An assistance guides the voters at a polling station for an unofficial referendum on democratic reform in Hong Kong Sunday, June 29
The Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau (IACM) has denied the Open Macau Society’s request to hold assemblies to promote a civil referendum on universal suffrage – a referendum planned by three pro-democratic groups. Jason Chao told the Times that the Society is appealing IACM’s decision and will be submitting a petition letter today at the IACM.
Jason Chao, a member of the Open Macau Society, said that they would most likely resort to the courts. “We plan to appeal and take the case to the court,” he said.
The political activist emphasized that a referendum on universal suffrage and on the election of the Chief Executive is “a very political matter.” Therefore, he was not surprised when he learned of IACM’s decision.
The three activist groups are planning a referendum on democracy, following a similar ballot in Hong Kong, which was deemed illegal by the mainland Chinese government. In the unofficial referendum held in Hong Kong, more than 10 percent of the HKSAR’s population voted that the public should be able to nominate candidates for leadership of the territory.
Macau’s pro-democratic groups advocate similar rights. They want Macau’s residents to be able to vote for their next Chief Executive in 2019.
Chao explained that he is aware that the government would try its best to avoid this referendum, even by attempting to prevent it from happening. “[We were expecting that] the government would launch repression activities, so I am not surprised. This IACM decision is one of those repression actions,” he emphasized.
When asked about the Open Macau Society’s plans to fight the IACM decision and possible subsequent negative responses – even at a court level – Jason Chao said that he could not disclose any plans at present. However, he insisted that they are “prepared for every possible scenario.”
Today, the group will present a petition letter to IACM regarding the ban on the civil referendum assemblies, which the group was planning to hold, in order to promote the ballot.
Jason Chao also promised that a promotion campaign for the referendum would be launched anyway.
The Open Macau Society was notified by IACM that they will not authorize any public assemblies regarding the referendum. IACM based its decision on the law regulating the right to public assembly and demonstration. In one of the articles, it is stated that assemblies cannot be held in pursuit of principles that go against the law.
From the government’s perspective, the referendum is illegal, as it violates the constitution of the People’s Republic of China as well as the Macau Basic Law.
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