Five years have passed after the “Anti-extradition Bill” protests in Hong Kong in 2019. Many of my friends and former colleagues are in prison simply because they held demonstrations, assemblies and other pro-democracy activities. Many of them have been detained for several years before their trials.
There is no freedom of expression in Hong Kong anymore. I would like to warn everyone not to listen to what the Hong Kong and Chinese governments have been justifying all the arrests and detention of human rights activists in Hong Kong in the name of so-called “national security”. It has nothing to do with “national security” but it’s all about the Communist Chinese regime’s intent to maintain its authoritarian rule.
Even people trying to stage solo protests, commemorate June 4, posting information on social media about various human rights and democracy issues, or simply not listening to China’s national emblem would be considered “insulting China” or violating “national security” crimes. In such situations, how we can have any freedom of expression as the Chinese and Hong Kong governments still claim that they respect human rights?
The Hong Kong and Chinese governments always accuse others of “interfering with domestic affairs” whenever they are criticized. We should instead tell them that human rights are universal. People in Japan and other parts of the world have all the legitimate rights to pressure the Hong Kong government to release all political prisoners.
Now, while we commemorate the 5th anniversary of the Hong Kong protests, we call on everyone in Japan and other parts of the world to continue asking the Hong Kong government to stop persecuting its citizens and curbing freedom of expression in the name of “national security”.
Fight for Freedom! Stand with Hong Kong!
博德的疑惑 Patrick's Doubts 