German Exchange Students Expressed Support for Hong Kong Protests: We cannot prioritize economic gain over humanitarian concern
On November 14 in Tuen Mun, Hong Kong police arrested many, among which two are exchange students from Germany.
One of them told a German Press that he had always been attentive to the happenings in Hong Kong. Right before the arrest, he was heading to a restaurant with the other German student. They put on face masks soon after the police discharged a huge amount of tear gas. The next minute they were surrounded and then arrested by the police, who intimidated them by wielding batons and accused them of hurling molotov cocktails.
Although the two reinterated that they were not protestors but exchange students from Germany, the police ignored their statement and had them interrogated for hours during detention. Police even cheered and celebrated for having arrested foreign students. The student interviewed bought his airticket to return to Germany once he was bailed.
He believed that it was fortunate for him to be born an European. Meanwhile, it is essential for Europe to shoulder responsibility for Hong Kong's situation. "We cannot prioritize economic gain over humanitarian concern."
Source: Stand News http://bit.ly/2rdo3mx
Japanese Student Caught in Police Arbitrary Arrests in Hong Kong:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/11965
Japanese Exchange Student Recounted Her Experience: We should not take freedom for granted
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/11984
#GlobalSupport #FreedomIsNotFree #Germany #StandWithHongKong
On November 14 in Tuen Mun, Hong Kong police arrested many, among which two are exchange students from Germany.
One of them told a German Press that he had always been attentive to the happenings in Hong Kong. Right before the arrest, he was heading to a restaurant with the other German student. They put on face masks soon after the police discharged a huge amount of tear gas. The next minute they were surrounded and then arrested by the police, who intimidated them by wielding batons and accused them of hurling molotov cocktails.
Although the two reinterated that they were not protestors but exchange students from Germany, the police ignored their statement and had them interrogated for hours during detention. Police even cheered and celebrated for having arrested foreign students. The student interviewed bought his airticket to return to Germany once he was bailed.
He believed that it was fortunate for him to be born an European. Meanwhile, it is essential for Europe to shoulder responsibility for Hong Kong's situation. "We cannot prioritize economic gain over humanitarian concern."
Source: Stand News http://bit.ly/2rdo3mx
Japanese Student Caught in Police Arbitrary Arrests in Hong Kong:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/11965
Japanese Exchange Student Recounted Her Experience: We should not take freedom for granted
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/11984
#GlobalSupport #FreedomIsNotFree #Germany #StandWithHongKong
Twitter Blocked Trump’s Account; Merkel Thinks it was a Problematic Approach; French Finance Minister: Internet Giants Threaten Democracy
The personal Twitter account of the US President Donald Trump has been permanently blocked. Leaders of various countries have successively spoken out on the incident. German Chancellor Angela Merkel stated through her spokesperson that the approach of Twitter is problematic, and believed that the measure, which limited the freedom of speech, should be based on the legal framework and the legislature, rather than, decided by the social media management. Michael McCormack, the Acting Prime Minister of Australia, also indicated that he disagrees with the censorship. However, opposition leaders expressed their supports on Twitter’s decision and believed that people who spread hatred and lies should lose their voicing platform.
Angela Merkel responded through her spokesperson Steffen Seibert that the freedom of speech is “the fundamental rights with core meanings”. “Limitations on the basic right must be based on law and complying with the framework defined by the legislator, instead of based on the decision made by the management of social media”. Seibert also said that social media operations have a great social responsibility for hate, incitement to violence and other speeches, which should not be ignored. The platform’s practices of making relevant speeches in the past few months were commendable.
Other European leaders also responded to this incident. French Finance Minister, Bruno Le Maire, indicated that a private entrepreneur should not decide whether to block an account. He was shocked by the action of Twitter blocking Trump’s account. He added internet giants bring threats to the US and democracy, and that countries and legislative council should take the responsibility to manage social media.
#US #UnitedStates #France #BrunoLeMaire #Germany #AngelaMerkel #SteffenSeibert #Australia #Twitter #FreedomOfSpeech #FreedomIsNotFree #Democracy #SocialMedia #AcountBlocked
Source from: The Stand News #Jan12
https://bit.ly/3982hEh
The personal Twitter account of the US President Donald Trump has been permanently blocked. Leaders of various countries have successively spoken out on the incident. German Chancellor Angela Merkel stated through her spokesperson that the approach of Twitter is problematic, and believed that the measure, which limited the freedom of speech, should be based on the legal framework and the legislature, rather than, decided by the social media management. Michael McCormack, the Acting Prime Minister of Australia, also indicated that he disagrees with the censorship. However, opposition leaders expressed their supports on Twitter’s decision and believed that people who spread hatred and lies should lose their voicing platform.
Angela Merkel responded through her spokesperson Steffen Seibert that the freedom of speech is “the fundamental rights with core meanings”. “Limitations on the basic right must be based on law and complying with the framework defined by the legislator, instead of based on the decision made by the management of social media”. Seibert also said that social media operations have a great social responsibility for hate, incitement to violence and other speeches, which should not be ignored. The platform’s practices of making relevant speeches in the past few months were commendable.
Other European leaders also responded to this incident. French Finance Minister, Bruno Le Maire, indicated that a private entrepreneur should not decide whether to block an account. He was shocked by the action of Twitter blocking Trump’s account. He added internet giants bring threats to the US and democracy, and that countries and legislative council should take the responsibility to manage social media.
#US #UnitedStates #France #BrunoLeMaire #Germany #AngelaMerkel #SteffenSeibert #Australia #Twitter #FreedomOfSpeech #FreedomIsNotFree #Democracy #SocialMedia #AcountBlocked
Source from: The Stand News #Jan12
https://bit.ly/3982hEh