Dissidents Change Tack, Call on People of Justice to Overthrow the CCP

Dissidents Change Tack, Call on People of Justice to Overthrow the CCP
Sydneysiders held a rally to commemorate the 34th anniversary of June 4 massacre. (Tom Yu/The Epoch Times)
6/5/2023
Updated:
6/6/2023
0:00

Dissidents gathering to remember the 34th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre and the fourth anniversary of Hong Kongers’ resistance have called on the forces of justice, both inside and outside China, to overthrow the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) dictatorship.

This is a step away from their previous rallies, which called on the CCP itself to redress the grievances of the massacre.

China expert Feng Chongyi, an associate professor at the University of Technology Sydney, told The Epoch Times that the time has come to overthrow the CCP.

“In 2018, Australia began to resist the CCP’s infiltration, with the support of the United States,” Feng said. “At the same time, the United States adopted a new national strategy that defined the CCP regime as a strategic opponent, an enemy. Therefore, from that time on, the Western world started to wake up to the undeclared war against the CCP.”

“The Cold War (of the Western world against the CCP) has already begun on all levels, including technology, economy, trade, investment, and intelligence. Such a new global change brings new opportunities and new hopes to the Chinese people.”

Sydneysiders marched to commemorate the 34th anniversary of the June 4 massacre. (Tom Yu/The Epoch Times)
Sydneysiders marched to commemorate the 34th anniversary of the June 4 massacre. (Tom Yu/The Epoch Times)

Feng said that Xi Jinping had engaged in the restoration of a totalitarian regime since he came to power.

“The economic interests of the middle class have been undermined by the de-coupling of the free world in Europe and the United States from China... The middle class has also joined the ranks of the unjust... In addition, other factions within the CCP, outside of Xi Jinping, have been ostracized and attacked,” he said.

“So this is a new opportunity. If all these forces unite, they will have the power to overthrow the tyranny of the CCP.”

Feng said that the democratic movement in China has never ended, no matter how difficult it was, and a new opportunity has finally arrived.

“The time has come to take down the communist regime,” he said firmly.

‘In a Free World, I Must Stand Up and Speak Out’

Dressed as Winnie the Pooh and standing in a model tank, one Chinese student stood out at the rally.

Aaron Chang, who attended the June 4 rally in Sydney for the first time, said he was trying to satirize Xi Jinping’s dream of becoming emperor with the costume.

“With Xi Jinping in power, the CCP’s rule is becoming more and more stringent,” he told The Epoch Times.

Aaron Chang spoke at the rally in Sydney on June 4, 2023. (Tom Yu/The Epoch Times)
Aaron Chang spoke at the rally in Sydney on June 4, 2023. (Tom Yu/The Epoch Times)
Chang, who admire students of Nanjing Media College who led the White Paper Revolution, said that he was inspired by these brave Chinese who are fighting for freedom and human rights.
The White Paper Revolution started after a fire in Urumqi, Xinjiang, on the night of Nov. 24, 2022, ignited public anger in China, with university students spearheading a white paper revolution, a symbol of silence, in protest of the CCP’s extreme pandemic prevention measures.
“They are gambling on their freedom, on their future, on everything they have to pursue and fight for their rights. I have no reason to hide behind in this safe place,” he said.

Hong Konger Calls Australia to Decouple from CCP

Meanwhile. Ms. Chan, a Hong Kong community representative, condemned the CCP’s use of the national security law to deprive Hong Kong of freedom. She called on Australia to stop all trade with the CCP.

“We should refuse to trade with them and should not buy goods from them,” Chan said at the rally.

“Please remember, every penny spent on [Chinese] goods is used to torture people and corrupt the world.”

On the eve of this year’s June-4 anniversary, Hong Kong police detained eight people, including activists and artists, a move that signals the city’s eroding freedom.

For decades, tens of thousands of Hongkongers held an annual candlelight vigil in Victoria Park each June 4 to commemorate the massacre. After Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law in 2019, however, many Hong Kong activists have since been silenced or jailed.

Sophie Tsai spoke at the rally in Sydney on June 4, 2023. (Tom Yu/The Epoch Times)
Sophie Tsai spoke at the rally in Sydney on June 4, 2023. (Tom Yu/The Epoch Times)

Sophie Tsai, a representative of Amnesty International Australia, called on the Australian government not to ignore the ongoing human rights abuses by the CCP because of economic interests.

“Since 1989, June 4 has not only been a day of remembrance but a day of protest against the CCP’s ongoing human rights abuses,” Tsai said.

“We should not stand idly by and ignore China’s human rights abuses and genocide while we enjoy the economic benefits of our largest trading partner.

“Australia is one of the founding nations of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. As a liberal democracy and a regional leader, we have an obligation to confront China’s human rights issues.”

Barrister Urges Australia to Implement Magnitsky Act

Sophie York, an Australian barrister, urged the Australian government to use the Magnitsky Act to punish human rights offenders.
In 2021, Australia passed the Autonomous Sanctions Amendment (Magnitsky-style and Other Thematic Sanctions) Act 2021, which gives the Australian government the power to impose special sanctions on foreign officials who violate human rights, engage in corrupt practices, or threaten Australia’s national security.
In March 2022, the Australian government used the Act for the first time, announcing sanctions against 39 Russians allegedly involved in corruption and in connection with the deaths of Magnitsky’s lawyers.
Sydneysiders held a candlelight memorial event in front of the Chinese Consulate to commemorate the 34th anniversary of June 4 Massacre. (Tom Yu/The Epoch Times)
Sydneysiders held a candlelight memorial event in front of the Chinese Consulate to commemorate the 34th anniversary of June 4 Massacre. (Tom Yu/The Epoch Times)