Rights Defense Commentary: Yu Kai, the Disruptor!

Author：Looking Up to Jesus

Lawyer Yu Kai has posed the authorities a difficult problem！After exhausting every legal avenue，he stood at the entrance to the judicial authorities，holding up a placard directly addressing two issues：first，such problems as the autonomy of bar associations、freedom to pay fees、abolishing annual inspections、and lawyers’ blacklists—unspoken rules，and second，abolishing the widely criticised “picking quarrels and provoking trouble” catch-all crime。The former needs no elaboration，it concerns the survival rights and professional dignity of hundreds of thousands of lawyers，and has elicited broad resonance both within and outside the system。As for making a final appeal for the abolition of the catch-all crime of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble”，as everyone knows，this crime not only threatens the personal rights of all citizens but also directly concerns the foundation of the legitimacy of the entire criminal justice system。

As some friends in the circle have said，Yu Kai’s choice was by no means an impulsive act but one made after careful consideration，and can truly be described as reasonable and measured、proceeding with courtesy before resorting to force、and having done everything possible……

The authorities’ dilemma is that they both fear the emergence of a demonstrative effect from Yu Kai’s actions and are wary that mishandling Yu Kai could，without legitimate grounds，trigger further negative effects。The Yu Kai incident will undoubtedly expose and magnify the authorities’ governance of the industry through criminalisation、selective anti-corruption，and blatant violent measures to maintain stability，directly targeting the foundation of the legitimacy of the regime。It would originally be very simple for the authorities to avoid a demonstrative effect，requiring only that when the people make their appeals，the government responds，and that their demands receive a political response。But if someone has hijacked this system，then Yu Kai’s prospects are likely to be grim。

As a legal professional，when facing matters of fundamental right and wrong，and the historical crossroads of choosing between the rule of law and a major retreat from the rule of law，the significance of Yu Kai’s bold choice lies in his refusal to serve as a foil and accomplice to the legal profession，and in his breaking through the human weakness and self-imposed limits that those who are disobedient must not be allowed to eat。This decision and sense of responsibility may represent not merely a breakthrough in the bottleneck of his personal life，but could also become a certain metaphor for breaking the deadlock of an era。Do not be afraid to break the deadlock！This may be an issue that everyone needs to consider when facing a dark reality，because when confronting raging waves and countercurrents、an iron curtain and high walls、and forbidding barriers，as the one who breaks the deadlock，you may not win the entire world，while what you lose may be nothing more than your shackles！