Defending Freedom: Condemning Beijing’s Repression in Hong Kong and Calling for Global Action – A Statement by Global Alliance for Tibet & Persecuted Minorities

London|20th November 2024|GATPM

Defending Freedom: Condemning Beijing’s Repression in Hong Kong and Calling for Global Action – A Statement by Global Alliance for Tibet & Persecuted Minorities

The Global Alliance for Tibet & Persecuted Minorities (GATPM) unequivocally condemns the sentencing of pro-democracy leaders, activists, legislators, social workers, journalists, and academics in Hong Kong under the draconian National Security Law imposed by Beijing’s authoritarian regime. These individuals have been punished not for any crime, but for standing up for their fundamental rights and freedoms – values enshrined in the Sino-British Joint Declaration and international law.

Since the imposition of the National Security Law in 2020, the Chinese Communist Party has weaponised it to dismantle Hong Kong’s democratic institutions, silence dissent, and intimidate civil society. This law is not a tool for security but a weapon of repression, targeting anyone who dares to challenge Beijing’s tightening grip over the once-autonomous territory.

The sentencing of these courageous individuals is emblematic of a broader pattern of human rights abuses orchestrated by the Chinese government, both within and beyond its borders. From the genocide of Uyghurs in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (East Turkistan) to the repression of Tibetans in occupied-Tibet, Mongolians, and Falun Gong practitioners, and the bullying of Taiwan, China has consistently demonstrated a blatant disregard for human dignity, rule of law, and international norms.

Hong Kong is a stark warning to the world. The erosion of freedoms under the pretext of “national security” could become a template exported to other nations, undermining global human rights and democratic values. This cannot be tolerated.

We call on the UK Government to honour its historical and legal obligations under the Sino-British Joint Declaration by:

1. Imposing targeted sanctions against Hong Kong and Chinese officials responsible for human rights abuses.
2. Expanding safe haven policies to ensure that Hongkongers fleeing persecution have access to asylum and refuge in the UK and other democracies.
3. Demanding international accountability through the United Nations and other platforms for the deterioration of freedoms in Hong Kong.
4. Strengthening alliances with like-minded nations to counter Beijing’s authoritarian expansionism.

We urge the international community to adopt a united and robust approach to hold Beijing accountable for its violations and to protect the rights of Hong Kong’s people. The values of freedom, democracy, and justice demand nothing less.

The struggle of Hongkongers is not just their own – it is a fight for the universal principles of liberty and human dignity. The world must stand with them.