Posted June 21, 2019
Stop police brutality in Hong Kong! No extradition to China!
Lam Yik Fei for The New York Times
We, the undersigned organisations, are deeply concerned about the high-handed approach by the Hong Kong government in dealing with the recent mass protests against the proposed extradition bill.
We condemn the use of unprecedented excessive force by the Hong Kong police in dispersing and arresting protesters. The use of tear gas, pepper spray, rubber bullets and bean bag rounds, as well as beating up unarmed protesters have caused injuries to many. Such brutality is unacceptable.
Despite the massive peaceful demonstration on 9 June, the largest since the handover of Hong Kong to China, the Hong Kong government led by Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor continues to ignore the demands of the people. In fact, the refusal of the Hong Kong government to listen to the people’s demands and its insistence in pushing the extradition bill has ignited and expanded the protests.
In recent years, the shrinking of political space and the Hong Kong government’s increasingly aggressive behaviour in curtailing civil and political freedom has become a worrying trend in Hong Kong. Many political dissidents and activists have been targeted for arrests and selected prosecution with various allegations. The erosion of democratic freedom in Hong Kong also instils the fear that Hong Kong is losing its unique autonomy with the expansion of Beijing’s political control over the city. Deterioration of political freedom will definitely hinder efforts to tackle social inequalities in a city with a widening wealth gap.
Hong Kong is the only city in China which can still freely commemorate the June Fourth massacre. To protect Hong Kong autonomy is thus not only the concern of the people of Hong Kong but also of all the people of China.
We urge the government of Hong Kong to:
– withdraw the proposed extradition bill;
– stop the violence against peaceful protesters;
– stop the repression and persecution of political activists.
We stand with the people of Hong Kong and express our solidarity with their fight to defend their political freedom and autonomy.
Signed by,
1. Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM)
2. Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor, Malaysia
3. North South Initiative, Malaysia
4. Agora Society, Malaysia
5. Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas (JERIT), Malaysia
6. Liberasi, Malaysia
7. Socialist Alliance, Australia
8. Socialist Alternative, Australia
9. Australia Asia Workers Link
10. Fightback Aotearoa/Australia
11. Communist Party of Bangladesh (Marxist-Leninist), Bangladesh
12. Movimento Esquerda Socialista (MES) / Socialist Left Movement, Brazil
13. Cambodian Alliance of Trade Unions (CATU), Cambodia
14. Europe solidaire sans frontières (ESSF), France
15. Forum Arbeitswelten – Forum Worlds of Labour, Germany
16. Internationale Sozialistische Organisation (ISO), Germany
17. Centre for Workers Education, India
18. Worker’s Initiative, Kolkata, India
19. Radical Socialist, India
20. Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation, India
21. Jammu Kashmir Awami Workers Party
22. Working People Party (Partai Rakyat Pekerja), Indonesia
23. People’s Liberation Party (PPR), Indonesia
24. Lembaga Informasi Perburuhan Sedane (LIPS), Indonesia
25. Confederation of National Union (Konfederasi Serikat Nasional), Indonesia
26. Konfederasi Pergerakan Rakyat Indonesia (KPRI), Indonesia
27. Konfederasi Persatuan Buruh Indonesia (KPBI), Indonesia
28. National Network for Domestic Workers Advocacy (Jala PRT), Indonesia
29. RUMPUN, Indonesia
30. Japan Revolutionary Communist League (JRCL), Japan
31. Korea House for International Solidarity, Korea
32. Partido Revolucionario de los Trabajadores, Mexico
33. Labour Education Foundation, Pakistan
34. Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM), Philippines
35. Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (SENTRO), Philippines
36. Labor Education and Research Network (LEARN), Philippines
37. Kalipunan ng mga Kilusang Masa (KALIPUNAN) / Social Movements’ Coalition, Philippines
38. Coalition Against Trafficking in Women – Asia Pacific (CATW-AP)
39. Toupeira Vermelha, Portugal
40. Socialistiska Partiet, Sweden
41. Action for Democracy in Thailand (ACT4DEM)
42. Just Economy and Labor Institute, Thailand
43. New Isan Movement, Thailand
44. Socialist Resistance, UK
45. RS21, UK
46. Asian Solidarity Seminar
47. TheOwl, Hong Kong
48. Left 21, Hong Kong
49. Borderless Movement, Hong Kong
50. League of Social Democrats, Hong Kong
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This joint statement is initiated by Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM) and still open for endorsement. The list will be updated from time to time.
If your organisation would like to sign the joint solidarity statement, please e-mail: int.psm@gmail.com
This was originally published on June 14, 2019 in Think Left