母. YouTube. 17 August 2012. Archived from the original on 2020-09-25. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
  7. ^ BeeMedia. "[AM730 專欄] 吹脹80後 - 古思堯的保釣藝術". AM730 香港免費派發的報紙 (Online Edition of am730). Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
  8. ^ "【港版國安法】71歲古思堯患第四期直腸癌 無懼第8度坐監7.1上街反惡法". Apple Daily 蘋果日報 (in Chinese). 2020-06-30. Archived from the original on 2020-11-05. Retrieved 2020-10-22.
  9. ^ "Diaoyu Islands activist 'proudly' jailed for flag burning". South China Morning Post. 2013-02-08. Retrieved 2022-09-17.
  10. ^ a b c Tong, Elson (2017-12-29). "Veteran pro-democracy activist Koo Sze-yiu arrested again for alleged flag desecration". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. Retrieved 2022-09-17.
  11. ^ "「我係故意燒區旗」 古思堯拒認罪". 東方日報. 2015-11-16. Archived from the original on 2020-09-24. Retrieved 2020-04-08.
  12. ^ 鄧子盈 (2016-05-12). "燒區旗案 古思堯只認燒梁振英照片". 香港01. Retrieved 2016-05-12.
  13. ^ Standard, The (2018-03-28). "Activist jailed again for desecrating flags". The Standard. Retrieved 2022-09-17.
  14. ^ "古思堯侮辱區旗罪成第七度入獄 判監六星期". 立場新聞. 2019-06-25. Archived from the original on 2020-12-01. Retrieved 2020-04-08.
  15. ^ Chau, Candice (2021-01-28). "Veteran Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Koo Sze-yiu jailed for 4 months for desecrating Chinese national flag". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. Retrieved 2022-09-17.
  16. ^ "古思堯第十度侮辱國旗罪成 入獄4個月 庭上稱：若時機允許會故意違《國安法》". Inmedia. 2021-01-28.
  17. ^ "古思堯第10次出獄 6日後又判刑 「中國一日無民主 一日抗爭到底」". Apple Daily. 2021-04-07. Retrieved 2022-09-17.
  18. ^ Chau, Candice (2021-04-13). "Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong receives 4 month jail term over 2019 demo". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. Retrieved 2022-09-17.
  19. ^ Lee, Peter (2022-02-04). "Hong Kong national security police arrest veteran democracy activist on morning of planned Winter Olympics demo". Hong Kong Free Press. Retrieved 2022-11-08.
  20. ^ Lee, Peter (2022-02-04). "Hong Kong national security police arrest veteran democracy activist on morning of planned Winter Olympics demo". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. Retrieved 2022-09-17.
  21. ^ Ho, Kelly (2022-07-12). "Sedition law: 9 months jail for elderly Hong Kong activist who planned to protest 2022 Beijing Olympics". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. Retrieved 2022-09-17.
  22. ^ "古思堯﹕決心「撞散船都要搶灘」". Ming Pao. 2012-08-19. Retrieved 2022-09-17.
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