甘神父六天絕食

 

甘神父六天絕食

亞洲天主教新聞聯合會報導

 

 PRIEST FASTS FOR MAN JAILED IN CHINA FOR 1981 DEMOCRATIZATION BID

Catholic News Asia

 UCA NEWS

 Dispatch No.434

 December 30, 1987

HONG KONG

 

 

 HONG KONG (UCAN )-A six-day fast by a Catholic priest calling for the early release of a Hong Kong resident detained for six years in Guangzhou, China, has received support from twenty-two groups here.

 Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME) Father Francesco Mella, an Italian missioner, began the fast on Christmas Eve at his home, a small fishing boat in a typhoon shelter which he shares with another Italian priest.

 Representatives of the groups petitioned the Hong Kong branch of the New China News Agency (Xinhua -the Chinese government representative here)-and Hong Kong Government House Dec.29, requesting action to help the case.

 Lau Shan-ching, formerly a school teacher, was arrested in Guangzhou in December 1981.He received a 10-year prison sentence with three-year deprivation of political rights.

 He was charged with promoting counter-revolutionary activities in China.

 According to his friends, Lau went to China during the 1981 Christmas holidays. He visited families of several young people in Guangzhou who were detained for supporting activities to increase democracy in the country.

 In a letter to Xinhua, the groups asked assistance to enable their delegates to visit Lau in January at Muji Yun Number 3 Prison.

 They also requested Xinhua officials to arrange for them to meet with Guangzhou court officials, a trial to explore possibilities for judicial review of Lau's case, and a reduction in his sentence.

."Lau's father is very old and his physical and mental health has deteriorated because of his concern for his son and frequent travels to Guangzhou," the letter said. Only Lau's father has been allowed to visit the prison.

The letter appealed to China's Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office for more information on Lau's status.

 The Hong Kong government has a responsibility to protect Lau's freedom and rights as he is a resident, the groups said in a letter to Hong Kong Governor Sir David Wilson.

 The groups, including nine Catholic organizations, requested the Hong Kong government to ask China for an early release for Lau.

 The Catholic organizations include the Diocesan Justice and Peace Commission and the PIME Fathers Social Concern Group, Maryknoll Fathers Justice and Peace Committee, Federation of Catholic Students and Catholic Youth Council.

 Local groups hired a lawyer to request a review of Lau's sentence and reduce his term in March 1987. The lawyer received no reply.

 Sixteen of the 22 groups approached the Xinhua Dec.14 and requested its response by Christmas Day. The lack of a response led to Father Mella's fast.

 Father Mella, well-known in Hong Kong for helping the poor and homeless get better living conditions, has long sought Lau's release.

 His fast ended Dec.30. At an evening prayer service on Father Mella's boat, he cut a set of paper chains symbolizing the groups' hope for Lau's release. More than 20 people gathered to pledge their continued commitment.

 London-based Amnesty International recognized Lau as a prisoner of conscience in 1983, and asked the Chinese government to release him.

 The Democracy and Human Rights Movement began in Beijing in autumn 1978 and spread to other cities. People expressed their views on wall posters. Prolific poster writers formed groups and began publishing magazines.

 In March 1979, the Chinese government banned wall posters and journals "opposed to socialism and the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party. “Several activists were arrested.

 Other editors continued publication of their journals as private newsletters, and 29 formed the National Association of Democratic Journals in Guangzhou in October 1980.

 Twenty editors were arrested in spring 1981, and others the following summer. All were accused of "counter-revolutionary activity and several received long prison terms.

 The Hong Kong groups said "it is a bit too much to sentence Lau to 10 year's imprisonment "only because he "expressed his genuine concern for the future of democratization in the People's Republic of China."

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