A leading democrat from Macau, Au Kam San, has been arrested for allegedly collaborating with foreign forces to endanger national security. According to Macau’s police, Au had been in contact with an unnamed “anti-China organisation abroad” since 2022, providing the group with false and seditious information for public exhibitions overseas and online. The police statement also accused Au of seeking to incite hatred against Beijing, disrupt the 2024 election for Macau’s leader, and provoke hostile actions by foreign countries against Macau.
Au, 68, is a prominent democratic campaigner who served as a lawmaker in Macau’s legislature for nearly two decades before stepping down in 2021. He was one of the founders of several pro-democracy groups, including the New Macau Association, and had worked as a schoolteacher. Through the years, Au had championed democratic reforms and helped foster civil society initiatives in the tiny gambling hub.
The arrest comes as Macau further tightens its national security laws to align with those of China. Macau’s government has faced far less public scrutiny compared to Hong Kong, allowing authorities to enact sweeping national security laws as early as 2009. This law was amended in 2023 to bring Macau in line with similar laws in Hong Kong and China, bolstering the prevention of foreign interference.
Unlike Hong Kong, which has seen significant social movements challenge Chinese Communist Party rule, Macau’s democratic opposition has existed on the fringes amid tight Chinese control. While Hong Kong’s democrats have actively challenged Beijing’s attempts to ratchet up control, Macau’s government has maintained a relatively stable grip on power.
The arrest of Au Kam San raises concerns about the future of democracy in Macau. As a prominent democratic campaigner, Au had led protests and railed against opaque governance and rising social inequalities. His arrest may signal a further crackdown on dissent in Macau, potentially undermining the city’s autonomy and rights protections.