Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters rallied in Hong Kong’s Admiralty neighborhood tonight. Photo: Coconuts Media
Tens of thousands of pro-democracy demonstrators gathered for a peace rally in central Hong Kong late Saturday, as the city’s security chief furiously denied the government had used triad gangs to attack them a day earlier.
Huge crowds streamed into the main protest site opposite the besieged government headquarters for a seventh night of their campaign for free elections in the semi-autonomous Chinese city, vowing to stand firm in the face of attacks on their ranks by aggressive counter-demonstrators.
Two of Hong Kong’s busiest shopping districts descended into chaos on Friday as angry opponents clashed with protesters, tearing down their tents and barricades, with widespread allegations amongst the pro-democracy crowds that hired thugs from triad criminal gangs had been brought in stir up trouble.
Tensions remained high on Saturday with fresh clashes in Mong Kok, a densely packed working-class district of shops and apartments that saw some of the worst scenes of violence the previous night, with complaints of sexual assaults and attacks on journalists in the crowds.
Police said several suspected triad members were among those arrested after Friday’s clashes, but the city’s security chief angrily denied allegations that the government had called on the services of paid thugs in a bid to break up the mass protests that have brought key parts of the city to a standstill for a week.
Pro-democracy protesters have taken to Hong Kong’s streets in their tens of thousands to demand the right to nominate who can run as their next leader in 2017 elections. Beijing insists only candidates it has approved will be able to stand.
Friday’s violence prompted student protest leaders to scrap talks with the government, scuppering hopes of a resolution to the crisis.
Call for peace
As night fell upon the usually stable financial hub, thousands chanted “Peace! Anti-violence!” as they gathered in the downtown Admiralty district near government headquarters.
“The feeling is really strong tonight. You can see people are so calm — unlike in other countries where they burn things and destroy cars,” said 36-year-old protester Chris Ng.
But there were also angry accusations that the police failed to protect the demonstrators against the opposing crowds — some of whom showed up to confront them waving Chinese flags — and comparisons to the chaotic scenes last Sunday, when riot officers fired tear gas at peaceful protesters.
“The police used tear gas and pepper spray against peaceful students — but where is the tear gas and pepper spray for those who use violence against us?” protester Lau Tung-kok shouted through a loudspeaker, to cheers from the crowd.
City authorities furiously denied working with organised crime groups to disrupt the protests.
“These accusations are made up and are very excessive,” an angry Secretary for Security Lai Tung-kwok told reporters, raising his voice.
But pro-democrat lawmaker Albert Ho said the police “seemed to show a lot of indulgence to triad activities”.
“I have every reason to believe that must be the only option left to those in power in Hong Kong to see that the protesters are cleared from the public area,” he told AFP.
“The only way is to allow someone else to do it, short of doing it themselves,” Ho said.
Triad gangs have traditionally been involved in drug-running, prostitution and extortion but are increasingly involved in legitimate ventures such as property and the finance industry.
Some are believed to also have links with the political establishment and there have previously been allegations of triads sending paid thugs to stir up trouble during protests.
Beijing unmoved
China has accused democracy campaigners of destabilising the city. The People’s Daily newspaper, a Communist Party mouthpiece, said in an editorial on Saturday that the protesters were “daydreaming” over the prospect of change.
Small rallies by crowds sporting blue ribbons were held in Hong Kong on Saturday by people who said they supported the police and the government, in a growing sign of a backlash against a campaign that has caused wide-scale disruption and taken a heavy toll on local businesses.
Fears of intimidation have replaced the festive sense of unity that had prevailed for days amongst protesters who had dubbed their movement the “umbrella revolution”, after the brollies they have used to defend themselves against tear gas, the sun and torrential downpours alike.
There were widespread reports of sexual assault in the packed crowds after the mood turned ugly at protests that had been noted worldwide for their civilised atmosphere, with rights group Amnesty International blasting officers who “stood by and did nothing” to protect protesters on Friday night.
An AFP reporter in Mong Kok on Saturday heard a female counter-demonstrator tell pro-democracy crowds through a loudspeaker: “Women are supposed to be touched by men.” She spoke in Cantonese with a mainland accent.
Journalists have also been targeted, primarily by crowds opposed to the democracy protesters. The Hong Kong Journalists Association said it had confirmed five attacks against members of the media.
Senior police superintendent Patrick Kwok said 12 people had been injured in the clashes, including six officers.
Organisers at the three main protest sites, spread out at key junctions across the city, reinforced their barricades on Saturday and set up lookout points in case of further assaults by counter-demonstrators.
But demonstrators vowed that the movement would remain peaceful despite the recent violence.
“Our movement has always been peaceful and will continue to be,” 20-year-old student Candy Lo told AFP.
Officials have blamed both sides for the escalation with Hong Kong’s leader again calling on protesters to disperse.
“The government strongly condemns all violent acts,” Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying said in a television broadcast.
“There are problems in society, but the right way to solve them is through rational communication, to seek common ground instead of protesting on the streets and allow the problem to get worse.”
Story: Jerome Taylor and Benjamin Haas / AFP
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