Pax Christi International
Plantin en Moretuslei 174 B-2018 Antwerpen, Belgium/Belgique
International Secretariat
Tel (03) 235.36.40
Telefax (03) 235.07.48
Ref.: 14720PLE
Secrétariat International
Sir Douglas Hurd
Foreign Secretary of Britain Foreign and Commonwealth Office
London SW1A 2AH
Great Britain
Antwerp, 7 August 1990
Dear Sir,
As an international Catholic peace movement, Pax Christi emphasizes the importance of implementing both civil and political rights, and economic, social and cultural rights of each human being and of all peoples, in East and in West, in North and in South.
The International Secretariat has learned about the charges of the six democrats for using loud-hailer and collecting money during the marathon sit-in, in February, Hong Kong, to protest against the undemocratic political system envisaged in the Basic Law. Pax Christi emphasizes that freedom of expression is crucial in a society. Their right of expression through the use of loud-hailers should not be obstructed unless the public order is seriously affected.
I believe that it is unfair to prosecute the democrats with the laws which are considered to have been contravened the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and fail to keep the international commitment the British Government promised in the report handed to the Human Right Commission of the United Nations which set restrictions on the use of amplifier other than hand-held loud-hailers.
Pax Christi International regularly raises cases of serious or systematic abuses with the governments of the countries concerned and with the appropriate intergovernmental organs, such as the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.
I urge the British government to amend the ordinances which are incompatible with the international standard of human rights.
Sincerely,
Etienne
Jonghe
International Sécretary
International Catholic Peace Movement: National Sections in 4 continents / International Commissions: Human Rights; Security and Disarmament; East-West; North-South; Youth Forum; Peace Education; Peace Spirituality; Nonviolence; Faith, Dialogue & Reconciliation. Consultative status at the United Nations and the Council of Europe. Unesco Peace Education Prize 1983. UN Peace Messenger Award 1987. International President: G. Cardinal Danneels * Secretary-General: Etienne De Jonghe.
Telex 32675 Bavel B
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Mouvement international catholique pour la paix: sections nationales en 4 continents / Com- missions internationales: Droits de l'homme; Sécurité et Désarmement: Est-Quest; Nord- Sud; Forum des jeunes; Education à la paix; Spiritualité de la paix; Nonviolence; Foi, Dialogue & Réconciliation / Statut consultatif auprès de l'ONU et le Conseil de l'Europe Prix de l'Education à la Paix, Unesco 1983. Prix Messager de la Paix, ONU 1987. Président International: G. Cardinal Danneels * Secrétaire général; Etienne De Jongho.
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ASLK/CGER 001-0666092-69
GIRO/CCP 000-0002959-49