Australia: "Support Hong Kong, Oppose Article 23" Parade Held in Melbourne (Photos)

(Clearwisdom.net July 1^st) In order to support the July 1^st "Oppose Article 23, Return Power to the People" March organized by the Hong Kong Human Rights Front, a "Safeguard Hong Kong, Safeguard Conscience" rally was held on June 29áby the Against Article 23 Alliance in Melbourne, Australia. The procession gathered in front of the Chinese Consulate and marched for about one and a half hours, finally reaching Federal Plaza to hold a rally. Representatives from the Union of Christians, the Federation for a Democratic China and the Hong Kong Community gave moving speeches.

Mr. Luu Zhansuo from the Union of Christians expressed his opposition to Article 23. He pointed out that Article 23 is actually another version of China's "crime of being a counterrevolutionary." It is a malevolent law that suppresses all dissenters and a tool of totalitarian rule. Currently some Hong Kong people are going on hunger strikes to oppose the legislation. Mr. Luu enumerated a series of facts and numbers showing the persecution of Christians in China. He showed concern for Christians in Hong Kong and the situation they would face. He also mentioned that Hong Kong Archbishops such as Chen Rijun and Feng Zhihuo also openly expressed their opposition to Article 23. Mr. Luu called upon Christians in Australia, and everyone who loves freedom and democracy, to stand up and bravely express their opinions.

Representative of the Federation of Democratic China Mr. Yuan Jie expressed that the freedom of speech is a fundamental human right. He said that humans are different from animals because we have thoughts and feelings. So, the expression of one's thoughts and feelings is human nature, and no country, political party or organization can deprive people of this right. But in China, people do not have such a freedom. If people's speech does not conform to the Party's "guidelines," they may be imprisoned or even killed. In China, the government controls all news media. In order to maintain its totalitarian rule and cover up the officials' corruption, the Party stifles the democratic movement and throws dissenters into prisons, torturing them both physically and mentally. The Party deprives people of their freedom of speech, association and belief. The Party's actions are not only damaging the interests of the Chinese people, but also those of the world's people. The SARS outbreak is such an example. Hong Kong is a free and democratic community, and we support Hong Kong's return to Chinese rule, but we cannot accept the Chinese government breaking its promise, imposing Article 23 upon the people of Hong Kong, and taking away Hong Kong's democracy and freedom. We strongly oppose Article 23 and also hope that the whole world pays attention to the human rights situation in China.

Representative of the Hong Kong community Mr. Wing Tang said that though he lived in Australia, he could not escape the restriction of Article 23. Because the law stipulates: people inside Hong Kong, no matter which nationality they are (including visitors and people who pass through Hong Kong) will be under the jurisdiction of Article 23. Lesser offenses can be punished by seven years imprisonment, while the more serious punishments can be life imprisonment. A Hong Kong citizen, no matter where he or she lives, would be bound by the law and subject to extradition. Article 23 means that any speech the Hong Kong government regards as seditious can be found guilty, regardless of if the speech is in written, oral or electronic. People who make the speech would be found guilty, and those who hear it but do not turn in the offender would also be guilty. Moreover, the provisions confuse the definition of the country and the government. In a democratic and free country, people have the right to check and impeach members of government, but Article 23 stipulates that opposing the government is opposing the country.