【Joshua Wong speaking to the Italian Senate】#意大利國會研討會演說 —— 呼籲世界在大學保衛戰一週年後與香港人站在同一陣線
中文、意大利文演說全文:https://www.patreon.com/posts/44167118
感謝開創未來基金會(Fondazione Farefuturo)邀請,讓我透過視像方式在意大利國會裡舉辦的研討會發言,呼籲世界繼續關注香港,與香港人站在同一陣線。
意大利作為絕無僅有參與一帶一路發展的國家,理應對中共打壓有更全面的理解,如今正值大學保衛戰一週年,以致大搜捕的時刻,當打壓更為嚴峻,香港更需要世界與我們同行。
為了讓各地朋友也能更了解香港狀況,我已在Patreon發佈當天演說的中文、英文和意大利文發言稿,盼望在如此困難的時勢裡,繼續讓世界知道我們未曾心息的反抗意志。
【The Value of Freedom: Burning Questions for Hong Kongers】
Good morning. I have the privilege today to share some of my thoughts and reflections about freedom, after taking part in social activism for eight years in Hong Kong. A movement calling for the withdrawal of the extradition law starting from last year had escalated into a demand for democracy and freedom. This city used to be prestigious for being the world’s most liberal economy, but now the infamous authoritarian government took away our freedom to election, freedom of assembly, freedom of expression and ideas.
Sometimes, we cannot avoid questioning the cause we are fighting for, the value of freedom. Despite a rather bleak prospect, why do we have to continue in this struggle? Why do we have to cherish freedom? What can we do to safeguard freedom at home and stay alert to attacks on freedom? In answering these questions, I hope to walk through three episodes in the previous year.
Turning to 2020, protests are not seen as frequently as they used to be on the media lens, partly because of the pandemic, but more importantly for the authoritarian rule. While the world is busy fighting the pandemic, our government took advantage of the virus to exert a tighter grip over our freedom. Putting the emergency laws in place, public assemblies in Hong Kong were banned. Most recently, a rally to support press freedom organized by journalists was also forbidden. While many people may ask if it is the end of street activism, ahead of us in the fight for freedom is another battleground: the court and the prison.
Freedom Fighters in Courtrooms and in Jail
Part of the huge cost incurred in the fight for freedom and democracy in Hong Kong is the increasing judicial casualties. As of today, more than 10 thousand people have been arrested since the movement broke out, more than a hundred of them are already locked up in prison. Among the 2,300 protestors who are prosecuted, 700 of them may be sentenced up to ten years for rioting charges.
Putting these figures into context, I wish to tell you what life is like, as a youngster in today’s Hong Kong. I was humbled by a lot of younger protestors and students whose exceptional maturity are demonstrated in courtrooms and in prison. What is thought to be normal university life is completely out of the question because very likely the neighbour next door or the roommate who cooked you lunch today will be thrown to jail on the next.
I do prison visits a few times a month to talk to activists who are facing criminal charges or serving sentences for their involvement in the movement. It is not just a routine of my political work, but it becomes my life as an activist. Since the movement, prison visits has also become the daily lives of many families.
But it is always an unpleasant experience passing through the iron gates one after one to enter the visitors’ room, speaking to someone who is deprived of liberty, for a selflessly noble cause. As an activist serving three brief jail terms, I understand that the banality of the four walls is not the most difficult to endure in jail. What is more unbearable is the control of thought and ideas in every single part of our daily routine enforced by the prison system. It will diminish your ability to think critically and the worst of it will persuade you to give up on what you are fighting for, if you have not prepared it well. Three years ago when I wrote on the first page of prison letters, which later turned into a publication called the ‘Unfree Speech’, I was alarmed at the environment of the prison cell. Those letters were written in a state in which freedom was deprived of and in which censorship was obvious. It brings us to question ourselves: other than physical constraints like prison bars, what makes us continue in the fight for freedom and democracy?
Mutual Support to activists behind-the-scene
The support for this movement is undiminished over these 17 months. There are many beautiful parts in the movement that continue to revitalise the ways we contribute to this city, instead of making money on our own in the so-called global financial centre. In particular, it is the fraternity, the mutual assistance among protestors that I cherished the most.
As more protestors are arrested, people offer help and assistance wholeheartedly -- we sit in court hearings even if we don’t know each other, and do frequent prison visits and write letters to protesters in detention. In major festivals and holidays, people gathered outside the prison to chant slogans so that they won’t feel alone and disconnected. This is the most touching part to me for I also experienced life in jail.
The cohesion, the connection and bonding among protestors are the cornerstone to the movement. At the same time, these virtues gave so much empowerment to the mass public who might not be able to fight bravely in the escalating protests. These scenes are not able to be captured by cameras, but I’m sure it is some of the most important parts of Hong Kong’s movement that I hope the world will remember.
