[liberationtech] What could we at Liberationtech do to help pro-democracy HK activists protest China's new security law?

[Robert Mathews (OSIA)]

On 5/26/20 6:00 AM, lt-request at lists.liberationtech.org wrote:
> From:
> Yosem Companys <ycompanys at gmail.com>
> Date:
> 5/25/20, 6:55 PM
>
> To:
> Eric FU <fujunscnu at gmail.com>
> CC:
> LT <lt at lists.liberationtech.org>
>
>
> Of course. But this is not a push model. Local actors have already
> asked for our help. They have asked we brainstorm ways in which
> Liberationtech could help them do things that have not been done in
> the past.
>

I present my apologies in advance for *this quick penning,* and for
presenting the following multi-dimensional content to the group -- in
the way that I estimate the content must be, and has been presented below.

The question in the 'subject-line' of the original message Yosem had
dispatched to the list read: "What could we at Liberationtech do to help
pro-democracy HK activists protest China's new security law?"  
Subsequently, Yosem shared more information in a message to Eric Fu,
stating, "They have asked we brainstorm ways in which Liberationtech
could help them do things that have not been done in the past."

To this, some clarification might benefit all.  WHAT is the problem "in
reality," that Liberationtech could assist brainstorm-on, and possibly
as a "crowd-resource"?   Is it, to reveal more effective ways of
"demonstrating" the opposition's position, or are there "other"
implied/undeclared objectives upon which a "brainstorming" must be had? 

I present the following open-source media reporting as a basis for
asking the aforementioned questions.  Permit me to further highlight the
issues "on the ground", as reported.

Since 9/11, police forces around the world have increasingly become
para-militarized.  Consequentially, in this and other instances, when
established instruments of "power-systems" meet/confront
citizens-on-the-street (as it has in Hong Kong), on such matters as the
seemingly 'inexorable' political condition there (as the *AFP* story
indicates below), the confrontations with Police forces will
increasingly become brutal and destructive.  But, this is NOT just a
post 9/11 condition, it is historical.  *(**Comments Continue below the
link)*

*Hong Kong police stamp out national anthem law protests*
AFP
27 MAY 2020
https://www.afp.com/en/news/15/hong-kong-police-stamp-out-national-anthem-law-protests-doc-1sa9dv7

--->

Also, considering that the U.S. State Department has "hurriedly
communicated" to US Congress that conditions in Hong Kong are no longer
tenable/in compliance with findings and declarations under "22 USC Ch.
66 - Subchapter 1 - Policy (United States-Hong Kong Policy)"  [
https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=/prelim@title22/chapter66&edition=prelim 
AND  
https://www.state.gov/prc-national-peoples-congress-proposal-on-hong-kong-national-security-legislation/
]  and therefore, recommending that the standing US policy be revoked,
only complicates matters *(enormously)* for ALL residents of Hong Kong.

Adjacently, in media reporting from the Sub-Continent, NDTV has noted
the sentiments of a Hotel Manager and a female protester as follows:

    /"I'm scared ... if you don't come out today, you'll never be able
    to come out. This is legislation that directly affects us," said
    Ryan Tsang, a hotel manager.//
    //
    /AND/
    //
    //"Although you're afraid inside your heart, you need to speak out,"
    said Chang, 29, a clerk and protester dressed in black with a helmet
    respirator and goggles in her backpack.//

    /

Street demonstrations aside, how are the residents of Hong Kong to
productively determine their future, and can they?  Is "showing-up" on
the street, the adequate measure to be taken?

*(**Comments Continue below the link)*

*Riot Police Deployed In Hong Kong Over Protests Against Chinese Anthem
Bill*
The anthem bill is set for a second reading on Wednesday and is expected
to become law next month.
NDTV
May 27, 2020 11:37 am IST
https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/riot-police-deployed-in-hong-kong-over-protests-against-chinese-anthem-bill-2235785

--->

Given the escalations we are witnessing, what is the strategy (if any)
of/for residents and their political future in Hong Kong?  What, if
anything, can Liberatontech do to support in that regard, is a question
that could - more concretely - be posed....  (personal view)...   
External to that, WHAT precisely must/can Liberationtech 'brainstorm',
and with what goal for Hong Kong in mind?

A few more recent open-source media reports that might bre more
informational for the membership....

*Hong Kong's richest man Li Ka-shing defends China's plans for security law*
CNN Digital Rebranding 2013
By Michelle Toh,
CNN Business
Updated 8:08 AM ET, Wed May 27, 2020
https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/27/business/li-ka-shing-hong-kong-intl-hnk/index.html

-->

*China's Hong Kong law set to bar foreign judges from national security
cases: sources*
Yew Lun Tian
REUTERS
MAY 26, 2020
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-parliament-hongkong-security/chinas-hong-kong-law-set-to-bar-foreign-judges-from-national-security-cases-sources-idUSKBN2321CW

BEIJING (Reuters) - Beijing’s planned national security legislation for
Hong Kong is set to block its foreign judges from handling national
security trials, people familiar with the matter said, which would
exacerbate concerns about the city’s judicial independence.
-- 
/Dr. Robert Mathews, D.Phil.
Principal Technologist &
//Distinguished Senior Research Scholar//
//Office of Scientific Inquiry & Applications (OSIA)//
//University of Hawai'i/
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.ghserv.net/pipermail/lt/attachments/20200527/6544396f/attachment.html>