Joshua Wong, a student leader who helped bring tens of thousands onto Hong Kong’s streets during pro-democracy protests in 2014, has been detained in Bangkok, Thailand, according to his political party.
Earlier this year, Wong launched a new political party — Demosist? — with the aim of winning representation in Hong Kong’s decision-making body, the Legislative Council so he could push his party’s pro-democracy agenda.
Wong was en route to a speaking engagement at a university in Thailand, said Nathan Law, president of Demosist?. A Thai student activist who was expected to meet him said Wong been detained at the Bangkok airport, Law told CNN. The activist said Thai authorities received a letter from the Chinese government regarding Wong’s visit.
The party has not heard from authorities there or the young man’s family.
CNN could not independently confirm the claim but has contacted Thai authorities.
A magistrates’ court in Hong Kong in August sentenced Wong to 80 hours of community service after he was convicted for taking part in a rally on September of 2014, in front of Hong Kong’s Central Government Offices. The rally sparked the two-month long Occupy Central demonstrations, also known as the Umbrella Movement.
At least four dissidents of Chinese origin were arrested or simply disappeared from Thailand in the past year, only to resurface in China under government custody.
