Stand with us in our quest for freedom

Eric Lobbecke

A wave of political persecution is under way in Hong Kong and our human rights and freedoms are on the brink of collapse. The world must not stay silent.

In the space of 30 hours across the weekend, thugs have assaulted protest organisers and the police have conducted mass arrests of pro-democracy politicians and activists, including me.

Our rights to protest have been shackled.

At the same time, the government appears to be testing public reaction to the idea that it might invoke antiquated emergency laws. That would give the chief executive far-reaching powers to censor the press, conduct large-scale arrests and in effect put parts of the city under martial law — all without the help of the People’s Liberation Army.

Meanwhile, Chinese troops and armoured vehicles are positioned near the Hong Kong border with the mainland, ready to roll into the territory “in 10 minutes” in the words of the Chinese military.

All these actions are intended to scare Hong Kongers into submission. But do the authorities real­ly think that we will shut up and stay silent, or that we will come out and fight?

We roundly condemn this cynical campaign of fear and the ossified Soviet-era rhetoric that brands us as being “paid agents of foreign powers”. Day by day, authorities are edging closer to exercising their last resort.

But the people will fight on because this struggle is for the future of Hong Kong. We do not want to see a Hong Kong that enjoys freedoms on paper but whose autonomous status conceals the workings of a totalitarian state.

It is for our future that young people are prepared to pay the ultimate price in their fight. Many protesters — teenagers, some still in high school — now carry their “last will and testament” in their bags before heading to the frontlines of the demonstrations. Their bid for freedom is written with their blood. Some have committed suicide, have been victims of police brutality, have been subject to savage and indiscriminate gang attacks.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam has alienated the youth by saying “they have no stake” in society. Rather, we turn the question back to her.

Who were the ones who did not give young people “a stake” in society?

Who barred young people, democratically elected candidates, from entering politics?

Who decided to ignore the will of the people and table the unpopular extradition bill in the first place?

The answer: an undemocratically selected government. The young, rather than being treated as future pillars of our society, have been denied any say when major decisions are made, though they will be the ones living with the consequences for longest.

The only way for stability to return is for Beijing to grant us free and fair elections in the city — one of the five demands made by the anti-extradition movement. They must present political reforms that include allowing us to choose our chief executive and to elect all members of our parliament, the Legislative Council. Universal suffrage was promised to Hong Kong under the “one country, two systems” principle.

Our anger is not just against the extradition bill itself; it is directed all the more against the undemocratic government that ignores the will of the people.

The international community can help the people of Hong Kong.

First, we ask that it put pressure on Beijing to withdraw the troops it has placed nearby. China will reap a whirlwind of condemnation if it sends tanks into our city. This would throw into question its willingness to uphold its bilateral agreements. It could lead to America revoking Hong Kong’s special status under US law.

There are some Beijing loyalists in the city who support sending in troops to quash our movement. Apparently they are willing to risk the death of Asia’s finance centre.

Second, the UN Security Council must make clear that the Chinese government should fully abide by the terms and spirit of the Sino-British Joint Declaration of 1984. We applaud the G7 leaders for backing our autonomy.

Third, we ask everyone to back calls for the Hong Kong government to launch an independent inquiry into the police use of excessive force. We also call for an end to sales of crowd-control equipment to the Hong Kong police, who have shown a bloodthirsty penchant for violence.

Finally, we urge politicians in America to support and pass the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act as soon as possible, to pay close attention to infringements of the “one country, two systems” principle and to impose sanctions on those who deny Hong Kongers their rights.

The arrests will not stop our determination. We have before us many more months of tears and suffering, as a looming purge threatens not only those who take to the streets but also across all business, education, healthcare and transport sectors.

The entire city stands in a united front against the government, but every day Lam’s administration fans the flames with threats. Her attempts at so-called dialogue convince nobody.

In any democracy, this level of resistance, across such a long period, would have finished the political career of a leader. But we do not live in a democracy yet.

Our city finds itself in an uncomfortable place: on the frontline between freedom and auto­cracy. But our backs are against the wall and if we are cowed by fear now, there won’t be another chance to speak out. Beyond the barricades we long to see a Hong Kong free from tyranny and a puppet government.

We long to have a home where civil freedoms are respected, where our children will not be subject to mass surveillance, abuse of human rights, political censorship and mass incarceration. We stand with all the free peoples of the world and hope you stand with us in our quest for justice and freedom.

Joshua Wong is the secretary-general of Demosisto. He was arrested on Friday for his role in the ongoing demonstrations and released on bail.