On this day in 2023, Chow Hang-tung’s candle was not extinguished

On May 18, 2023, the May 18 Foundation expressed its solidarity in the name of Gwangju by awarding Chow Hang-tung, a Hong Kong human rights lawyer who has fought against unjust powers and systems, the 2023 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights.

The 2023 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights winner, Chow Hang-tung, was unable to attend the award ceremony while she remains in detention.

The 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre, in which she was asked to remain silent, is now greeting its 34th anniversary.

Everyone should be treated as an individual human being, and everyone should be allowed to make their own decisions and have freedom of expression.

However, Chow Hang-tung and the people of Hong Kong now face the risk of being imprisoned for aspiring to democracy, fighting for human rights, and calling for the truth about the past because they are considered a threat to national security.

Hong Kong’s reality is another version of the May 18 Democratic Uprising that we experienced.

We hope that democracy and human rights are no longer threatened in Hong Kong, and we hope that Chow Hang-tung and other human rights defenders and democracy activists in Hong Kong who remain in detention will soon regain their freedom.

On June 4, 2023, we may not be able to see as many people in Hong Kong holding candles together as we have in years past, but we believe that the desire and determination for human rights and freedom deeply embedded in the hearts and minds of the people of Hong Kong is still alive.

We support your candles, dreams, and hopes, which will keep blazing.

Today’s Gwangju, who experienced May 18, will call out, remember, and stand in solidarity with the other names of May 18 that we have found.

Chow Hang-tung and the people of Hong Kong are not alone in their struggle, and Gwangju is cheering them on. The world is standing with them, as well.

June 1, 2023

The May 18 Foundation

2023年的今日，鄒幸彤的燭光仍未熄滅

      5‧18紀念基金會於5月18日向對抗不正當的權力與制度的香港人權律師鄒幸彤頒發了「2023光州人權獎」，以光州之名宣布與其同在之意志。

      2023光州人權獎獲獎者鄒幸彤目前身陷囹圄，未能出席頒獎典禮。而她被勒令緘默的「六四天安門事件」如今已屆滿34周年。

     每一個人作為一個人，須被珍重以待，被保障決定自我意志、發表自由言論的權利。然而目前鄒幸彤與香港民眾僅因對於民主的渴求、為人權而戰、催促查明過去真相的舉動，就被視為威脅國家安全的存在，面臨入囚或可能被判囚的危險。

香港的現況是另一個我們所經歷過的5.18。

我們期盼香港的民主與人權能獲保障，不再受到威脅；希望包含被囚禁的鄒幸彤在內，所有的香港人權擁護者、社會民主主義活動家能早日重獲自由。

2023年6月4日這一天也許見不到無數香港民眾如往年般齊聚一堂、舉著燭光的模樣，然而我們深信，香港民眾內心深處對於人權與自由的渴望與意志將點燃心中之火，永不熄滅。我們也將為這持續燃燒的燭光、夢想與希望加油喝采。

曾經歷過5.18的光州在今日要呼喚、記憶我們所面臨的另一個5.18，並且團結起來。

鄒幸彤與香港民眾的鬥爭絕不孤單，光州支持各位，世界各國民眾也與各位同在。

2023. 6. 4

5‧18紀念基金會