Students turn varsity into weapons factory
HK protesters ready flaming arrows, petrol bombs
Hong Kong, Nov. 14: Under a November full moon, hundreds of young people dressed in black set about turning several of Hong Kong’s top universities into fortresses, well stocked with improvised weapons.
At City University, protesters used ping pong tables, potted plants, furniture, sports equipment, and bamboo to form a network of barricades to block roads and fortify the entrances to the student residence complex.
Hundreds of protesters wearing gas masks and helmets tore up piles of paving bricks and ceramic tiles to hurl at police, while others stockpiled dozens of petrol bombs, distributing them to their forward positions.
Small groups sat chatting as they fashioned garden hose and nails into spikes to puncture car tyres. The scene this week was repeated at nearly half a dozen campuses across Hong Kong.
Until now, the anti-government protesters have used fast-moving, hit-andrun tactics to “be like water” and avoid arrest in clashes with police. But now with protesters beginning to wield bows and arrows and occupying improvised breastworks, the tactics threaten to take the pro-democracy campaign to a new level of risk for all sides.
The protesters say their non-violent efforts have been met by brutal police tactics, and their weapons are needed to protect themselves.
Police have shot and wounded at least three protesters. “It has never been a fair war zone,” said 23-year-old Josh, as he watched protesters practice shooting arrows at Baptist University (BU).
“We have nothing, only masks and the police have guns. We’re only trying to defend ourselves.”