Hong Kong campaigners, asylum seekers to demand US presidential pardon for Edward Snowden
Representatives of Socialist Action, League of Social Democrats and Refugee Union to march to US consulate to make their demand
Campaigners and asylum seekers in Hong Kong will call for a presidential pardon for whistle-blower Edward Snowden and demand better rights for asylum seekers in the city at a protest to take place on Sunday.
They will meet at Chater Garden in Central at 12 noon and march to the US consulate. The demonstration is organised by the Trotskyist group Socialist Action and supported by the League of Social Democrats and the Refugee Union.
“We would like to thank Snowden for acknowledging their help and also to raise Hong Kong awareness of refugee rights. Many asylum seekers have waited some 10 years to have their cases screened,” said Sally Tang Mei-ching, chairwoman of Socialist Action, an organisation that advocates asylum seeker rights in the city.
Hong Kong-based refugees will join the protest. “We are motivated by the belief that ordinary people around the world have benefited from Snowden’s disclosures, which have increased public awareness of the surveillance activities of the US and other states,” Refugee Union secretary general Peter Maina said.