Hong Kong Government must stop indiscriminate and violent crackdown and guarantee freedom of assembly for demonstrations!

Tragedy struck in Hong Kong on October 1, the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. A fifth-grade secondary school boy participating in a demonstration was shot by police on the same day as the ‘Day of Mourning’ event, held in memory of those killed by state violence. According to the footage released, Hong Kong police fired the shot while confronting protesters, and the stricken student was seriously injured, requiring surgery to extract the bullet. In addition, the government-authorized violence by Hong Kong police is escalating, with police known to have fired warning shots with live ammunition. There has also been vivid testimony of the shame and horror of sexual abuse by the police force, and increased suspicion of murder after a 15-year-old girl was found drowned.

 

Police in Hong Kong have admitted to firing live ammunition but have not made any official apology. Rather, they labelled the protesters as ‘rioters’ and strongly insisted that police officers felt threatened surrounded by protesters. The incident is a shocking reminder of the indiscriminate suppression of protesters by Hong Kong police, which has been criticized steadily. The shooting of a teenager by Hong Kong police, who was hit in the chest just 3 centimeters away from his heart, was an aggressive act that no words could justify.

 

Gwangju civil society, including Gwangju citizens, Gwangju civic groups, and political parties, have past experience of both the oppression of public power and the associated fear, and have also fought for human rights through the candlelight assembly, the May 18 Democratic Uprising, and the 1987 June Struggle. We are seriously concerned about the violent crackdown by Hong Kong police, and urge the police to apologize immediately and investigate not only this incident but also various other acts of violence and suspicious deaths. In addition, we urge the Hong Kong police to stop the violent suppression of demonstrations and to guarantee citizens’ freedom of expression and freedom of demonstration.

 

Although Hong Kong’s administrative minister has officially presented the withdrawal of the repatriation law, Hong Kong citizens are determined to continue their protests, demanding the formal withdrawal of the repatriation law, an independent investigation into the police crackdown, the withdrawal of the label “rioter”, unconditional release and pardon of arrested protesters, and the direct election of the administrative minister. Despite the reduced size, many citizens are still actively joining to protest for Hong Kong’s future and democracy. Amid this situation, the freedom of expression and assembly of Hong Kong citizens is under severe suppression due to the excessive violent crackdown and ban on rallies and marches by the Hong Kong police. Since the June 9 protest of one million people, the number of demonstrators arrested by police has exceeded 2,500, and on the October 1st protest, a reported 66 were injured and 180 arrested. To date, Hong Kong police have indiscriminately cracked down on protesters by wielding batons and firing thousands of rubber bullets and tear gas, and responded excessively by firing water cannons and shooting warning shots with live ammunition following the dispatch of commandos. The intensifying protests are due to such overreaction by the police.

 

The government should no longer respond to the anger of Hong Kong citizens with violence. The Hong Kong and Chinese governments should face up to the reasons why citizens’ demands for democracy and human rights continue even following the withdrawal of the repatriation law, and listen to the voices of their citizens voluntarily coming out to the streets. The government also needs to swiftly respond to the “white terror” against the pan-democratic camp that led the rally as well as to unconditionally release and pardon the arrested protesters and begin an independent investigation over the police crackdown. In the process, the basic rights, freedom of expression and freedom of assembly should be guaranteed above all else.

 

Joshua Wong, the leading figure of the Umbrella Revolution, said: “The situation in Hong Kong is more difficult than in South Korea due to the different political system. I hope that the South Korean people and Korean politicians with experience fighting against the military government for democratization can speak out in support of Hong Kong.” Wang Dan, leader of the pro-democracy protests at Tiananmen Square in China, also appealed to Gwangju saying: “Today’s Hong Kong is Gwangju 39 years ago. Just as the international community expressed interest and support for the democratic uprising during Korea’s military dictatorship, now we hope that South Korea can show more attention and provide support to the democratic aspirations taking place in Hong Kong.”

 

Even if belated, Gwangju civil society wishes a swift recovery for all the injured, including the injured student, and expresses strong solidarity with the resistance of Hong Kong citizens for democracy and human rights.

 

2019. 10. 25.

Tentatively named “Gwangju Civil Society with Hong Kong Citizens”

 

Civic Groups & Foundation for Democratization Movement

 

Gwangju Conference on Human Rights (Siloam People, Gjwomenlink, Gwangju Welfare Sympathy Plus, Gwangju Human Rights Keeper ‘Hwal-Jjak’, Gwangju Citizens’ Community for Society without Academic Clique)

 

Gwangju Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination (Traffic Service Workers Union of Gwangju and Jeonnam, Muscular Dystrophy Association of Gwangju, Gwangju Human Rights Keeper ‘Hwal-Jjak’, Disabled Women Solidarity of Gwangju, Gwangju Disabled Family Welfare Association, Gwangju Association for the Education Rights for Disabilities, Gwangju Parents’ Network for People with Disabilities, Gwangju Center for Independent Living, Gwangju Welfare Association for Disabilities, Gwangju Nanum Center for Independent Living of Persons with Disabilities, Labor Party-Gwangju City, Siloam people, Oulim Center for Independent Living of Disabilities, Obang Center for Independent Living of Disabilities, Yegrina Welfare Center for Disabilities, Culture & Tourism Center for Disabilities, Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union-Gwangju Branch, Justice Party-Gwangju City, Korea Brain Disorder Association-Gwangju Branch, Hanmaum Center for Independent Living of Disabilities)

 

Gwangju Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination (Gwangju Women Workers Association, Gjwomenlink, Gwangju Women's Center, Gwangju Women's Human Rights Support Center, Disabled Women Solidarity of Gwangju, Gwangju Women's Hotline, Gwangju Women's Association, and Jeonnam Disabled Women Solidarity)

 

Gwangju Education Hope Network, The Civic Alliance for Supporting Female Forced Labor Victims, Bereaved Families Association of May 18 Democratic Patriots, May 18 Democratic Movement Victims Association, May 18 Confined and Injured Association, The May 18 Memorial Foundation, Gwangju-Jeonnam Democratic Movement Association, Gwangju-Jeonnam Solidarity Conference of National Democratic Martyrs Commemorate Organization, Gwangju April 19 Democratic Movement Memorial Association, Habsoo Yun Hanbong Memorial Association, Deulbul Martyr Memorial Association

 

Political Parties

Gwangju Basic Income Party, Labor Party-Gwangju City, Green Party-Gwangju City, Justice Party-Gwangju City