
Drop the charges against Lee Cheuk Yan and other pro-democracy leaders in Hong Kong – ITUC - Asia Pacific
17 February 2021
ITUC - Asia Pacific expresses its solidarity
with Lee Cheuk Yan, General Secretary of the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade
Unions (HKCTU), as he stands trial for nine criminal charges filed against him
simply for exercising his freedom of speech, association, and peaceful assembly
during the pro-democracy and anti-police brutality protests in 2019. His trial
started yesterday, February 16th.
Shoya Yoshida, General Secretary of the ITUC - Asia
Pacific, said that all charges against Lee Cheuk Yan and other pro-democracy
leaders in Hong Kong must be dropped and all restrictions on freedom of speech,
freedom of assembly, freedom of association, the right to organise, and civil
law abuse of peaceful protesters must be stopped.
"Exercising civil and political rights is
not a crime. We support and stand firmly with HKCTU and the people of Hong Kong
in their unflagging fight for freedom and democracy."
Lee Cheuk Yan is a prominent leader not only in
the trade union and democratic movement in Hong Kong, but also in the
international trade union community.
#WeLoveFreedominHK #SolidarityWithHKUnion