by Yan Zhao & Jasmine Leung
“Democracy activists in the financial hub had vowed to ramp up their almost four-month-long campaign ahead of tomorrow’s National Day celebrations.”
Fierce clashes have once more damaged out between protesters and riot police in Hong Kong as thousands march through the sections of the strife-torn city. It was a day of world protests aimed toward casting a shadow on China’s upcoming seventieth birthday. Beijing is getting ready for big, tightly-choreographed festivities from tomorrow to mark the founding of the People’s Republic of China, together with a large army parade that may revel within the country’s emergence as a world superpower.
But ongoing unrest in Hong Kong threatens to upstage these celebrations because the semi-autonomous city boils with public anger over the erosion of its particular freedoms beneath Beijing’s rule. Hong Kong protesters have dubbed tomorrow a “Day of Grief”.
Sunday witnessed essentially the most intense clashes in weeks as police used tear fuel, rubber bullets and water cannons at a number of places for hours throughout working battles with hardcore protesters hurling rocks and petrol bombs.
Using online forums and social media, demonstrators referred to as for “anti-totalitarian” rallies to be held across the globe. Marches have been held in Australia – where greater than 1,000 folks rallied in Sydney – and Taiwan, with extra held in some forty locations in Europe and North America. Clashes broke out before Hong Kong’s unsanctioned march begun when offended groups in the Causeway Bay shopping district surrounded and heckled officers stopping and looking out individuals.
But the tear gasoline police fired only emboldened the crowds, who then started walking by way of the streets within the thousands.
Wacky vandalised subway stations, tore down banners proclaiming the upcoming 70th anniversary celebrations and set fireplace to makeshift barricades. Many marchers were holding so-called “Chinazi flags”, a version of the Chinese flag with yellow stars organized in the shape of a swastika.
Police spent hours firing tear gasoline and rubber bullets at different downtown locations and made multiple arrests throughout the day.
A information reporter was treated by volunteer medics after being hit within the face with a police projectile, whereas a minimal of two males have been attacked by democracy demonstrators and a taxi was trashed.
One video posted by activists showed police spraying pro-democracy lawmaker Eddie Chu within the face point-blank with what was described as pepper spray, as he argues with the officers. Hospital authorities last night time say thirteen individuals were admitted, one in a critical condition.
A 20 year old pupil, who gave his first title as Tony, was waving a Ukrainian flag.
Many of Hong Kong’s extra hardcore protesters take inspiration from the 2014 Ukrainian Revolution, which ousted a pro-Russian president.
“We are hoping that if we connect with different elements of the world and fight against Chinese communism, we are going to win this motion,” he informed AFP.
A 62-year-old protester, who gave his surname as Man, mentioned he felt people’s livelihoods and freedoms had deteriorated since Britain handed Hong Kong to China in 1997.
“I don’t want to topple the regime, nevertheless it positively needs to alter,” he informed AFP.
“It needs to seek a reconciliation with the people.”
SOURCE: Agence France-Presse
PHOTO: RT