Dear friends,
Asia Monitor Resource Centre supports Hong Kong civil society’s struggle for genuine universal suffrage and we stand by their demands. We strongly condemn the use of excessive violence by the police on the peaceful protesters on September 28, 2014.
The Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions (HKCTU) has called for international support of the democracy movement in Hong Kong.
Show your support - click on the links below, and sign the petition and spread the word:
http://www.hkctu.org.hk/web/en/online_petition.html?id=6
Follow our facebook, twitter, and newsletter for updates.
Thank you
In solidarity
Asia Monitor Resource Centre
Calling for international support for democracy in Hong Kong! #DemocracyNowHK
HONG KONG, a small dot on the map, is standing up against what is arguably the most capable and successful authoritarian regimes of our time - the Chinese Communist Party, and its representatives in the Hong Kong government. For days, citizens and students with nothing more than their bodies have been battling the city’s increasingly violent and brutal police force. Tear gas, anti-riot police, pepper spray have already been used on defenceless students and citizens, amongst other brutal violence. The Hong Kong Federation of Students have declared an indefinite class boycott for all universities in Hong Kong, and the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions have declared an indefinite strike across the city.
On September 28th, 2014, after a week of university students strike, students and the public have peacefully occupied the roads of Hong Kong’s governmental and financial districts, and to demand the Hong Kong and Chinese governments to renegotiate a truly democratic political reform that includ equal rights to vote and to nominate candidates for every citizen. The police, however, are cracking down heavily on these peaceful protestors, and illegal arrests have been made of key student leaders as well as members of parliament. Student leaders Joshua Wong, Lester Shum, Chow Wing-Hong have been detained without bail.
The people of Hong Kong have been fighting for a truly democratic system for decades. When the British handed Hong Kong back over to China in 1997, the Chinese government promised both in the Sino-British Joint Declaration and the mini constitution of Hong Kong (the Basic Law) that a democratic system eventually would be implemented in Hong Kong. After decades of delay and making excuses, in August this year, the Chinese government declared that the so-called democracy that Hong Kong would have is a system where Beijing will basically vet 2-3 candidates for voters to choose from. This outrageous decision is nothing more than an arrogant slap on the face of all those who value the right to self-determination and to truly democratic elections.
Last week, more than 13,000 university students boycotted classes and assembled everyday outside the government HQ. The resemblance to the 1989 Tiananmen Square student protests was striking, and no doubt unsettled the authorities. Students held peaceful rallies and public lectures, and demanded that the current Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying meet with. the students and the public. The Hong Kong government, however, refused to communicate. On the night of September 26, students and citizens attempted to go into the ’Civic Square’, a public space in front of the government HQ that had been arbitrarily sealed off by the police. The police used excessive violence and pepper spray to disperse the peaceful demonstrators, causing even more widespread outrage and prompting the launch of Occupy Central, a campaign of civil disobedience.
Please show that you are on the side of all that stands for human rights, freedom and democratic values, because in this battle between David and Goliath, this small but. defiant city cannot win without international support.
Hong Kong students and ppl will strive on even if it means facing the wrath of the Chinese and Hong Kong governments. If we succeed, this will be the first truly democratic political regime in the whole of authoritarian China. We are making history with every step we walk. Please walk with us.
李成康 Li Shing Hong, Samuel
Programme Coordinator
Asia Monitor Resource Centre
Dear friends,
Firstly, I apologise for the cross-posting.
We need international solidarity, please forward to friends in your country to mobilise support for the general strike starting from tomorrow in Hong Kong. I attached HKCTU’s statement.
Hong Kong students have initiated a student strike in last week for Hong Kong’s democratic reform. However, it has been severely and violently cracked down by the police, using teargas. Student leaders are still under detention. The Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions and the Hong Kong Professional Teachers’ Union are now calling for a general strike of all Hong Kong working people and teachers to support the democratic movement starting from tomorrow.
We are now seeking support from trade unions and civic groups in the whole world to support the general strike starting from tomorrow in Hong Kong. Hong Kong now is in a critical moment. We need your support very much.
What you can do:
1) Please issue a petition on supporting Hong Kong’s general strike in your and your organisation’s name and send to me.
2) Please take photo with a cardboard written supportive sentences and send the photos or links to me.
3) Please spread the message to all the people you know.
Thanks you very much and in solidarity.
Best regards,
Samuel