The world is watching HK’s protests. Since June, people are accusing government of disbelieving its citizen.
Protesters were asking 5 demands: one, the bill must be withdrawn; two, the chief executive must resign; three, the government must retract its characterisation of the violent clashes as “riots”; four, there must be a full independent inquiry into the actions of the police and; five, everyone arrested in respect of the clashes must be unconditionally freed.
Chief executive Carrie Lam announced “The bill is dead” on July 9th after a month of protests. However the extradition law might be reopened unless it is withdrawn.
In the future, anyone could be detained by police in HK if the extradition bill would exist. Last week, leaders of former democratic group Scholarism which lead Umbrellas movement, Joshua Wong, Agnes Chow and Andy Chan was arrested for unclear reason. Joshua had only been released from jail last June. The controversy extradition law enables Chinese authorities to send people to china from Hong Kong for hoax charges. First demand must be made.
Carrie Lam confessed her secret plea of resignation. Today, an audio relate to Carrie Lam was leaked. It was obtained by Reuters. It is said she would quit if she had choice. She sounds full of emotion. But, very same day, she made a public comment of denial about resignation and showed a disappointment to the informer of this audio. This political strife will make another disbelief in Hong Kong’s government.
In my view, there is a huge structural problem. Lack of communication between protesters caused this huge political mess in Hong Kong. Last night’s ABC TV program “four courners” was about Hong Kong’s protests. Program interviewed one of the senators of Hong Kong government. He claimed protests have no leaders. But, the Interviewer returned “Because the police arrest them?” As I explained, Hong Kong’s police catch protest’s leaders for no reasons. Government and citizens are escalating tensions. It seems there are no representatives of these democratic actions.
The last demands are not likely to be wished. Since June, more than 1,000 people were arrested for public disorder or whatever reasons. Hong Kong’s police launched various weapons to hurt its citizens in spite of protester’s peaceful demands. It is said, the police have tried not to drag on protests like 2014 umbrella movement.
Police HQ claimed some of the protesters as riot at very first weekend to excuse themselves using weapons.
Pro-democracy MP Fernando Cheung was trying to stop protesters breaking into the parliament on July 1st, 22th anniversary of the island handover. He said ”To much suppress the public supports were there even after they stormed into the Legislative Council building. This slogan of not being divisive and that we stay together whether we are the peaceful ones or the more radical ones, we stay together in the movement, seems to be working.” He said in the four courner’s interview.
Violence met a public understanding in this movement. You cannot be optimistic about Hong Kong. Recent HK’s protests are showing firm ties between protesters and civilians. More and more civil workers showing supports to them. We are watching revolutionary movements in Hong Kong’s protest. What would happen on October 1 when Chinese communist party will celebrate 70th anniversary of its founding of the People’s Republic of China? We need to prepare for the worst scenario.
