Joint solidarity statement: Stop police brutality in Hong Kong! No extradition to China!

July 3, 2019
Issue 
Hong Kong protests, 2019.

The following joint statement in solidarity with protesters in Hong Kong initiated by the Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM) has been supported by nearly 60 international organisations and parties.

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 June 9, 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. International Socialist Organisation, Aotearoa / New Zealand
  12. Communist Party of Bangladesh (Marxist-Leninist), Bangladesh
  13. Movimento Esquerda Socialista (MES) / Socialist Left Movement, Brazil
  14. Cambodian Alliance of Trade Unions (CATU), Cambodia
  15. Europe solidaire sans frontières (ESSF), France
  16. Nouveau Parti Anticapitaliste (NPA), France
  17. Forum Arbeitswelten – Forum Worlds of Labour, Germany
  18. Internationale Sozialistische Organisation (ISO), Germany
  19. Centre for Workers Education, India
  20. Worker’s Initiative, Kolkata, India
  21. Radical Socialist, India
  22. Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation, India
  23. Jammu Kashmir Awami Workers Party
  24. Working People Party (Partai Rakyat Pekerja), Indonesia
  25. People’s Liberation Party (PPR), Indonesia
  26. Lembaga Informasi Perburuhan Sedane (LIPS), Indonesia
  27. Confederation of National Union (Konfederasi Serikat Nasional), Indonesia
  28. Konfederasi Pergerakan Rakyat Indonesia (KPRI), Indonesia
  29. Konfederasi Persatuan Buruh Indonesia (KPBI), Indonesia
  30. National Network for Domestic Workers Advocacy (Jala PRT), Indonesia
  31. Perempuan Mahardhika, Indonesia
  32. RUMPUN, Indonesia
  33. Japan Revolutionary Communist League (JRCL), Japan
  34. Korea House for International Solidarity, Korea
  35. Partido Revolucionario de los Trabajadores, Mexico
  36. Labour Education Foundation, Pakistan
  37. Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM), Philippines
  38. Partido Manggagawa, Philippines
  39. Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (SENTRO), Philippines
  40. Labor Education and Research Network (LEARN), Philippines
  41. Kalipunan ng mga Kilusang Masa (KALIPUNAN) / Social Movements’ Coalition, Philippines
  42. MindanaOne Peoples’ Movement, Mindanao, Philippines
  43. Coalition Against Trafficking in Women – Asia Pacific (CATW-AP)
  44. Toupeira Vermelha, Portugal
  45. Community Action Network, Singapore
  46. Socialistiska Partiet, Sweden
  47. solidaritéS, Switzerland
  48. Action for Democracy in Thailand (ACT4DEM)
  49. Just Economy and Labor Institute, Thailand
  50. New Isan Movement, Thailand
  51. Socialist Resistance, UK
  52. RS21, UK
  53. Solidarity, USA
  54. Asian Solidarity Seminar
  55. TheOwl, Hong Kong
  56. Left 21, Hong Kong
  57. Borderless Movement, Hong Kong
  58. League of Social Democrats, Hong Kong

===========

Updates to the signatories can be found here.

If your organisation would like to sign the joint solidarity statement, please e-mail: int.psm@gmail.com

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