Solidarity Message by Hon. Emily Lau on Sen. Leila de Lima’s Prize for Freedom award Former Member of the Hong Kong Legislative Council 28 July 2018
(An impassioned Lau points to the audience as she says, “Not just the Senator, but you, and you, and you!”)
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Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, it’s a real honor to be here at this very important occasion and I bring with me greetings from the Hong Kong people. As you all know, there are many Filipinos working in Hong Kong. And the relationship between Hong Kong and the Philippines is very deep. But a few days ago, when I told my friends that I would be coming to Manila, they said, “What? Are you sure? Are you gonna be ok?” I said, “Yes, I will be ok.” And of course, I speak as someone who is still not allowed to travel to mainland China. I have been banned from traveling to mainland China for almost 3 decades. So I know what tyrants are like. But I insist on coming here when I first heard that there is ceremony. I immediately put up my hand. I said I’m coming. (Applause) Thank you. Because last summer I came with two other members of the Women Caucus of the [Council of Asian] Liberals and Democrats to see the Senator. And we were fortunate enough to be allowed to go into the detention center and met her. And I asked her, I said, “Are you safe here?” She said, “No. Any time a death squad could come in and that would be it.” And of course all of our hearts dropped to the floor. And what has she done to deserve such treatment? In the Philippines, you used to have a reputation of fighting for democracy, human rights and the rule of law. How come in such a short time that reputation has been ruined? And somebody would say, what have you foreigners got to do it, why do you come here? I said, I don’t believe that people who go elsewhere to talk about human rights is interfering in other people’s business. Because that’s what Beijing said all the time. I said human rights transcend national boundaries and we all have a duty to speak out! (Applause) So we are not…we are foreigners, we are not coming to interfere in your business. We are just coming to defend human rights. And when there are violations happening everywhere, I think we all should do it, isn’t it? (Applause as audience collectively says “Yes!”) But my dear friends, I also know this saying: The people get the government they deserve. (Some laughter) There are many influential and powerful people in this room. I think your countrymen and countrywomen look to you to speak out too… (Applause) because some of them are scared. And if everyone is scared, then the tyrants will always get things their way. Not just the Senator, but you, and you, and you! (Applause and cheering) So my dear friends, I think it’s a time for reckoning. We all should understand the duty upon us not just to give the Senator justice and freedom, but to return it to the people of the Philippines! Good luck. Thank you. (Applause)
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