Occupy movement leader Joshua Wong has submitted a formal complaint to prison authorities, saying guards treated him “like a dog” by making him answer questions while being forced to squat naked.
Recently released from prison on bail, Wong and fellow activists Nathan Law, and Alex Chow, yesterday demonstrated outside the Correctional Service Department’s Wan Chai headquarters together with other activists pushing for prison reform.
Wong revealed he filed a formal complaint with the CSD about an incident at the Tung Tau correctional institution on October 16, a copy of which he uploaded to his Facebook page.
The 21-year-old said he was taken to a room by three prison guards, stripped naked and searched.
After the search was finished, the activist said he was made to squat on the ground and forced to look up at prison officers while they questioned him about his background.
“I felt insulted five minutes into the process. I think the order was unreasonable and went beyond the reasonable requirements of the general security procedure.”
“After the procedure was over, I asked the staff why I had to squat down to answer questions. They replied it was to see if I could use the squat toilet without any problems. I think that response was insufficient.”
“I agree prisoners need to undergo strip search procedures in correctional institutions and answer questions from correctional staff. However, I think being stripped naked, squatting on the ground and lifting your head to answer questions shows no respect for persons in custody, and also impairs their physical, mental, and psychological well-being.”
His complaint — which demands an investigation — was co-filed with four other inmates, who also say they suffered humiliation and abuse by prison authorities, the SCMP reported.
One of those complainants, the SCMP reported, said the three Occupy leaders were treated better than regular inmates, who were sometimes subjected to slapping and kicking during questioning.
Commissioner of Correctional Services Terence Lam Kwok-leung, has previously denied that the treatment described by Wong was practiced in Hong Kong’s prisons, RTHK reported.
Wong, Law, and Chow were convicted for unlawful assembly offences for their role in the protests which kicked off the 79-day Occupation movement.
Initially given non-custodial sentences, they were jailed in August after the government pushed for harsher penalties.
Wong and Law were released on bail pending appeal last month. Chow was released on bail on November 7.
Yesterday, Law also submitted a letter to prison authorities, calling for better food and education for inmates.
In a post on Facebook, he said that convicted prisoners, despite losing their freedom, should not lose their rights and dignity.
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