June 2020

June 2020

PHOTO OF THE MONTH – Beijing, 30 June 2020: the top decision-making body of the Chinese legislature voted unanimously to adopt the Hong Kong national security legislation

Dear friend,

here we are with a recap from the Global Committee for the Rule of Law “Marco Pannella” for the month of June, but first let’s have a look at a press conference that we have organized and held in the Italian Senate on July 1st with the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) and their co-chairs Senators Lucio Malan and Roberto Rampi. The conference was held following the adoption on 30 June by China’s top body, the Standing Committee of China’s National People’s Congress, of the National Security Law for Hong Kong, with 162 votes in favor and zero contrary.

After the opening remarks of the two Senators and Laura Harth, a dozen lawmakers took the floor to speak up and outline the future initiatives to address the National Security Law and the dreadful campaign of sterilization hitting the Uyghurs in the Xinjiang region. Our President Giulio Terzi and Uyghur leader Dolkun Isa were amongst the key speakers.

The Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China was set up in early June. Aimed at creating a cross-party alliance among democratic countries, IPAC was welcomed by lawmakers from different states (the full list is here) and it has released a report (full version here) on Muslim minorities. Besides, our Honorary Member André Gattolin is co-chair of IPAC French chapter.

Back to early June, Norman Baker, former UK Deputy Home Secretary wrote this article on the contempt that China feel towards the Western way of life. In this regard, he believes that the only option that would prevent the Asian country from irreparably destroying our liberal democratic system and values is to hit back.

On the occasion of the 31st anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre of 4th of June, President of the World Uyghur Congress, Dolkun Isa, sent a message to the international community.

We are also glad to share with you the article of Armando Armas, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Assembly of Venezuela, who condemned the serious acts of violence perpetrated against the people of Hong Kong. Armas concludes his article leaving the reader with a question mark: is Hong Kong the new Tiananmen?

Armando Armas was also one of the recipients of a letter by Giulio Terzi to the President of the National Assembly of Venezuela Juan Gerardo Guaidó Marquéz. In his note, Amb. Terzi points out how the hopes and lessons that events in Venezuela might give a democratic boost to Latin America.

All the best

Matteo Angioli
Secretary general

Federica Donati
Researcher

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