HKSAAF -- 學術自由學者聯盟
* * * Signatory Campaign * * *
HKSAR Government owes Citizens the Duty to Resolve
the Pressing Political & Humanitarian Crisis Immediately
(中文版本 Chinese version)
* * * Signatory Campaign * * *
HKSAR Government owes Citizens the Duty to Resolve
the Pressing Political & Humanitarian Crisis Immediately
(中文版本 Chinese version)
The anti-government protests have entered its eighth month since this March. The goals of the protests have morphed from the anti-extradition bill to the demands for setting up an Independent commission of inquiry and full democracy, among others. The extremely sluggish responses of HKSAR and Beijing Government to the widely-backed five public demands, and their refusal to fulfill four of them, have fueled the intensity and violence of the conflicts throughout Hong Kong. The escalation of violence on the part of both police and protesters have entered a new phase in the last few days, triggered by the death of a HKUST student, which many believe has been directly or indirectly caused by the police's blocking of the timely rescue by an ambulance, among other factors. Last Sunday, the specially appointed overseas expert advisors on the current protests, have unanimously agreed that the powers and resources of the Independent Police Complaint Council (IPCC) are inadequate to probe the police conduct at demonstrations, and have to be strengthened to meet the task examining allegations against police. Those views have been fully supported by the Chair of the IPCC, who said the interim report of the IPCC will only come out as late as early 2020. Yesterday morning (Nov. 11), a policeman has unjustifiably fired live gunshot(s) at a bare-handed black-clad protester in Sai Wan Hoi, deepening the public distrust towards the police’s indiscriminate use of force and the political abyss of Hong Kong. Considering the above, we as the professionals and citizens dedicated to the well-being of Hong Kong, would make the following urgent calls:
The unaccountable responses of the Beijing and HKSAR Governments to the legitimate and widely-backed public demands, especially the set-up of an independent commission of inquiry, and the implementation of the anti-mask law invoked under the anachronistic Emergency Regulations Ordinance, have predominantly contributed to the present gaping public distrust of the Government and the escalation of violence. The HKSAR Government should be condemned for any further delay in the set-up of a truly independent commission to investigate the conflicts between the public and the police as well as the root causes of the anti-government protests.
The HKSAR Government should immediately announce that the sudden death of the HKUST student Mr. Chow Tze Lok be investigated by an independent commission of inquiry headed by a prestigious judge.
The palpable escalation of the police’s indiscriminate and disproportionate use of force has to stop immediately in order to de-escalate violence on the part of both the police and the militant protesters. The policeman who did the extremely controversial gun-shooting in Sai Wan Hoi should be released from duty immediately and await impartial investigation.
The reported entries of the police force and their use of tear gas in various university campuses should halt immediately, to avoid provoking further unnecessary conflicts and injuries at campuses and communities.
We solemnly call for all staff and student communities in the Hong Kong tertiary education sector to consider urging the Government to address the aforesaid demands as soon as possible by expressing this collective will through class boycott.
The unaccountable responses of the Beijing and HKSAR Governments to the legitimate and widely-backed public demands, especially the set-up of an independent commission of inquiry, and the implementation of the anti-mask law invoked under the anachronistic Emergency Regulations Ordinance, have predominantly contributed to the present gaping public distrust of the Government and the escalation of violence. The HKSAR Government should be condemned for any further delay in the set-up of a truly independent commission to investigate the conflicts between the public and the police as well as the root causes of the anti-government protests.
The HKSAR Government should immediately announce that the sudden death of the HKUST student Mr. Chow Tze Lok be investigated by an independent commission of inquiry headed by a prestigious judge.
The palpable escalation of the police’s indiscriminate and disproportionate use of force has to stop immediately in order to de-escalate violence on the part of both the police and the militant protesters. The policeman who did the extremely controversial gun-shooting in Sai Wan Hoi should be released from duty immediately and await impartial investigation.
The reported entries of the police force and their use of tear gas in various university campuses should halt immediately, to avoid provoking further unnecessary conflicts and injuries at campuses and communities.
We solemnly call for all staff and student communities in the Hong Kong tertiary education sector to consider urging the Government to address the aforesaid demands as soon as possible by expressing this collective will through class boycott.
No comments:
Post a Comment