Hong Kong, 7 thousand policemen deployed to counter 1000 Occupy Central protesters
Hong Kong (AsiaNews) - The
Hong Kong government has decided to
deploy more than 7 thousand officers
in riot gear to
guard the rally scheduled for
tomorrow in front of the executive's Admiralty offices. The expected participants, all members of the Occupy Central movement, will not exceed 1000. The policemen represent
a quarter of the Territory's entire
police force, and are specially trained to
"manage civil disobedience."
The democratic movement announced it would demonstrate at the Tamar Park
from 7 to 9 pm to coincide with the announcement of the
ruling of the National People's Standing Committee of mainland China on
the Chief Executive's election slated for 2017. Benny
Tai Yiu-ting, co-founder
of Occupy, said that the event "is just the beginning of the
next phase. Anyway, do not expect
any sit-in."
The Committee will vote on the draft (prepared by
Beijing) on the new method of election of the Chief Executive of Hong Kong. The members
of the Chinese parliament -
often branded as
a place that approves everything the Politburo prepares-
praised the draft prepared "in conformity with the reality of Hong Kong".
The draft provides for universal suffrage in
2017, but the candidates vying
for the office of governor shall be chosen by a committee of 1,200 members, made up of people chosen by Beijing and the local executive,
as well as representatives of the
business world .
The Occupy movement and the democratic parties of the Central region
have repeatedly criticized
this structure, which gives
enormous power of veto to Beijing and has promised gigantic, albeit non-violent
demonstrations and sit-ins.
The massive and disproportionate deployment
of security forces for the public
event tomorrow is a clear symbol of the
nervousness of local government and Beijing, which fears the "germ of
democracy" that could be implanted in the former British colony and from there "infect" mainland China.
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