Thailand sends activist Wong back to Hong Kong

A 19-year-old political activist who achieved global prominence when he helped spearhead massive pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong against China’s plan to restrict elections there in 2014 was barred from entering Thailand on Wednesday.

Joshua Wong arrived in Bangkok late Tuesday to give a talk at a university, but he was detained by Thai police after they received a request from Beijing to refuse him entry, according to a statement posted on Facebook by Demosisto, the political party Wong leads.

Wong was put on a flight to Hong Kong from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Thai immigration officials said they were reviewing the incident but denied detaining Wong. China’s foreign ministry said it was aware of the reports of his detention, but did not elaborate.

Wong had been invited by Chulalongkorn University to speak about a massacre of Thai students 40 years ago by the nation’s military rulers. In May, Wong was not permitted to enter Malaysia where was due to speak about his experiences as a political activist.

Read or Share this story: http://usat.ly/2e0ITgR

Powered by WPeMatico