China Democratic League Statement on Supporting Hong Kong’s Freedom Movement
Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Senate version of the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act by a direct vote of 412:1.
Hong Kong, a modern and civilized metropolis, is now in a humanitarian crisis. 88% of Hong Kong people have suffered from tear gas poisoning. Hong Kong police have fired nearly 10,000 tear gas canisters, a fifth of which were fired at the Chinese University of Hong Kong last week. The excessive use of tear gas has turned Hong Kong into a city of chemical pollution.
Worse, bloodshed and repression are no longer just a nightmare but a reality.
Tonight, riot police blocked all exits to the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and now protesters are unable to leave. As tensions and police use of force escalate, we fear that protesters, most of whom are our younger generation, will face bloodshed and arrests.
Dear friends, you may be disturbed by scenes of violence on your television screen. However, we ask you to think about this for a moment. Violence breeds violence. The escalation in violence is undoubtedly due to the police’s excessive use of force on June 12, the inaction of law enforcement agencies after the Yuen Long gang attack on July 21, and the government’s continued refusal to respond to the Five Demands, which include the establishment of an independent commission of inquiry to investigate police brutality. As opinion polls reflect, this demand is supported by nearly 90% of the people, but Carrie Lam is firmly opposed to maintain the arrogance of police accused of abuse of power and violence.
No one wants to see a crackdown on Hong Kong Polytechnic University. But what is worrying is that since the current Commissioner of Police will retire on November 19, the police are emboldened to do bad things without the Commissioner of Police taking any responsibility.
Now, it is crucial to cool down the situation. We urge the Hong Kong government and Hong Kong police to reduce the deterioration of the situation and stop using any lethal force against protesters on site. We also urge the international community to join us in calling on the Hong Kong government to reduce the use of state violence and withdraw riot police from near campuses.
We call on all peaceful protesters in Hong Kong to stand with the students and staff of PolyU. We call on everyone committed to solidarity, peace and justice to support each other in any way possible and not to give up in the face of this crisis.
May glory and peace be with Hong Kong.
If you don’t explode in silence, you will die in silence. When the red terror of the Chinese Communist dictatorship is raging across the land of China, we should shoulder the historical mission and stand up bravely to say “no” to the executioners. In the face of persecution, fear is human nature. It is our unshirkable obligation to overcome the cowardice and excuses brought about by fear and defend basic human rights.
On June 4, 1989, a tragic massacre occurred in Beijing, and the democratic movement in mainland China suffered a huge setback. As a model for the Chinese world, Hong Kong has never stopped pursuing freedom and democracy. The annual 6.4 memorial party held in Victoria Park makes us understand that lies written in ink cannot cover up the facts written in blood. Hong Kong people have always been on the front line of the struggle.
History cannot be assumed and time cannot be turned back. We cannot imagine what Hong Kong would be like today if it had not been ravaged by the Chinese Communist regime. It is urgent to face up to the various problems facing Hong Kong today, and the tragedy of Hong Kong’s continuous regression of democracy, human rights, and rule of law under the coercion and inducement of the Chinese Communist regime, and to prescribe the right medicine for this.
October 15, 2019