The "umbrella revolution": students turn their backs on flag raising for China’s National Day
Hong Kong (AsiaNews) - Thousands of demonstrators continue to block the main roads of the territory on the fourth day of Occupy Central, demanding full democracy for the people of Hong Kong.
Yesterday evening the Admiralty - close to government offices - was overflowing with tens of thousands of people with multicolored umbrellas who braved a storm with a huge downpour and thunder. The umbrellas have become the symbol of this peaceful revolution, having been used by protesters to defend themselves from fire hydrants and tear gas launched by the police in recent days, as well as from the sun.
Today, October 1, is also
a national holiday to commemorate
the founding of the People's Republic
of China. This morning at 8am the
flag-raising ceremony took place on Bahuinia
square in the presence of the governor
Leung Chun-ying. While
he honoured China, a group of
pro-democracy students turned their backs to the flag; others raised their arms
crossing them (as if they were chained); others demanded
the release of political prisoners
in China and
the overturning of the judgment of the Tiananmen massacre of June 4, 1989.
Leung Chun-ying made
no reference to the people's demands for democracy, nor
the impressive demonstrations of these days. The Chief Executive is responsible for the police violence against the young and
defenseless and Occupy Central is demanding his
resignation.
Censorship prevails in China: the newspapers and the television make no mention of the events
in Hong Kong. The
official television channel, without
showing any image, only said
that there are attempts to create "disorder" in the area by pressing on the government to "unreasonable
demands."
China fears that the democracy "virus"
will corrode the mainland. Today,
the China Human
Rights Defenders released the
news that Chinese police have arrested
several activists to prevent them
from going to Hong Kong to take part in
the protests. At least 13 people
were arrested and five threatened
for expressing their support for Occupy Central.
According to some researchers, a virus of Chinese origin has attacked the smartphone telephone network in Hong Kong. It blocks communication, hacks into contacts, photos and passwords in both Android and Apple models. Many believe it is an attempt to target the democratic movement's communications.
In addition to suffocating the movement, China is also attempting to isolate protesters. Yesterday , the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent a letter of warning to the embassies in China and consulates in Hong Kong, asking them not to offer any support and not to be seen close to the demonstrators because of the dangers, created by "acts of violence and crimes".
In reality, the occupation of the center continues to take place in a peaceful and polite manner: once again this morning the protesters who slept on the streets cleaned the pavements and reached an agreement with the police to leave humanitarian corridors open for emergency passage of ambulances. Benny Tai, one of the leaders of Occupy Central, has publicly apologized to the residents of the occupied areas for the difficulties they cause. But - he said - "It is a short term inconvenience, while we are striving for long-term harmony in society".
In order not to disperse the group and not be led away by the police, the leaders of the democracy movement have asked demonstrators to focus the sit-in on Admiralty, Causeway Bay and Mong Kok.
The occupation of these areas - the financial and commercial heart of the city- risks eroding its business and
earnings in this
week's holiday - National
Day - in which
thousands of Chinese come down to Hong Kong for shopping. Some stores have complained about a reduction in sales
of up to 50% in the
first days of demonstrations. In
any case, so afr the Hong Kong dollar and stock
market have not experienced any drastic
collapse.
Many young Hong Kongers abroad, in
Australia, Britain, Canada are
organizing demonstrations in
support of their fellow Democrats.
The White House and British politicians have
asked China to treat Occupy Central demonstrations with care and without violence.
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10/04/2019 16:27
09/04/2019 11:16
17/01/2018 11:01
