"Intentional attacks against civilians are war crimes and those who have ordered them or carried them out are criminally responsible for their actions,” Michelle Bachelet, the United Nation's Human Rights Chief

These are the times that try Hong Kong Lovers of Freedom souls to paraphrase Paine.

As we have seen over the course of the summer and now early fall, a sizable segment of Hong Kong is calling on the U.S. to be the example, warts and all, it has been over 243 years as a beacon of freedom that cherishes and upholds the values of universal fundamental rights.

There are those who have said the United States can not be a stakeholder in this issue. However, the Land of the Free is still the place and ideal that people look to for the answer of what is freedom and how it is exercised, cherished, and upheld and protected by a democratic republic. Now is the time to show the strength of that idea and practice.

Two very forceful rebukes can address the current situation in Hong Kong: 

1) Pass the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act 2019.

2) Please review the following for inclusion to the Global Magnitsky Act List for failure to uphold or admonish and indict those who have failed to uphold Articles 25, 26, 27, 30, 31, 35, 39, and 41 of the Fundamental Rights Clause of Hong Kong Basic Law which has lead to human rights abuse through indiscriminate targeting of the Hong Kong populace.

Those who should be reviewed:

1) Carrie Lam (Chief Exec) 2) Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah (Secretary for Justice) 3) John Lee Ka-chiu (Secretary for Security) 4) Stephen Lo Wai-chung(Commissioner of Police) 5) Andrew Leung (LegCo President) 6) Junius Ho (LegCo) 7) Regina Ip (Non-official member of HKEC)  8) Fanny Law (Non-official member of HKEC) 9) Bernard Charnwut Chan (Non-official member of HKEC) 10) Laura Cha (Non-official member of HKEC) 11) Arthur Li (Non-official member of HKEC) 12) Chow Chung-kong (Non-official member of HKEC) 13) Jeffrey Lam (Non-official member of HKEC) 14) Tommy Cheung (Non-official member of HKEC) 15) Ip Kwok-him (Non-official member of HKEC) 14) Martin Liao (Non-official member of HKEC) 15) Joseph Yam (Non-official member of HKEC) 16) Ronny Tong (Non-official member of HKEC) 17) Wong Kwok-kin (Non-official member of HKEC) 18) Lam Ching-choi (Non-official member of HKEC) 19) Kenneth Lau (Non-official member of HKEC) 20) Cheung Kwok-kwan (Non-official member of HKEC) Mr Rex Auyeung Pak-kuen (MTR non-Exec Chairman) 21) Jacob Kam Chak-pui, (MTR CEO) 22) Dr Pamela Chan Wong Shui (MTR Corporate Responsibility Member) 23) Walter Chan Kar-lok (MTR Corporate Responsibility Member) 24) Zhang Xiaoming (Dir. HK/Macau Affairs Office) 25) Alan Lau Yip-shing (Deputy Commissioner HKPF) 26) Matthew Cheung, Chief Secretary for Administration 27) Leung Chun-ying (Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference)

Here are some of their failures:

1) Restricting freedom of movement of the public and press by Hong Kong Police when permits for publicly assemble are not required. Attacks on press have escalated during the crisis affecting local and foreign correspondents. Veby Mega Indah, an associate editor for Suara Hong Kong News, a newspaper for Indonesians working in Hong Kong, lost sight in her right eye because she was struck by a projectile shot during HKPF actions on 9/29/19.

2) The Hong Kong Police Force which has used indiscriminate terror tactics on the general public and school children sometimes simply for wearing a black t-shirt.

A young woman on August 11th was caught between protestors and police on Nathan road near the Tsim Shim Tsui police station. She was hit in her right eye that according to eyewitnesses and local media was a beanbag round whereas police have said it was unclear.

Her injury which may affect her future vision has been turned into a potent, inspirational symbol of rage and support.

The other is the bloody viral image of an attack on a teen on 8/31 at Prince Edward MTR train station who was bludgeoned and terrorized by those who swore to serve and protect his rights.

Attacks and arrests of teens at school and in public. 

3) Demeaning slandering language directed to the protestors, young women especially, that young comfort girls have been given to the freedom protestors. The assertion was made with unconfirmed sources but shows great disdain and condescension to the future generation of Hong Kong's women and men.

4) Sexual abuse/assault of female detainees as well as brutality towards others incarcerated at San Uk Ling Holding Center. Lawyers were denied entry in August to San Uk Ling, so what is the current mental and physical condition of these women? Have loved ones been able to see them?

5) Condition of detainees: Rumors of police abuse currently run rampant in Hong Kong so what is the current physical and psychological condition of those being detained? What are the charges against them and what is their expected release date? Does it amount to unlawful arrest? Have they been provided legal counsel if they can't afford it? Have their loved ones been able to see them? Have those who have died at the hands of the police because of their stand for Freedom had their police records expunged so their families won't live in fear of reprisals?

6) When will a truly independent inquiry into police abuse convene? Bodies of victims of HPKF brutality have ended up in various parts of Hong Kong's waters. A recent tragic case was the body of a 15 year-old teen, Chan Yin-lam, found in the waters near Devil's Peak.

7) The lack of true Universal Suffrage needs to be reinstated to address the loss of moral authority of the Hong Kong Executive Council to lead.

This rebuke of inaction, tacit or explicit, and condoning of human rights abuses will be a loud call of support to those in Hong Kong who want their fundamental legal rights upheld, a clause in Hong Kong Basic Law, and a stop to the madness that has become their new normal.

There have been other petitions since the start of summer supporting the fight for HK's Freedom, and others that need to be started, so petition fatigue may have set in in some quarters, so deep thanks to you for signing.

It was recently announced that some 400 noted academics were forming a petition as well on HK Human Rights abuses. However, shouts from the heart that love freedom and are willing to support and defend it anywhere can be more impactful than intellectual protestations or rationalizations against abuse. 

Reviewing and adding those responsible for Human Rights abuses in Hong Kong to the Global Magnitsky list is a powerful step towards justice for those abused.

Don't let Hong Kong or Freedom down,

 

Publius Sensum Communem, Spartacus Ronin, and with Lovers of Freedom and Hong Kong