【7.21五年】從「襲擊事件」到「集體毆鬥」、「互相以暴易暴」——整理7.21事件的官方論調與法庭詮釋
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五年過去，不僅政府和警方對事件的定性改變，當事件被帶上法庭，法官的判詞亦再對當天的事情作出詮釋。

《獨媒》整理7.21事件後政府和警方的說法，以及至今已審結案件的判詞，當中政府就7.21的論調，由事發後的「襲擊事件」、「暴徒肆意襲擊手無寸鐵的市民」，在約一年間，改變為「有議員帶黑衣人衝入去」、「集體毆鬥」、雙方「勢均力敵、旗鼓相當」。

而翻查2021和2022年審結的兩宗「白衣人」案判詞，法官葉佐文曾形容屬「集體喪失理智的無差別襲擊」、引起巿民極大恐慌的「集體私刑」；暫委法官王興偉則拒納白衣人是「維權」，指屬「武裝結集」，但亦提及閘內黑衣人曾向白衣人進行「可被視作挑撥」的行為，「無疑令事件進一步惡化」。

及至林卓廷7人的「非白衣人」案於去年開審，控方開案陳詞稱黑衣人「挑釁」白衣人入閘內打架，又擲物、用消防喉射水等「襲擊」白衣人，白衣人在「多番挑釁下」開始衝入閘內，並因有人投擲垃圾桶蓋而走上月台施襲。

至於今年首名被裁定罪成的「非白衣人」，法官李慶年在判詞首度提到，7.21事件「第一階段」是有人網上呼籲光復元朗，「明顯煽動他人衝擊元朗圍村」；又指就7月22日凌晨朗和路及元朗站一帶，白衣人及黑衣人雙方均有參與暴動，「互相以暴易暴解決問題」，被告美其名「自衛」、「防止罪案」，實際亦是「暴民一分子」。雖然白衣人一方的暴力、使用武器和預謀程度都比非白衣人一方嚴重，但「非白衣人一方以武力還擊、以暴易暴，也要付出代價。」

Official narratives and court interpretations of the 7.21 incident have changed over five years. The government initially described it as an 'attack' on unarmed citizens but later shifted to 'collective brawl' with equal force on both sides. Court judgments referred to 'collective loss of rationality' and 'vigilante justice' by the white-clad individuals. The recent conviction highlighted the online instigation for reclaiming Yuen Long and mutual violence between white-clad and black-clad individuals. The verdict emphasized that resorting to violence and using force had consequences for both parties. #721Anniversary #YuenLong #CCPPropaganda #721YuenLongAttack

Selina Cheng, the current HKJA president, was dismissed by WSJ allegedly due to her presidency role. This event has raised concerns about press freedom and the challenges faced by journalists in Hong Kong. Cheng's situation underscores the complexities journalists encounter in the region.

Threats to press freedom by the Hong Kong government have far-reaching implications beyond the city, impacting international media coverage, global perceptions, trust in institutions, journalists' work, diaspora communities, and the global media landscape.

#HongKong #PressFreedom #HKJA #WSJDismissal