Senator Jeff Merkley announced yesterday that the U.S. Senate has unanimously passed his bipartisan legislation that would ban the U.S. export of crowd control munitions and equipment to the Hong Kong Police Force for one year. The legislation, which is co-led by Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), follows documented reports by human rights groups that U.S.-made police equipment has been used by Hong Kong police to violate the human rights of peaceful protesters during Hong Kong’s ongoing pro-democracy demonstrations.<\/p>\n
“Today, the U.S. Senate sent a strong and bipartisan message that the United States will not be complicit in the Chinese authorities’ crackdown on pro-democracy protesters,” said Merkley. “Day after day, we are seeing peaceful protesters being subjected to state-sponsored oppression, violence, and human rights abuses for demonstrating in support of a democratic future for Hong Kong.<\/p>\n
La legislaci\u00f3n tambi\u00e9n est\u00e1 copatrocinada por los senadores Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Rick Scott (R-FL), Chris Coons (D-DE), Roger F. Wicker (R-MS), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), James M. Inhofe (R-OK), Kirsten E. Gillibrand (D-NY), Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Mike Braun (R-IN), Cory Gardner (R- CO) y Chris Van Hollen (D-MD).<\/p>\n
Desde junio, los residentes de Hong Kong han realizado manifestaciones p\u00fablicas con regularidad en apoyo de las reformas a favor de la democracia. En los \u00faltimos meses, la Polic\u00eda de Hong Kong ha tomado medidas en\u00e9rgicas contra los manifestantes cada vez con m\u00e1s fuerza.<\/p>\n