A Rally in Frankfurt Opposes Article 23 and Supports Freedom for the Hong Kong People

To support the 500,000 people who paraded through the streets of Hong Kong to protest against Article 23, the European branch of the Global Coalition Against Article 23 Legislation held activities next to St. Paul’s Church in Frankfurt, to raise the German people’s concern over the future of Hong Kong.

The German media published reports from different angles about the large-scale parade against Article 23 on July 1st, attracting the German people’s great attention. This time the activities held beside St. Paul’s Church gained support from over ten groups in Germany. Mr. Haven, Executive Chairman of the International Human Rights Association, expressed his opposition against Article 23. He called on the German government to oppose Article 23 because it would impede the freedom and democracy of Hong Kong. He said that the parade of half a million people exemplified the Hong Kong citizens’ concerted effort to oppose Beijing imposing its will on the region.

The Frankfurt branch of the Green Party, one of the leading parties in Germany, sent a congratulation letter to the assembly. The letter read, “Thousands of Hong Kong people paraded through the streets due to the possible limitation of their freedom. These people need our support as well as the help of the international community. We hope that the Hong Kong people’s protest, in particular the condemning voice outside China, can stop the Basic Law from being interfered with for the sake of Article 23.”

The German Falun Dafa Association also sent a representative to make a statement who, along with a spokesman from the International Organisation to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong, pointed out that Falun Gong is the primary target of Article 23. Thirty groups from China and Taiwan signed a petition. In December, 2002, at an earlier assembly to oppose Article 23, these thirty groups made a public statement.

Many German people have learned about the mass parade in Hong Kong on July 1st through the reports of the German Media. At this rally, they found out more about the persecutory nature of Article 23 and signed their names to oppose it.

Translated from Chinese at http://www.yuanming.net/articles/200307/22078.html