Statement: Carrie Lam's formal withdrawal of the bill does not mean the fight is over
What are the essential differences between the Bill being "Dead" and it being "Withdrawn"? Formal Withdrawn of the Bill does not mean the fight for Hong Kong's freedom is over. Our stance all these months has been clear - All five demands must be met, all demands must be met with equal importance.
Although the bill is finally formally withdrawn, the fight for Hong Kong's freedom has not ended. All five demands must be met, all demands must be met with equal importance
Many of our brothers and sisters have been arrested, many charged with rioting, which carries a maximum sentence of ten years of imprisonment under the Public Order Ordinance. The majority of the arrested individuals have been made arbitrarily. "Riots", "Assault of Police Officers", "Obstruction of Enforcement" and so on, yet they have just been punished with the nuisance of the Enforcement Procedure itself, instead of being treated fairly before the law.
As of 4th September, since 12th June:
- 1138 persons have been arrested
- 6 persons, requiescat in pace, have committed suicide because of the movement
- Over 2500 tear gas canisters deployed
- Over 500 beanbag rounds and other sorts of rounds were fired
- At least 2 persons have been shot in the eye
- Policemen have admitted and proven to have infiltrated as protestors, framing violent actions as Agents Provocateurs
As the Hong Kong SAR Government has decided to ignore the voices of the people and turn a blind eye to the misconduct of the Hong Kong Police Force. The Hong Kong government has infringed on the morals and principles of good governance and freedom of expression. The government, with the police as its agent, has displayed characteristics of a tyrannical regime, in their attempts to violently suppress the basic human rights of Hong Kong's residents. We are pleading to the international community for support and help in our fight against tyranny to preserve freedom and justice.
This one passage alone cannot describe the atrocities that have occurred over the past 3 months, however, the fight for Hong Kong is not over. The "One country, two systems" is a mere charade when the institutions and freedoms have been fully eroded by the Hong Kong Government.
Withdrawal of the bill will not simply solve our concerns.
There is no longer any trust in the current system. The Hong Kong government can simply reintroduce the bill back after the election. "Pocketing it First" was the slogan 5 years ago. It is the same method used to appease the public temporarily while working on a method to push unpopular agendas. Meeting one of the easier demands is a way for the Hong Kong government to buy time in order to crush the movement. Furthermore, the freedoms that Hong Kong citizens enjoy have now been fully eroded. They are not getting to the root of the problem which is the Hong Kong government is now in serious violations of human rights. Protesters are now demanding greater democracy and an inquiry into alleged police brutality during past demonstrations. They are calling for true universal suffrage to establish their democratic institutions.
In essence, “Withdrawal" is the same as "Death of the Bill" for the government. It has not changed a thing, but a play of words. It's a cry of wolf.
Therefore, we reiterate the four demands:
1) Set up an independent commission of inquiry into alleged police brutality
2) Withdraw the classification of ‘riot’ for 612
3) Release the arrested protesters and grant amnesty to political prisoners of this movement
4) Genuine universal suffrage in both Legislative and Executive elections
Our battle has not ended. Hong Kongers will continue our fight. Tragedy will simply repeat itself if the system stays unchanged. We are not giving up after these months of protests.
Five demands, not one less. No Compromises. Liberate Hong Kong. Revolution of our Times. Fight For Freedom. Stand With Hong Kong