SCMP - Hong KongToday, 4:10 PM
Prominent Hong Kong lawyers have launched a worldwide petition in support of a “systematic” crackdown by Beijing of rights lawyers and activists in the mainland.
The petition, signed by 13 former chairmen of the Hong Kong Bar Association, denounced the “intimidating harassment” against fellow lawyers in the mainland. Among the signatories were barristers and leading pan-democrats Martin Lee Chu-ming and Audrey Eu Yuet-mee.
At least 228 rights lawyers, law firm employees and activists have been taken away, detained or had their movements restricted since the crackdown began on July 10, the China Human Rights Lawyers Concern Group says. State news agency Xinhua on Saturday published a “confession” from one of the detained lawyers who admitted wrongdoing.
Eu, also the Civic Party chairwoman, said anyone concerned with the rule of law in China will sign. “Human rights lawyers have been subject to all sorts of oppression for a very long time but the scale of it is really nationwide. The number is increasing and ongoing,” she said.
Top lawyers have called for the Hong Kong government to speak out against the arrests and detentions.
Solicitor Michael Vidler said: “I think it is upon the Hong Kong government also to raise an issue. We pride ourselves on our rule of law here. China holds itself out as having a rule of law. These actions appear to be an attack of the rule of law in China, specifically related to issues concerning lawyers. I suggest its incumbent for the Secretary for Justice to speak out.”
The lawyer’s petition called for China to “respect the constitutional rights” of all the detained lawyers and their clients, and to inform their families of their whereabouts, and “permit immediate access” to their legal representatives.
It also called for “unlawful and arbitrary” raids on lawyers and their offices to stop, and ensure that “justice is seen to be done, and any charges are properly tried by a judicial process that is open, fair and transparent.”
Anyone, anywhere in the world can sign the petition, which is posted on campaigning website Change.org at
https://www.change.org/p/government-of-prc-stop-harassing-lawyers-uphold...
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1841245/hong-kong-barristers-launch-worldwide-petition-against-beijing
