Brutalities by protesters at Hong Kong airport nothing short of terrorism
Violent protesters staged a shameful episode of sheer violence and brutality at the Hong Kong International Airport on Tuesday in full public view and broadcast on live television.
At about 8 pm, a group of protesters detained a traveler they claimed to be an undercover police officer from the Chinese mainland.
In lynch mob-style assaults, they repeatedly kicked and punched the man, tied his wrists together and pulled his identity documents from his wallet.
For nearly four hours, dozens of radical protesters attacked the man before he passed out.
They even obstructed an ambulance crew from taking him to hospital.
Later, a Global Times reporter was illegally seized and brutally beaten up by radical protesters around midnight on Tuesday. The protesters assaulted him even as he was being taken away by paramedics on a stretcher.
During an illegal protest at the airport terminal earlier in the day, they cursed and assaulted passengers and prevented them from departing, paralyzing the operations of the busy airport.
Such brutal and shameful acts are a flagrant violation of basic human rights, overstepping the bottom line of a civilized society.
The radicals’ violent attacks against innocent citizens are tantamount to an act of terrorism that should be condemned in the strongest possible terms.
Their illegal detention and brutal beating of the Global Times reporter is also an insult to the global journalistic community and a serious violation of the freedom of the press.
On Wednesday, some protesters attempted to gloss over their atrocities by putting up half-hearted “sorry” signs, using soft language such as “imperfect decisions.”
It is naive and absurd to think one can act with impunity.
The only way for them to atone for their brutality is to face the law.
Undoubtedly, the episode at the airport will be remembered in history as a stigma for Hong Kong.
It is naive and absurd to think one can act with impunity. The only way for them to atone for their brutality is to face the law.
The article is a commentary from the Xinhua News Agency. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn