【时代论坛讯】香港基督教教牧联署筹委会、教牧关怀团、Flow Church流堂，连同八十六位教牧及神学教育工作者，在六月十六日以「一群基督教教牧人员及神学教育工作者」的名义发起声明联署，强烈要求政府及警方撤回「暴动」指控，并对警方使用不合比例的武力对待和平示威人士、特首林郑月娥面对二百万市民作出「致歉」，予以最严厉的谴责。截至六月十八日下午，据香港基督教教牧联署筹委会成员透露，共有九百多人联署。整份联署以中英文刊登，全文：http://bit.ly/2IIKQLO
以个人身份联署的八十六位教牧及神学教育工作者，包括前循道卫理联合教会会长李鼎新牧师及袁天佑牧师、教会更新运动总干事胡志伟牧师、新福事工协会总干事梁友东牧师，亦包括多位本港神学院的老师，如香港中文大学崇基学院神学院邢福增院长、中国神学研究院副教授雷竞业牧师、建道神学院助理教授陈韦安博士等。
声明提及他们对政府与警察称呼六月十二日的警民冲突事件是「暴动」、称和平示威者是「暴徒」感到愤怒。他们认为政府在《逃犯条例》修订一事拒绝聆听及沟通市民声音，「反倒容许警方使用大量催泪弹、橡胶子弹、布袋弹，并毫无预告，无差别地射向大批和平示威的市民、学生，以及在场执行职责的传媒。更教人愤怒的是，警方什至使用不合比例的武力，殴打和平示威人士。」他们认为这些行径激起更大民愤及冲突。同时他们认为林郑月娥在接受传媒访问及记者会，一再表现出傲慢态度，对自身施政引发大规模的游行及示威的责任，仅以「沟通不足」来作推卸，以「暂缓」来作敷衍；对于警方无情镇压及伤害，丝毫没有歉意。声明对上述行径均予以最严厉的谴责。
声明强烈要求政府相关部门应立即撤回以「暴动」来定性「六一二」冲突，认为当局动辄以「暴动」等罪名起诉涉案人士而深感担忧。他们促请政府立即成立独立调查委员会，全面检视是次大规模示威及警民冲突的根本成因，特别就警方的部署行动，作全面检讨及追究相关责任。同时要求立即释放「六一二」冲突中被捕人士。他们亦希望香港市民，尤其是年轻人及学生，仍须珍惜生命，克尽己职，在不同位置上继续发声，并在灰心绝望中相信三一上帝的同在。
有关联署声明如下：
一群基督教教牧及神学教育工作者强烈要求当局撤回「暴动」指控的声明联署
我们是一群基督教教牧人员及神学教育工作者，对于香港政府及警方将6月12日在金钟、中环一带的和平示威者称为「暴徒」，并将是次警民冲突定性为「暴动」，我们深感愤怒，谨在此作如下公开呼吁及声明：
一、香港市民按《基本法》行使请愿及集会权利，应获充分保障。6月12日，大量市民集结在金钟一带，对特区政府罔顾百万游行市民的诉求，强行恢复在立法会二读「逃犯条例」（修订）之举，以和平示威方式表达不满。令人痛心的是，当局不仅拒绝聆听及沟通，反倒容许警方使用大量催泪弹、橡胶子弹、布袋弹，并毫无预告，无差别地射向大批和平示威的市民、学生，以及在场执行职责的传媒。更教人愤怒的是，警方什至使用不合比例的武力，殴打和平示威人士。有关行径，进一步激起更大民愤及冲突。对此，我们予以最严厉的谴责。
二、特首林郑月娥在6月12日接受电视台访问，以及6月15日的记者会上，一再表现出傲慢态度，对自身施政引发大规模的游行及示威的责任，仅以「沟通不足」来作推卸，以「暂缓」来作敷衍；对于警方无情镇压及伤害，丝毫没有歉意。古语有云：「民无信不立」（《论语．颜渊七》），政府强推条例、罔顾民意、暴力镇压、拒绝问责……管治威信已荡然无存，神人共愤。从政者没有躬身自省，却表现如斯狂傲；即使面对200万市民表达的明确诉求，仅作微不足道的「致歉」。对此，我们予以最严厉的谴责。
三、我们强烈要求，政府相关部门应立即撤回以「暴动」来定性「六一二」冲突。自2016年起，政府草率使用「暴动」来界定警民冲突，我们深以为忧。当局动辄以「暴动」等罪名起诉涉案人士，企图利用法律来严惩及威吓示威者，却未有反省为政者应有的责任，迴避自身在冲突中的角色。我们促请政府立即成立独立调查委员会，全面检视是次大规模示威及警民冲突的根本成因，特别就警方的部署行动，作全面检讨及追究相关责任。同时，我们要求立即释放「六一二」冲突中被捕人士。
四、对于香港市民，特别是年青人及学生，在近日为爱护这片热爱的土地的无私付出，以及各方彼此守望的崇高精神，我们深受感动。为政者不仁，但我们仍须珍惜生命，克尽己职，在不同位置上继续发声。在失望、灰心，什至感到绝望的时候，惟愿主耶稣的恩惠、天父的慈爱、圣灵的感动，常与我们同在。特别在此艰难时刻，与每一位爱护香港的人同在。「你要对他们说，主耶和华说：
我指着我的永生起誓，我断不喜悦恶人死亡，
惟喜悦恶人转离他所行的道而存活。
以色列家啊，你们回转，
回转离开恶道吧！何必死亡呢？」（以西结书卅三章11节）
一群基督教教牧人员及神学教育工作者
2019年6月16日
圣三一主日This is a joint statement urging the government to withdraw the "riot" accusation
We, a group of Christian pastors (and theological educators), hereby criticize the Hong Kong Government and the Hong Kong Police Force for calling the peaceful protestors "thugs", and declaring the 12 June clash as "riot".
