Occupy Central says Hong Kong turning into a ‘Police City’, urges people not to retaliate against ‘violent oppression’

The leaders of the Umbrella Movement on Oct. 9, holding signs that read “keep fighting”. (Laurel Chor/Coconuts Media)

In one of Occupy Central’s most strongly worded statements yet, founders Benny Tai, Chan Kin-man and Chu Yiu-ming have urged urging protesters to resist turning to violence to “gain democracy”, as this is exactly what CY Leung’s administration’s would be “happy to see!”

The founders also condemned the police’s “brutal” clearance of the Mong Kok protest site on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The statement acknowledged that the protesters might be losing patience and feeling “despondent and angry” in the face of “violent oppression” and an “unfeeling regime”. But the founders appealed for them to stick to the principle of non-violence and seek other forms of resistance.

They warned that if “extreme methods” were used for their cause, then they would be falling into the “trap of fighting violence with violence”, thus in turn losing public support and giving the police an excuse to use even more drastic methods to stem the protests.

Perhaps Occupy Central missed the memo about how the Umbrella Movement has already been losing public support – over 80% of people polled by HKU said protesters should go home – but their point remains valid.

Painting the Hong Kong government as a desperate, authoritarian regime, the three founders said that the administration’s “credibility is bankrupt” as proven by its reliance on court injunctions awarded to private companies.

The trio added that the authorities are “relying on violence to maintain social order”, with the police “abusing the use of force” by inflicting violence on protesters, bystanders and journalists alike and arresting protesters, thus turning Hong Kong into a “Police City”.

Reining in the fierce language at the end of the statement, they urge people to stick to the spirit of “love and peace”, and remind them that the movement must “win people’s hearts” in order to reach its goals. 

We don’t know if all protesters will heed their advice, but we do bet that “Hong Kong: Police City” will be the title of the next HKTV drama. 

Full statement here: