聲討中大校方禁止擺放民主女神聯署

　　中大校方於6月2日發出公開信，以「大學必須堅守政治中立原則」的理由，拒絕中大學生會將「新民主女神像」及相關展品擺放於中大校園，我們對此非常憤怒！

擺放雕塑才是彰顯言論自由
　　據校方的公開信內容，校方拒絕學生會的申請，是因為中大「有責任維護所有大學成員享有表達不同見解和持有不同立場的自由」。面對這種解釋，有基本智力的人都會懂得反問：擺放民主女神於中大校園，為何無端會限制了大學成員的表達自由？莫非僅僅一座有政治取態的雕塑，竟有法力阻止大學師生繼續討論六四的問題？十分明顯，雕塑不會窒礙討論，而且能激起討論。真正限制大學成員表達自由的，不是雕塑，而是校方的禁令。
　　眾所周知，六四是政治敏感的議題，大陸官方嚴厲封殺，不能公開談論，也無法見容於內地天羅地網的資訊封鎖。近年香港入境處多番拒絕民運人士來港，近日食環署與警方更以違反娛樂牌照條例為由，在時代廣場沒收新民主女神像，並拘捕一眾支聯會成員。這種情況說明，政府為收緊展示六四作品的空間，已到了堆砌罪名的地步。不容於政權的異見和表達方式，才是中大最需要，也最有責任維護的表達自由。這座雕塑如可擺放於中大，恰恰正能彰顯中大的言論自由和無畏於權貴的獨立精神。

政治中立邏輯混亂雙重標準
　　校方的公開信又指，「大學必須堅守政治中立的原則」。如果這種「政治中立」，指的是大學不應因為特定政治傾向，排斥某些教學和研究，限制某些言論的表達自由，我們當然絕對贊成。不過校方的說法卻是指，異見聲音的表達會限制其他人的自由，因此應該禁止。言論自由的價值，本來便在於維護異見聲音的表達。今天中大高層卻顛倒是非，為了維護他們口中的「言論自由」，竟然反過來要打壓異見。
　　其實所謂政治中立，也是一種政治立場。劉遵義上任校長以來，先後頒贈榮譽博士予劣跡斑班的董建華和唐英年；劉遵義本人也被大陸官方委任為全國政協，繼而走入特區政府的經濟機遇委員會，甚至當上行政會議成員。一邊歌功頌德，一邊遇上政權不喜的議題，便以中立為由絕口不提。這種雙重標準說明了中大校方的政治立場，其實就是以大陸官方的立場馬首是瞻。

「和諧」中大還有多遠？
　　為了迎合大陸官方的政治立場，中大高層已不惜揭破最後一層面紗，以邏輯混亂無人信服的說詞，禁止中大校園擺放新民主女神。更令人擔心的是，校方公開信還指，「如有行動或活動反映政治立場，而對大學政治中立的原則有損者，大學不應涉及」。若此例一開，以後一切「反映政治立場」的活動，中大校方皆有藉口阻止舉行。此舉不單嚴重限制學生自主，不單徹底葬送了中大的精神和氣象，更勢必連學術自由這條基本底線也一同拋棄。「和諧」的中大，距離我們還有多遠？
　　《神曲》的作者，意大利詩人但丁曾說，「地獄裡最熾熱的地方，是留給那些在出現重大道德危機時，仍要保持中立的人」。這句話不只適用於以劉遵義為首的中大高層，也適用於所有關心中大，擁護大學自主、言論自由和真理的人。中大高層倒行逆施，背棄大學堅持言論自由的基本道義，辜負六四死難者和在囚者為追求民主的犧牲。在這關頭，我們已再沒有沉默的理由。中大已容不下一張安靜的書桌！

我們要求：
一、中大行政與計劃委員會整體成員立即公開道歉
二、中大學生會可以決定擺放六四雕塑的時間和場地，校方不得阻撓
三、舉行公開論壇，交代中大校方所謂「政治中立」的原則，並表明對六四事件的立場

發起人：
中大學生會
中大學生報
劉遵義施政監察

The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who in times of great moral crises maintain their neutrality---

Petition against the Chinese University of Hong Kong's pohibition of displaying Statue of the Goddess of Democracy in campus

The CUHK issued a public letter to announce that the student union’s application to display a statue of the Goddess of Democracy and related items in the CUHK campus was rejected, by the reason of “political neutrality”. We are enraged!

