People yesterday marched in Taipei on the fourth anniversary of Hong Kong democracy protests against a Beijing-backed extradition bill.
This year’s event, with demonstrators marching from the front gates of National Taiwan University to the archway in front of Liberty Square, was themed “Going together against the wind,” which organizers said was meant to show that, despite difficulties, Hong Kongers were not giving up on their fight for democracy and freedom.
The event’s slogan “zai jian Hong Kong” (再見香港) had a double meaning, bidding farewell to the old Hong Kong, while expressing hope for it to rise again, the organizers said.
Photo: Liao Chen-huei, Taipei Times
Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Hung Shen-han (洪申翰) said that significant democracy movements in Hong Kong — observing and mourning the Tiananmen Square Massacre and the July 1 processions — were no longer possible in the territory.
The torch of Hong Kong’s democracy movement has been passed to Taiwan, along with the people who participated in the protests, Hung said, adding that he hopes Taiwan would continue such events.
“If we do not stand against such oppressions, then everyone will become a victim, and the democracy and freedom that we hold will be lost,” he said.
Taiwanese democracy advocate Lee Ming-che (李明哲), who was imprisoned in China for five years, also joined the procession and gave a short talk.
The protests against the extradition bill did not only affect Hong Kong, they affected the world, because Hong Kong’s protests formed the “front line” against Chinese hegemony, Lee said.
The front line demonstrated to the world that Beijing unilaterally disregarded a signed promise to allow Hong Kong to maintain its autonomous government for five decades, he said.
“Internally, such action is presented as the oppression of human rights, while to the international community, it is a blatant disregard of the world order,” he said.
The marchers in Taipei were there to send a message, Lee said.
“When you employ such brutality against Chinese, Hong Kongers and Tibetans, Taiwanese reject such methods, and we will defend the right to dignity in living our own lives,” he said.
Hong Kong groups at the march said that many who have participated in such events had been branded criminals for contravening Hong Kong’s National Security Law, but they are not afraid and would continue to protest in the territory or overseas.
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