Monday, January 13, 2025
spot_img

HK police attack on activist sparks anger

Date:

Share post:

spot_img
spot_img

Hong Kong: Hong Kong police battling activists for control of an underpass in the dead of night on Wednesday sparked public anger after officers were seen kicking a handcuffed protester in the worst violence since street demonstrations for greater democracy began more than two weeks ago.
Officers armed with riot shields, batons and pepper spray knocked activists to the ground, dragging dozens away, and tore down barricades protesters used as roadblocks around the underpass outside the government’s headquarters.
Outrage over their aggressive tactics exploded after local TV showed half a dozen officers taking the protester around a dark corner and kicking him on the ground. It’s unclear what provoked the attack.
Local Now TV showed footage of him splashing water on officers beforehand.
“Hong Kong police have gone insane today, carrying out their own punishment in private,” said pro-democracy lawmaker Lee Cheuk-yan. “Hong Kong’s values and its rule of law really have been completely destroyed by police chiefs.”
Beijing, meanwhile, issued its harshest condemnations yet of the protests, calling them illegal, bad for business and against Hong Kong’s best interests.
The central government has become increasingly impatient with the demonstrations, the biggest challenge to Beijing’s authority since China took control of the former British colony in 1997.
A front-page editorial Wednesday in the People’s Daily, the ruling Communist Party’s mouthpiece, condemned the protests and said “they are doomed to fail.” “Facts and history tell us that radical and illegal acts that got their way only result in more severe illegal activities, exacerbating disorder and turmoil,” the commentary said. “Stability is bliss, and turmoil brings havoc,” it said.
However, there were no signs that the central government was planning to become directly involved in suppressing the demonstrations, which have marshalled opposition to plans for a pro-Beijing committee to screen candidates to run in Hong Kong’s first elections to choose the city’s chief executive in 2017.
The protesters also want the current leader, the deeply unpopular Leung Chun-ying, to resign.
The demonstrations have posed an unprecedented challenge to the government, and it is unclear when and how the crisis will be resolved.
Leung, who described the protests as being “out of control,” told reporters that officials are willing to talk to protesters, but reiterated that Beijing will not drop the election restrictions it imposed.
He cancelled a leader’s questions session at the Legislative Council scheduled for Thursday, citing security risks. (AP)

spot_img
spot_img

Related articles

Shami returns to Indian team

Mumbai, Jan 11: Nearly 14 months after he last played an international game, veteran seamer Mohammed Shami on...

As LA burns, 2024 declared Earth’s hottest on record

The year 2024 was the world's warmest on record globally, and the first calendar year in which global...

Canada, the 51st state?

Donald Trump is threatening to use “economic force” to make Canada the 51st American state. While his comments...

Meghalaya West Garo Hills, Tirikilla College-o 4th Semester-ko poraienggipa chatri saksa Miss Aijoni Rabha-ko National Youth Festival-ni bak gita Vikshit Bharat Young Dialogue-o Special...

Meghalaya West Garo Hills, Tirikilla College-o 4th Semester-ko poraienggipa chatri saksa Miss Aijoni Rabha-ko National Youth Festival-ni bak...