Displaying the statue is the way to demonstrate freedom of expression

According to its public letter, the university maintained that “it is the duty of the University to respect and defend the freedom of all members of the University to express different opinions and to hold different positions”. Anyone with rationality can immediate rebut this disposition: How on earth can the member of the university be restricted to express their opinion by a display of the statue of Goddess of Democracy? Is the university suggesting that the statue is a magic token with power to prohibit the students and teachers of the university to discuss on issues about the 1989 democracy movement? It is obvious that the statue cannot hinder discussion, it promotes discussion. The true restriction of freedom of expression is placed by the university, not a statue.

It is well known that 1989 democracy movement is consider politically sensitive and is prohibited from mentioning in the mainland China. People cannot publicly discuss it, and its information is not allowed. In the recent years various democracy activists have been restricted from entering Hong Kong. Recently, the police have seized the statue of Goddess of Democracy while it was on display in Time Square, Causeway Bay, alleged its contravention to the “Place of Public Entertainment Ordinance”, a group of activist from the Alliance were arrested. These incidents show that the government has come to use false accusation to shut down channels of 1989 democracy movement related art works. Displaying the statue in the CUHK campus is the best way to “defend the freedom of all members of the University to express different opinions and to hold different positions”, from the political repression of the government.

The fussy logic and double standard of political neutrality

The university claimed it should to “re-affirm the principle of political neutrality” in the public letter. If this meant that the university shall not restrict teaching, research or expression by reason of political affiliation, we would have applauded. However, it was the university’s claim that dissentient voice would limit the freedom of others and should be prohibited. The fundamental value of the freedom of expression is the protection of the dissent. The university is reversing right and wrong to repress dissentient voice on the claim of freedom of expression.

The political stance of the CUHK should not be concealed by its claim of political neutrality. After Prof. Laurence Lau came to the position of Vice Chancellor, the university has awarded honorary Doctors to Tung Chee-haw and Henry Tang Ying Yen, infamous high officials of the Hong Kong government. Lau himself was appointed member of Nation PCC by the mainland China, and member of Executive Council by the Hong Kong government. The university was praising the regime and rejecting dissentient voice with the claim of political neutrality at the same time. Such double standard show clearly that has submitted itself to the regime of mainland China.

The “Harmonious Society” of CUHK is not far away

To adulate the official stance of the mainland China regime, the university has unveiled its crude repression without pretence of being rational or logical to restrict the display of the statue of Goddess of Democracy in the campus. Even worse, it was stated in its public letter that “the University should not align itself with actions or activities which project a political position that would compromise the University's principle of political neutrality”, which would mean that any campus activity reflecting a political position will be subject to the repression of the university. This is equivalent to bury the spirit and virtue of a university, and abandonment of academic freedom. The “harmonious society” is only one step away.

Doubtlessly, "the hottest places in hell are reserved for those who in times of great moral crisis maintain their neutrality". It is not only applicable for the high officials of the university headed by Prof. Laurence Lau; people caring for the CUHK, and those who embracing university autonomy, freedom of expression and truth should act now. Facing these perverse university high officials who betray freedom of expression, a basic virtue of a university, disgracing victims of the Tiananmen Square massacre and the arrested activists, we have no reason to remain silence. There’s no place for a being peaceful!

We demand:

1. All members of the university’s Administrative and Planning Committee to apologize publicly;

2. Endorsement of the student union’s application to display the statue of Goddess of Democracy, with no restriction on time and place;

3. The high officials to hold a public forum and give a clear account on the alleged principal of “political neutrality”, and the university’s stance on the Tiananmen Square massacre.

Originated by:

The Chinese University of Hong Kong Student Union

CU Student Press, the Chinese University of Hong Kong Student Union

Laurance Lau Monitor