I believe this mutual support transcends nationality or territory because the value of freedom does not alter in different places. More recently, Twelve Hongkong activists, all involved in the movement last year, were kidnapped by China’s coastal guard when fleeing to Taiwan for political refugee in late-August. All of them are now detained secretly in China, with the youngest aged only 16. We suspect they are under torture during detention and we call for help on the international level, putting up #SAVE12 campaign on twitter. In fact, how surprising it is to see people all over the world standing with the dozen detained protestors for the same cause. I’m moved by activists in Italy, who barely knew these Hong Kong activists, even took part in a hunger strike last month calling for immediate release of them. This form of interconnectivity keeps us in spirit and to continue our struggle to freedom and democracy.
Understanding Value of freedom in the university battle
A year ago on this day, Hong Kong was embroiled in burning clashes as the police besieged the Polytechnic University. It was a day we will not forget and this wound is still bleeding in the hearts of many Hong Kongers. A journalist stationed in the university at that time once told me that being at the scene could only remind him of the Tiananmen Square Massacre 31 years ago in Beijing. There was basically no exit except going for the dangerous sewage drains.
That day, thousands of people, old or young, flocked to districts close to the university before dawn, trying to rescue protestors trapped inside the campus. The reinforcements faced grave danger too, for police raided every corner of the small streets and alleys, arresting a lot of them. Among the 800+ arrested on a single day, 213 people were charged with rioting. For sure these people know there will be repercussions. It is the conscience driving them to take to the streets regardless of the danger, the conscience that we should stand up to brutality and authoritarianism, and ultimately to fight for freedoms that are guaranteed in our constitution. As my dear friend, Brian Leung once said, ‘’Hong Kong Belongs to Everyone Who Shares Its Pain’’. I believe the value of freedom is exemplified through our compassion to whom we love, so much that we are willing to sacrifice the freedom of our own.
Defending freedom behind the bars
No doubt there is a terrible price to pay in standing up to the Beijing and Hong Kong government. But after serving a few brief jail sentences and facing the continuing threat of harassment, I learnt to cherish the freedom I have for now, and I shall devote every bit what I have to strive for the freedom of those who have been ruthlessly denied.
The three episodes I shared with you today -- the courtroom, visiting prisoners and the battle of university continue to remind me of the fact that the fight for freedom has not ended yet. In the coming months, I will be facing a maximum of 5 years in jail for unauthorized assembly and up to one ridiculous year for wearing a mask in protest. But prison bars would never stop me from activism and thinking critically.
I only wish that during my absence, you can continue to stand with the people of Hong Kong, by following closely to the development, no matter the ill-fated election, the large-scale arrest under National Security Law or the twelve activists in China. To defy the greatest human rights abusers is the essential way to restore democracy of our generation, and the generation following us.
.................
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arresting 中文 在 By Candiicexx Facebook 的最佳解答
[婚禮業界聯合聲明]
近月,香港各處也充斥著催淚煙的氣味,無論大街小巷、商場食肆,或是屋村屋苑,甚至是婚禮場所,都無一倖免。撥開這一層白茫茫的霧霾𥚃頭,是市民的眼淚、市民的驚恐、市民的痛苦,甚至是市民的鮮血。
一直以來,我們婚禮界堅信及擁護香港的法治精神,但鑑於警察行為已經失控,出現大量濫權、濫捕、濫暴情況。相信這是我們,亦是你,更是大眾所不能接受的!
在良知的驅使下,即使我們如何努力地保持專業,也是很有限的,尤其是在警方濫捕及濫暴香港市民的同時,我們已經不能容許自己在婚禮上再給他們送上微笑祝福!縱使我們深信世上有好人壞人之分,警察也有所謂的黑與白之別,但我們更需要的,是公平、公正的去分辨服務對象!
因此,我們現在嚴正聲明:
在成立獨立調查委員會之前,所有警務人員的任何喜慶節目,一律不再接受預約!
以上是我們一班婚禮從業員的心聲,希望能為香港我們這個家,盡一點綿力;以及將一直以來的核心價值包括公平、努力、包容、相愛,好好保護下來。而且我們更希望,香港不同階層、不同行業、不同身份的左鄰右里,也可以一齊加入、一齊加油、一齊罷接警婚!
光復香港,時代革命
香港人,堅持!香港人,反抗!
2019年11月8日
#香港人 #反抗 #光復香港 #時代革命 #五大訴求 #缺一不可 #反送中文宣 #黃 #雨傘 #各行各業一起罷 #拒絕警暴 #我們一起罷 #你不配 #婚禮界 #良知 #黑白
Wedding Planner Industry
In recent months, the smell of tears has been everywhere in Hong Kong, regardless if on the streets, shopping malls, or housing estates.
