Cardinal Zen: "Saddened by death of Szeto Wah, a champion of democracy"
Hong Kong (AsiaNews) - Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, bishop emeritus of Hong Kong, is saddened by the death of Szeto Wah, a "genuine and sincere person" whom the bishop had visited in hospital one week before his death January 2. Speaking to AsiaNews, Cardinal. Zen stressed his appreciation for "his insistence on defending and remembering the June 4 victims every year since 1989 in Hong Kong, a small land of freedom in China."
What happened June 4 and resumed the bishop, "symbolizes an error in the Chinese political system. If this error were corrected, the Chinese authorities could then be considered sincere in trying to improve the situation. " During each vigil in memory of Tiananmen, which is held in Victoria Park on the night of June 4, the Christians and the rest of the participants come together to commemorate the victims of the 1989 democratic movement and to ask the government to rehabilitate them.
Despite Szeto Wah’s death, continues the card. Zen, "his spirit remains with us. His leadership within the movement to defend the victims of June 4 will not be wasted. " Enthusiasm is a special characteristic of Christians: "He was a really sincere person. He always told the truth, no matter the interests at stake. We must learn from him. " The bishop also thanked the Lord for the grace of knowing him "and stressed the importance of his friendship Szeto.
Along with Martin Lee, a Catholic, he was a symbol of the democratic movement, "Given the wide participation of Catholics in the marches of 1989, Szeto expressed respect for the Church." Card. Zen then recalled his first encounter with the deceased at the time a teacher in the early seventies: it was not a meeting of pleasure, given that Szeto had protested authorities to the local Catholic over the management of their schools.
But at the same time, the Democratic icon expressed great appreciation for the assistance given by the then Bishop Francis Hsu to local teachers. In addition, attending the funeral of the Jesuit who had promoted the Credit Unions among workers and parishioners of Hong Kong, Szeto had prayed in church for some time: "He was a person who appreciated friendship. I remember him well. "
In the meantime the participation of Chinese dissidents at the democratic leader’s funeral remains in doubt. People like Wang Dan and Wuer Kaixi, both leaders of the 1989 student movement want to take part in a memorial service scheduled for January 29, but it is unlikely that the Beijing government will give them permission to enter the former British colony.
Speaking to the South China Morning Post, Wang said: "I just want to present my respects and leave." For Wuer "Now he is dead, and there is no visible progress in democracy in China. If they deny us entry, that would be inhumane ". A petition appeared on the Internet asking the central authorities to change position, but so far there has been no official response.
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07/01/2011
22/01/2005
