The International Young Democrat Union (IYDU), global alliance of centre-right youth organisations, condemns the new security law imposed on Hong Kong by the Beijing regime.
“This is a deplorable effort aimed at wiping out anti-government protests in Hong Kong, and in stark contrast to China’s commitements to the people of Hong Kong and to the international community,” says Bruno Kazuhiro, Chairman of IYDU.
The IYDU considers China’s action to be a clear violation of the Sino-British joint declaration and Hong Kong’s Basic Law. It is also inherently against the idea of ‘one country, two systems’.
“China has given the international community assurances that legislative autonomy, liberal democracy, freedom of speech and press, separation of powers, and the independence of judiciary are safeguarded in Hong Kong. This is a blatant violation of those commitments, and needs to provoke a strong counter-reaction from the international community,” says Syrila Makarezou, Treasurer of IYDU.
The IYDU calls on the UN to appoint a special envoy to monitor the situation in Hong Kong, and for targeted sanctions against those perpetrating human rights violations amids the new law.
“We stand in solidarity with the people of Hong Kong and the pro-democracy protesters. Many international actors, the European Union among them, have warned China do the consequences of enacting the new law. Now that it did, these warnings need to materialize,” says Michael Dust, Secretary General of IYDU.
The IYDU highlights that China’s actions in Hong Kong are not a domestic affair. Under the Sino-British agreement made before Britain handed the territory back to China in 1997, Beijing is tied by international commitments until the year 2047.
“Totalitarian China is a systemic rival to the international centre-right values, which are achored in freedom, democracy and the rule of law. It is high time we own up to this fact and act accordingly,” says Juho Mäki-Lohiluoma, Deputy Chairman of IYDU.
IYDU 