(1) On June 12, a vast majority of demonstrators exercised their right of demonstration in accordance with Basic Law to protest against the SAR Government for defending for the extradition bill despite the "million-strong" march, and forcibly resuming the Second Reading of the Fugitive Offenders and Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Legislation (Amendment) Bill 2019 in the Legislative Council. However, the authorities not only refused to listen to public voices, but also allowed the police to fire tear gas, rubber bullets, and bean bags at the citizens, students and press without prior warning. The police used excessive force against the unarmed protestors, fuelling public anger and conflict. We condemn in the strongest term such brutal and unreasonable use of force on protestors by the police.
(2) In her interview on 12 June and press conference on 15 June, Carrie Lam arrogantly refused to take responsibility for the historic demonstration, and refused to apologize for the excessive police force used in suppressing civilians. There is a Chinese saying, "The government cannot stand without the public’s trust" ("The Analects. Yan Yuan"). The reputation of the Hong Kong Government is undoubtedly tarnished after the Government’s forceful push of the bill, indifference to the public backlash, excessive use of forces, and refusal to be held accountable. Nonetheless, the government officials remain stubborn and conceited. We therefore strongly condemn the Government for offering only an insincere apology without any promise to take action in response to the clear demands of 2 millions Hong Kong citizens.
(3) We strongly urge the Government to immediately withdraw the term "riot". Since 2016, the Government has been rashly using the term, "riots", to describe police-civilian conflicts, and we are deeply disturbed. The authorities have tried to intimidate demonstrators by prosecuting them with crimes such as "riot", and evading their own roles as authorities in the conflicts. We urge the Government to immediately set up an independent investigation committee to comprehensively examine the incident on 12 June, especially the police brutality and misconduct. Also, we demand the immediate release of the arrested civilians in the 12 June conflict.
(4) We are blessed by the selflessness and passion of Hong Kong people, especially the young generation, for our beautiful city. Even though the authorities are not benevolent, we continue to stand on dignity and respect. May the grace of Jesus, the love of the Father and the touch of the Holy Spirit be with us in our deepest discouragement and despair. Let us be united at this difficult time.
"Say to them, 'As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?'" (Ezekiel 33:11).
A group of pastors (and theological educators)
16 June, 2019
Holy Trinity Sunday
