Pro-democracy protesters are facing staggering odds
HONG KONG » “We need help!” was the message on my phone screen Monday from 15-year-old Melody.
More messages followed from Hong Kong high school protesters, ages 15 to 17, whom I’d interviewed at Hong Kong Polytechnic University the day before it erupted into a flaming battle between students and police. Their pleas grew increasingly frantic. “Please help us. Protesters are surrounded by the police,” wrote Chris. (I am using the students’ English nicknames.)
“I never thought this would happen in Hong Kong. We just want to help, not to kill.”
The student uprisings are the latest chapter of pro-democracy protests that have been raging for six months, since Hong Kong’s chief executive, Carrie Lam, proposed that Hong Kongers be able to be extradited to China to face trial in courts controlled by the Communist Party.
Under the “one country, two systems” formula China agreed to when Britain returned Hong Kong to China in 1997, Hong Kong is supposed to keep an independent judiciary and a semi-democratic system until 2047. Lam ignored massive peaceful protests against her bill.
She finally withdrew the bill in September but too late. Students had become infuriated by police brutality, and a hardcore group started using violent tactics. The prodemocracy movement demanded that an independent commission be set up to examine police violence against protesters, a demand backed by 80% of the public.
Lam has refused, and is backed by Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Several campuses were taken over by students last week after a suspicious death of a student, but most had been evacuated. PolyU was becoming the students’ last stand.
Chris, Melody and six buddies rushed to PolyU because they’d seen a call for help on a special phone app.
Every entrance to the PolyU campus was blocked by furniture, boxes and other debris, with students checking anyone who passed through.
“We are really scared but we want to protect this place,” said Chris, a skinny, blackclad 17-year-old with glasses.
“We have to protect the universities, because education represents the future of this city.”
There was a sense that the democracy these kids prized hung in the balance. They study civics in school in Hong Kong (a subject Beijing wants to see replaced by “patriotic education” praising the Chinese system). They were incensed that Lam was undermining their rule of law.
“I don’t think we can win,” said Melody, “but even so, we still have to fight for our democracy. We don’t want communism.”
Kevin, 16, said his parents forbade him to come here, but he went anyway. He left his will at home in case he didn’t return.
There’s a sweet naiveté about these kids, but also a passionate intensity. Hong Kong has been a place that took rule of law seriously.
The idea that police might shoot a demonstrator was unthinkable here a few months ago, as was the idea a student would throw a petrol bomb at a police van. But unless Lam, and Xi, are willing to compromise, the cycle of violence here will continue. So far, the police have rebuffed offers by clerics and legislators to deliver the student holdouts at PolyU to police stations peacefully. They face charges that carry seven- to 10-year jail terms.
I’ve tried to reach Chris and Melody and the others with no success, although I know they are still in there, a handful of frightened teenagers standing up for what they believe in against staggering odds.