Read on Twitter
The Chinese government must reverse its decision to impose a national security law on Hong Kong. Imposing a CCP-drafted national security law in Hong Kong would mean stripping away any remaining human rights and fundamental freedoms of Hong Kong residents.
China’s national security laws systematically punishes peaceful protests & free expression in mainland. It& #39;s used against dissidents, activists, human rights lawyers, journalists, writers, NGO workers, labor organizers, Tibetans, Uyghurs. Anyone who criticizes the CCP or govt
Authorities frequently cite “endangering national security” as grounds for violating due process rights, such as right to legal counsel & right to a fair trial. Mainlanders can be disappeared into secret jails with no access to lawyer if accused of "endangering national security"
In 2019, Chinese authorities used national security crimes for activities such as NGO advocacy against discrimination, writing essays critical of the govt or commemorating 30th anniversary of Tiananmen Massacre, defending clients in court, and documenting human rights violations.
Armed with national security legislation, authorities have targeted civil society groups with perceived or actual ties to international civil society organisations, including receiving overseas funding or organizing joint activities with international NGOs.
Chinese authorities have prosecuted individuals for using overseas website servers or giving interviews to foreign media as “providing state secrets to foreign entities.”
Activists, lawyers, and their children and spouses have been banned from travelling overseas on the grounds it may “endanger national security.”
Emblematic cases showing the abuse of national security legislation in China include human rights lawyer #WangQuanzhang, pro-democracy dissident #QinYongmin, and deceased Nobel Peace Prize winner #LiuXiaobo.
Foreign nationals have been detained and charged with “endangering national security” crimes in China, such as Taiwanese human rights activist #LeeMingche, Swedish publisher #GuiMinhai, and Canadian citizens #MichaelKovrig, a former diplomat, and #MichaelSpavor, a consultant.
According to our database of prisoners of conscience, there are currently 47 jailed prisoners of conscience held in China on various charges related to “endangering national security.”
In 2019, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention found all the detentions of Chinese charged with “inciting subversion” and “subversion” it examined to be arbitrary. It warned Chinese govt that systematic use of arbitrary detention may constitute a crime against humanity.
The Chinese govt, in bypassing Hong Kong’s legislative process, is forcing upon Hong Kong a draconian legal regime. This could strip Hong Kong residents of their rights to freedom of expression, assembly & association, in violation of the Basic Law & intl human rights law.
In recent weeks, #HongKong and #Beijing authorities have taken advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic to infringe upon the rights of Hong Kong residents and the human rights situation in Hong Kong has deteriorated.
CHRD calls on the Chinese government to withdraw its draft “Decision” and to allow Hong Kong to enact its own laws to protect the security of Hong Kong residents, in line with international human rights standards.
The Chinese government must end its interference in the affairs of Hong Kong in violation of the Basic Law and ensure that the human rights of Hong Kong residents are fully respected.
The intl community must take necessary & appropriate actions to stop China’s violations of Basic Law. This includes enacting and implementing sanctions legislation targeting govt’s continuing & escalating violations of human rights in the mainland, Hong Kong, Tibet & Xinjiang.
