14 Sept - Amoy Plaza, Kowloon Bay, HK
This afternoon, a large crowd of mid-to-old-aged people holding the China flag gathered in the Amoy Plaza, signing the China national anthem. They argued with youngsters at the scene, and a fight broke out. Police officers arrived, but they only arrested youngsters outside the parking lot, allowing the mid-to-old-aged crowd to continue to protest inside the shopping mall. A old man dressed in red shirt ran away with his wife after attacking women in the mall.

Source: Kaiser @USP United Social Press

#USP #hongkong #antiextraditionlaw #5demandsnotoneless #extraditionlaw #freehongkong #5demands #revolutionofourtimes #USP20190914

#Newspaper

South Koreans support Hong Kong as they recall their own struggle for freedom

//Two hundred people in black marched from Seoul City Hall to the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in late November in support of the Hong Kong anti-Extradition Law Amendment Bill (anti- ELAB) Movement.

//They chanted slogans and held banners in Korean, English, and Chinese that read “We support Hong Kong Resistance”.

//“I stand with Hong Kong because their demands are fundamental human rights. And we believe the five demands are right,”

//South Korea has its own bloody history of democratic movements in the decades after the Korean War in the ’60s.

//“It saddens me to see citizens of Hong Kong getting hurt like what happened in Gwangju Uprising in 1980,” Kim sighs, a 57-year-old docent of the Asia Culture Center in Gwangju.

//“In both the Gwangju uprising and the anti-extradition bill movement, there is the suppression of democracy. Freedom of speech is violated and police officers do not face investigation for their brutality against protesters in Hong Kong,”

//“To help prevent a repeat of Gwangju history, some South Korean students have stood up to fight with Hong Kong,” Lim says, “And this is also why people in Gwangju support Hong Kong as well.”

//some South Koreans supporting Hong Kong’s democracy movement have also set up Lennon walls, mostly on campus, to encourage Hong Kong students studying in South Korea.

//“The saddest thing is that the students get hurt and die during their fight. I hope no one gets hurt any more […] I sincerely hope for the victory in Hong Kong,” said Bae Eun-sim, mother of Lee Han-yeol, who died after the June Democracy Movement of 1987.

//Despite strong resistance from Chinese students, a group of ordinary Korean citizens created a Facebook page, “Hong Kong Protest Lennon Wall in South Korea”, as a safer platform to express opinions and support the movement.

//While condemning vicious attacks on the physical Lennon Walls, the administrator stresses that they are not against any nationality and believe no discriminatory comments should be posted.

//Several other universities removing Lennon Walls on university campuses aroused suspicion about pressure from China.

//Students immediately responded to the measure and regarded it as further diminishing South Korea’s freedom of speech.

//“It is dubious. Some people think the South Korean media is being censored by pressure from pro-China groups,”

//“We ask Korean media to provide the public with in-depth reports that explain the root causes of the Hong Kong protest and its significance,” they say, “we would like to know the change in the social climate of Hong Kong after the 2019 Hong Kong local elections.”

Full article: HKFP, (4-May)

Further reading:
52 Korean Civil Society Organizations Denounce the Arrest of Pro-Democracy Figures by Hong Kong Police: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere"
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/19832
Support of Hongkongers' Pro-democracy Movement from Korea
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/16994
Korean supporters take a photo with "Five demands, not one less" gesture and post in #Instagram everyday
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/16155

#Korea #GlobalSupport #antiELAB #5demands #freedom #GwangjuUprising #LennoWall #Censorship #Democracy

Hong Kong's Pro-Democracy Movement Marks the Fourth-Year Anniversary

Today marks the fourth anniversary of the Pro-democracy anti-extradition bill movement in Hong Kong, which began with a massive demonstration of 1.03 million people taking to the streets.

On this day four years ago (June 9, 2019), the #CivilHumanRightsFront organized the "Defend Hong Kong, Protest against Extradition Bill" to express opposition to the proposed amendments to the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance, also known as the anti-extradition amendment bill (#AntiELAB). The amendments were set to be deliberated in the Legislative Council (#LegCo) on June 12. The protest garnered widespread support, with an estimated 1.03 million Hong Kong citizens participating.

However, the Hong Kong Police reported a much lower turnout, stating that only approximately 153,000 individuals joined the demonstration at Victoria Park, with a peak attendance of 240,000.

In response to the demonstration, the government issued a statement at 11 p.m. that evening, affirming its intention to proceed with the amendments. This refusal to heed public demands resulted in clashes between protesters and the local police force at the Legislative Council.

Subsequent weeks witnessed a series of demonstrations and confrontations, during which the Hong Kong police employed tactics such as tear gas, rubber bullets, beanbag rounds, and pepper ball guns. These actions were met with accusations of police brutality while the government denounced the protesters, labelling their actions as "black violence" and drawing parallels to a "colour revolution."

The Civil Human Rights Front later put forward five major demands:
1. The withdrawal of the extradition bill
2. The retraction of the "riot" designation
3. The release of arrested individuals
4. An independent investigation into alleged police misconduct
5. The resignation of Chief Executive Carrie Lam

From June 2019 to early 2020, the demonstrations and conflicts persisted, shaping the course of the pro-democracy movement.

Throughout the entirety of the pro-democracy movement, a total of 10,297 individuals were arrested. Up to now (June 9, 2023), over 70% (7,369 people) of the cases remain unresolved. This figure excludes over 800 individuals accused of more severe crimes, which were claimed to have further investigation. Consequently, nearly 6,500 people have yet to face formal charges.

As of December 31, 2022, 2,928 people have either undergone or are currently in the judicial process. Among them, 1,475 people have been convicted, 304 have signed behaviour bonds, six have been issued care or protection orders, and four have been found in contempt of court (in civil proceedings). Fifty-seven people had their charges withdrawn, 387 people were acquitted after trial, and the cases of the remaining individuals are still ongoing. Additionally, 25 people were released after receiving a warning from the police.

Source: The #Collective HK; #Jun09

https://www.facebook.com/100090517773995/posts/pfbid0xpvHFiy91jR5c6qkuXvn6FMD8mfwSYnKjGPvcajPWLUMEcE9dKoNQZDwMv4UTTTml/?mibextid=cr9u03

#CourtCaseStatistics #Arrested #5Demands #Fouryears #Jun09 #Jun12 #Review