Obama Urges Transparent Election in Hong Kong

Описание: Follow us on TWITTER:   / cnforbiddennews  
Like us on FACEBOOK:   / chinaforbiddennews  


Nov. 13 marks the 47th day of Occupy Central. While Communist Party leader Xi Jinping and U.S. President Barack Obama, both expressed differing views, the Occupy Central leaders also had their own ideas for their next moves. Let's take a look.

In a joint conference in Beijing on Nov. 12, Barack Obama and Xi Jinping respectively delivered a brief statement. In the following Q&A session, a U.S. reporter's question brought up the issue of Occupy Central.

Obama denied CCP's accusations that the U.S. was meddling in the Occupy Central. He said that the United States had no involvement in fostering the protests that took place, and these are issues ultimately for the people of Hong Kong and China to decide. Obama also described the views of the United States.

U.S. President, Barack Obama: "The United States, as a matter of foreign policy, but also a matter of our values, we are going to consistently speak out on the right of people to express themselves and encourage that the elections that take place in Hong Kong are transparent and fair, and reflective of the opinions of people there."

Hong Kong writer Zhang Chengjue: "Obama does not believe the United States are meddling in things. Spiritually, he is different from Xi Jinping, believing that the voice of the Hong Kong compatriots should be heard."

In his Q&A session, Xi Jinping initiated the comment on Occupy Central. He said the Occupy Central is illegal, and Beijing firmly supports the SAR government's decision. He again stressed that Hong Kong affairs are exclusively China's internal affairs and foreign countries should not interfere.

Zhang Chengjue: "From Beijing or Xi Jinping's point of view, civil disobedience is illegal. But, civil disobedience in Hong Kong or in a democratic society is not so outrageous. There is a difference in their values or cultural backgrounds."

Other than the huge different values between the U.S. and the CCP, the potential impact of Obama and Xi's talks about the Occupy Central is more of a concern to the public.

Commentator Liu Ruishao indicated, Xi Jinping's remarks could further worsen the situation and even procure irrational and violent clearing approaches of the SAR government.

The Hong Kong Legislative Council Sin Chung-kai believes Obama's concern would exert certain pressure on the CCP.

Sin Chung-kai: "Although the United States has not publicly pressured China much, I believe CCP has sensed the concern of the international community and would not conduct any act that is too outrageous."

At present, the Occupy Central is in between ‘exit’ and ‘upgrade’. The next moves are also affected by the decisions of the protest leaders.

According to Hong Kong's Ming Pao, the Occupy Central organizers are planning to surrender themselves on Nov. 21 to the police, demonstrating that the protest is not ignoring the rule of law.

The idea of surrender to the official was brought up by Occupy Central initiator Benny Tai. After the protest, the participants ought to surrender themselves to the law enforcement bodies.

Zhang Chengjue: "Accepting the legal judgment is a proper attitude to finish what one started and is a righteous form of conduct that should be recognized.”

Ming Pao also reported that some participants show reservations about the practice of surrender. Lester Shum, the deputy secretary-general of the Hong Kong Federation of Students, indicated that they are willing to bear the legal responsibility, but the recent rumor about ‘clearing sites’ has them ready
to be arrested. They also called on participants to comply their actions with the principle of civil disobedience.

The Federation is still considering the possibility of dialogue in Beijing. On the evening of Nov. 13, the Federation will conduct a meeting with the Legislative Council of the Pan-Democratic Camp and the Scholarism about the Beijing trip.



《神韵》2014世界巡演新亮点
http://www.ShenYunPerformingArts.org/