‘Pan-democrats’ better stop being devil’s advocate
Opposition groups must move away from diehard separatist forces before they are dragged into political hell, writes Xiao Ping
Albert Ho Chun-yan found himself under fire from both sides of the political divide at Sunday’s City Forum because although he did not want to support “Hong Kong independence”, neither did he want to be accused of turning his back on separatist “friends” in distress. So, he chose freedom of speech as the shield to fend off verbal attacks from left and right as best he could.
As a well-known solicitor, Ho must have had much better days arguing difficult cases, but this one is simply impossible for anyone in his circle of “original pandemocrats”, whose political spectrum does not include separatism at this point. In the past 21 years, their efforts to counter the central government have focused on “unity under democracy” and “universal suffrage” without overstepping the “one country” boundary, also known as “love the country but not the Communist Party of China”.
Because of this consensus, they have been opposed to separatist attempts and refused to support or sing along with the “pro-independence” bunch. However, as the pro-establishment parties stepped up their counter measures in response to increased abusive behavior of the radical faction of the opposition camp in recent years, the “original pan-democrats” came under growing pressure from both sides and somehow chose to lean toward the radical faction more often than not, apparently out of their long-held ideological bias. As a result, some members have warmed up to radicalism and given rise to bickering within the “original pandemocrats”.
The Hong Kong National Party is probably the most extreme of the separatist groups. That is why mainstream opinion in Hong Kong has expressed support for the special administrative region government after the latter started the process last week to ban the HKNP, citing Section 8 of the Societies Ordinance. It’s a shame the “pan-democrats” have failed themselves yet again by, on one hand, reiterating publicly they do not support separatism and letting their core members stay away from a rally held by the radical faction to support the HKNP and, on the other hand, condemning the government, all the while also accusing the government of infringing on the freedom of association, in an apparent attempt to show they are kind of on the HKNP’s side as well. Miserable as they are right now, they have only themselves to blame because they painted themselves into a corner.
The “pan-democrats” should understand there is no gray area when it comes to national security and it is a big “No!” for any political figure or group to even think they can sit on the fence, an option that simply does not exist. “Hong Kong independence” is a cancerous pursuit that will destroy society’s harmony and stability. Would the “pan-democrats” ask why Nazism is banned by law in Germany or express sympathy with the Catalonia independence movement in Spain? Probably not, because they know certain lines must not be crossed, but what made them believe China should be different over Hong Kong? Just for the record: The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights cannot override national security anywhere in the world.
If the “pan-democrats” are really smart, they should stop acting as the devil’s advocate immediately before diehard separatists drag them to political hell.