獄中の同志へ　香港の民主活動家を支える手紙

【香港ＡＦＰ＝時事】香港の民主活動家のヘイさん（22）は、昨年の反政府デモに参加した仲間らが刑務所に送られる姿を見て、彼らに手紙を書くことで抗議の炎を燃やし続けようと決心した。（写真は昨年の民主派デモに参加して刑務所に入れられた受刑者に宛てた「香港が本当に好きなあなたへ」と書かれた手紙）
　香港を揺るがした、大規模で時に暴力を伴うこともあった昨年の抗議デモでは、さまざまな違法行為で大勢が逮捕・拘束されている。
　香港の刑務所制度では、受刑者が刑務所の外の生活に関する情報にアクセスするのを厳しく取り締まっている。そのため、ヘイさんは民主化運動の最新情報を手紙に書きつづって届けることにした。今では送る相手は６０人近くになった。
　身元が割れないように「ヘイ」という名前だけの引用を条件にＡＦＰの取材に応じた彼女は「戦友同士の関係で、お互いに信頼しているのです」と語った。「私たちは同じ痛みを分かち合っています。手紙を書くことで、みんなの運動への自信が強まることを願っています」
　手書きの手紙に加え、ヘイさんは「パス・ザ・デイ（一日を過ごす）」というタイトルの自作新聞を一緒に入れる。そこには新聞見出しの要約やソーシャルメディアの投稿、抗議デモ参加者に人気のオンラインフォーラムからの政治ネタなどが含まれている。
　ヘイさんは活動家に面会したり、本やスナック、日用品を差し入れたりもする。ヘイさんの友人が「半刑務所入り」と冗談を言うほどの献身ぶりだ。
　当局によると、昨年６月からの抗議デモで１万人以上が逮捕され、そのうち訴追となったのは２３００件以上だ。

■手紙は「ろうそくの明かり」
　マックスさん（４３）は抗議デモ参加者らが燃やしたバリケードのたき火に本を投げ込んだことで放火の罪に問われ、有罪となり、収監された。
　刑務所で過ごした４か月間、マックスさんは手紙を「栄養素」にたとえていた。
　「（刑務所の）中にいたときは、トンネルの中を歩いているように何の光も見えませんでした」と、ファーストネームだけを使うことを条件に取材に応じたマックスさんは言った。「手紙は出口までの道を示してくれる、ろうそくの明かりのようでした」
　刑務所の規則では、受刑者は週１通、手紙を無料で送ることが許可されている。それ以上に手紙を送りたい場合は、労働により得た金銭で切手を購入する必要がある。差し入れられる手紙や本も検閲される。
　獄中で受け取った手紙に返信を続けていたマックスさんは、出所後は受刑者や今なお刑務所にいる活動家らに手紙を書き続けている。「これらの手紙によって運動が広まることについては、あまり期待していません。けれど、同志の獄中生活がましになり、いくらかの精神的な支えになれればと願っています」
　１月以降、一般の人々から５０００通以上の手紙が刑務所に送られている。
　会社員のジェニファーさん（３０）は、民主化運動の弾圧を「邪悪」だと表現し、とても平和的なデモ参加者が犯罪者とされたことに不満を感じている。
　これまで４８通の手紙を受刑者に書いた。手紙の相手を力づけるだけでなく、自分の気持ちを整理する手助けにもなるという。
　ファーストネームだけを明かしたジェニファーさんは「手紙を書きながら、泣いたこともあります」と語った。「肉体的には私は自由ですが、精神的には私たちみんなが刑務所暮らしなのです」【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2020/12/10-09:57）

When Hong Kong protester Hei saw fellow activists put behind bars for taking part in last year's democracy protests, she was determined to keep the flame burning by writing them letters.
Thousands have been arrested and held in custody for a range of offences during the huge and sometimes violent protests that convulsed the financial hub last year.
The city's prison system strictly controls inmate access to information about life outside, so Hei decided to keep them up to date on the democracy movement by putting pen to paper. Her mailing list now has almost 60 people on it.
It's a relationship between comrades-in-arms and we have trust in each other, the 22-year-old told AFP, asking to use just one name to protect her identity.
We share the same pain. I hope letter-writing can strengthen people's confidence in the movement.
As well as writing handwritten letters, Hei puts together a DIY newspaper called Pass the Day, which includes a summary of headlines, social media posts and political memes from online forums popular with protesters.
She also pays visits to activists, bringing books, snacks and daily necessities. Her friends jokingly refer to her as being half jailed by her commitment.
Of the more than 10,000 people arrested during protests since June 2019, more than 2,300 of those cases have proceeded to prosecution, according to authorities.
Hundreds are either held on remand ahead of their trials or are serving post-conviction sentences.
- Letters like 'candlelight' -
One of those jailed was 43-year-old Max, convicted of arson for throwing a book on a barricade bonfire lit by protesters.
During the four months he spent in prison, Max likened the letters to nutrients and recalled that he would like to reply to them immediately, while they were still fresh and hot.
When I was inside, it was like walking in a tunnel and I couldn't see any light, he recalled, speaking on condition that only his first name be used.
These letters were like candlelight showing me the way to the other end.
Compared to permitted twice-monthly, half-hour visits, the letters were the kind of support one can hold on to.
Without a proper desk and chair, he would spend hours writing letters on his cell bed, burning through three pens per month.
Prison regulations allow convicted inmates to send one free letter a week. Those wanting to send more must earn money for stamps through work. Incoming letters -- as well as books -- are also screened.
Since his release, Max continues to write to inmates and activists who are still in jail.
I don't have much expectation on how these letters could extend the movement, but I do hope comrades can live a good life inside and find some mental support, he said.
- 'Not alone' -
The letter-writing campaign has been championed by former lawmaker Shiu Ka-Chun.
Since January, more than 5,000 letters from the public have been sent and 500 pen pals have been paired up.
This is the beauty of this movement. People find their own positions and roles to show support, Shiu told AFP.
Aside from writing letters, Shiu was also involved in campaigns to help inmates send flowers to their loved ones outside and arrange learning materials for younger inmates.
I hope more people can continue to write to our friends in custody and let them know they are not alone, he said.
Jennifer, a 30-year-old office worker, described the crushing of the democracy movement as really dark and says she feels frustrated that much peaceful dissent has been outlawed.
She has written 48 letters so far to prisoners, something she says helps her process her own feelings as well as providing comfort to her pen pals.
Sometimes I cried as I wrote these letters, she said, asking just to use her first name.
Physically, I'm free, but mentally we are all living in a prison.