HK People Expressed Solidarity for the People of Palestine, Condemned Gaza Attacks

Solidarity shone brightest in Hong Kong this December 30.

With the continuous attacks that the Israeli government is launching against the people of Palestine in the Gaza Strip, international outrage poured and the Hong Kong people joined in this condemnation.

Two events happened today: one was a picket protest at the Israeli Consulate led by HK Legislator Leung Kwok Hung, and the other was the candle-light vigil at Chater Garden led by the Asia Pacific Students and Youth Association (ASA).

Picket at Admiralty

The ASA joined Leung Kwok Hung, also known as Long Hair, in the condemnation picket the latter held at the Israeli Consulate this afternoon.

The building security, however, was quick to stop us. But the stopping turned out for the good.

The picket was staged at the ground floor of the building where many fast food chains and shops were located. The whole duration of the program then drew crowds and onlookers, with a few even taking photos and even stopping by to listen.

Around 15 people were in the rally, including Eman Villanueva of the United Filipinos in Hong Kong (a Filipino migrant organization in Hong Kong) and Jackie Hung of the Justice and Peace Commission of the HK Catholic Diocese.

Long Hair condemned the Israeli government for intensifying its attacks on Gaza with the aim of taking over the strip of Palestinian land. He likewise condemned the US government for condoning this action while urging the Chinese government to take a stand.

The program was concluded with the burning of the Israeli flag and a face of outgoing US president George W. Bush.

Candle-Light Vigil at Chater Garden

The holiday rush did not stop people from all sectors and groups to join in the candle-light vigil tonight.

More than 30 people from various local and regional organizations in Hong Kong gathered at the Chater Garden to express their solidarity with the Palestinian people against the Israeli government's brutal attacks.

Among those present were Elizabeth Tang of the HK Confederation of Trade Unions, Rose Wu formerly with the HK Christian Institute, Sunita Suna of the World Student Christian Federation Asia Pacific and Long Hair. Other groups present were the Asian Centre for Progress of Peoples, Migrante International, Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants and Mission For Migrant Workers (HK) Society, International League of Peoples' Struggle Hong Kong (ILPS-HK), UNIFIL-HK, Filipino Migrant Workers Union and several Filipino migrant organizations, HKJP and HK Catholic Students Union as well as the activist group 8th Floor .

Several speakers expressed their indignation, one of whom was Chuiyung, a HK journalist who went to Gaza a few years ago. She explained that the bombings made by Israel were nothing new. She expressed her anger over the inhuman way Israel is treating the Palestinians and its ultimate plan to occupy the Gaza Strip.

Other speakers included Elizabeth Tang, Linda Noche of the ACPP, Long Hair and Eman Villanueva.

Elizabeth Tang expressed the HK people's continued solidarity with the Palestinian people and their outrage at the renewed attacks by Israel. Eman Villanueva likened the Gaza situation to that of Philippines that have struggled against many colonizers and countries who aimed to control the said country.

Long Hair once again condemned the bombings and said that this is an issue of occupation that the US-backed Israeli Zionists have been doing for the longest time. Jun Tellez of Migrante International read the ILPS statement on the said issue.

 

A moment of silence was observed for all those who have been killed, injured and left devastated by the Israeli government's attacks. The song "We Shall Overcome" was sung to close the program.

There was a vow among the many individuals and groups present in both programs to mount more actions and bring more people to express their solidarity with the Palestinian people as well as the intensification of the campaign against the atrocious attacks and planned invasion by Israel over Gaza.

Truly, solidarity brought people together. And Palestinian people will never be alone in their fight.
 

Download statement of  the Asian Students Association