Do you want to know the truth?

On the 18 December, late in the evening, I found in my fax machine a press release by our Diocese Commission for Labour Affairs, Justice and Peace Commission and other two Asian-pacific catholic organizations, it strongly protests against the arrest of hundreds of anti-WTO protesters, brought to unknown destination and treated with no respect for human rights.
I could not agree more with the content of the communique and rushed to meet our people of the two commissions, who at the moment were in Wanchai, to know what I could do to help.
There were many reporters at the site and I tried to answer their questions.
With the help of a Korean priest I said few words to the Korea protesters who were on the point of leaving the place.
Having knowledge that a Korean nun was among the arrested and has received humiliating treatment in detention at Kwun Tong Magistracy Police Station, I went there hoping to be able to see her and bring some consolation. I received a very rude treatment from the officer there. Fortunately the bus driver told us that the sister was being transferred to some place in Pokfulam, where I could see her and comfort her.
Putting in order what I said to the reporters I issued a press release on the morning of 19 December. Among other things I said that the inhuman treatment of the arrested protesters is a shame for Hong Kong.
A strong reaction came from the public and particularly from the police. Many took my remarks as addressed to the whole body of Hong Kong Police. So I put a note of clarification on our Kung Kao Po to clarify the issue. It was a clarification, not a retraction, not an apology, because I have not said anything critical in regard of the frontline police, my criticism was obviously addressed to the high officials in the police who planned the strategy and who made the decision to arrest those more than 900 protesters. During a radio program on the 24 December I said that I am not taking back my words.
Now that the intention of my remarks are made clear, still there are retired front-line police who want to defend the way the present high officers in the police acted in the case. Then the best thing to stop the controversy is to check the facts, some pieces of information from eyewitnesses are on our Chinese weekly Kung Kao Po, they may help for the purpose.

Bishop Joseph ZEN
28 December 2005