Housing estates, even wedding venues, are not spared. Underneath the white mist, the public in panic suffers, shedding tears and blood.
Our wedding planner community has always believed and supported the rule of law in Hong Kong, but the police behaviour has been out of control.
There have been a lot of physical and verbal abuses and violence. These circumstances we the public will never accept.
Even if we work hard to maintain professionalism, our options are very limited, especially with the police as our conscience will not allow it.
At the same time that the police is indiscriminately arresting and violently harassing the people of Hong Kong, we do not bless these actions.
Even though we are convinced that there are good people and bad people in the world, the police also have the so-called black and white. But we will only provide service to those that are fair and balanced.
Therefore, we are now solemnly stating:
Before the establishment of the Independent Investigation Commission, any festive programs of all police officers will no longer be accepted!
The above is the voice of our wedding planner industry, hoping to make a little difference for our home in Hong Kong;
And the core values that have always been included are fairness, hard work, tolerance, and love, and these are well protected.
And we also hope that Hong Kong’s different sectors, different industries and different identities can also take the same position.
Join, refuel, and refuse the police wedding preparations together!
Liberate Hong Kong, the revolution of our times!
Hong Kong people, persist! Hong Kong people, resist!
8th November 2019
arresting 中文 在 By Candiicexx Facebook 的最佳解答
[婚禮業界聯合聲明]
近月,香港各處也充斥著催淚煙的氣味,無論大街小巷、商場食肆,或是屋村屋苑,甚至是婚禮場所,都無一倖免。撥開這一層白茫茫的霧霾𥚃頭,是市民的眼淚、市民的驚恐、市民的痛苦,甚至是市民的鮮血。
一直以來,我們婚禮界堅信及擁護香港的法治精神,但鑑於警察行為已經失控,出現大量濫權、濫捕、濫暴情況。相信這是我們,亦是你,更是大眾所不能接受的!
在良知的驅使下,即使我們如何努力地保持專業,也是很有限的,尤其是在警方濫捕及濫暴香港市民的同時,我們已經不能容許自己在婚禮上再給他們送上微笑祝福!縱使我們深信世上有好人壞人之分,警察也有所謂的黑與白之別,但我們更需要的,是公平、公正的去分辨服務對象!
因此,我們現在嚴正聲明:
在成立獨立調查委員會之前,所有警務人員的任何喜慶節目,一律不再接受預約!
以上是我們一班婚禮從業員的心聲,希望能為香港我們這個家,盡一點綿力;以及將一直以來的核心價值包括公平、努力、包容、相愛,好好保護下來。而且我們更希望,香港不同階層、不同行業、不同身份的左鄰右里,也可以一齊加入、一齊加油、一齊罷接警婚!
光復香港,時代革命
香港人,堅持!香港人,反抗!
2019年11月8日
#香港人 #反抗 #光復香港 #時代革命 #五大訴求 #缺一不可 #反送中文宣 #黃 #雨傘 #各行各業一起罷 #拒絕警暴 #我們一起罷 #你不配 #婚禮界 #良知 #黑白
Wedding Planner Industry
In recent months, the smell of tears has been everywhere in Hong Kong, regardless if on the streets, shopping malls, or housing estates.
Housing estates, even wedding venues, are not spared. Underneath the white mist, the public in panic suffers, shedding tears and blood.
Our wedding planner community has always believed and supported the rule of law in Hong Kong, but the police behaviour has been out of control.
There have been a lot of physical and verbal abuses and violence. These circumstances we the public will never accept.
Even if we work hard to maintain professionalism, our options are very limited, especially with the police as our conscience will not allow it.
At the same time that the police is indiscriminately arresting and violently harassing the people of Hong Kong, we do not bless these actions.
Even though we are convinced that there are good people and bad people in the world, the police also have the so-called black and white. But we will only provide service to those that are fair and balanced.
Therefore, we are now solemnly stating:
Before the establishment of the Independent Investigation Commission, any festive programs of all police officers will no longer be accepted!
The above is the voice of our wedding planner industry, hoping to make a little difference for our home in Hong Kong;
And the core values that have always been included are fairness, hard work, tolerance, and love, and these are well protected.
And we also hope that Hong Kong’s different sectors, different industries and different identities can also take the same position.
Join, refuel, and refuse the police wedding preparations together!
Liberate Hong Kong, the revolution of our times!
Hong Kong people, persist! Hong Kong people, resist!
8th November 2019
arresting 中文 在 這天斷食淨化身體,事半功倍!| Sadhguru (薩古魯) - YouTube 的推薦與評價
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