Key Elections, Riot Police Standby Update Post #68 (was: HK Police Use Live Ammo/Protest Violence)

Unsurprised at those reports; it's one of the speculations making the rounds here. I think most of us are convinced she's just Beijing's pawn at this point. However, that said, lots of the problems right now stem directly from her actions approximately three months ago.

This morning, HKT: live rounds fired by police in Sai Wan Ho; protester in critical condition.

https://www.hongkongfp.com/2019/11/...police-shoot-protester-live-round-sai-wan-ho/

The HK police force was once a point of pride for HK, for being upright, honourable, decent people. But all this... well, even if you assign the nasty acts to undercover triad members and Central Government agents, it's still massively telling that the HK police force is no more than a front. Conjecture? As ever more events and closed-door reports come to light, it's hard to say any of this is conjecture now. Especially since they've progressed to live rounds. Fuck.

https://www.hongkongfp.com/2019/11/...uhk-campus-university-head-among-tear-gassed/

No words.

MaeZe said:

Keep in mind I don't really understand exactly what's going on.

I watched the shooting and from here, the policeman was struggling with one protester and shot another who was coming toward them and only a few feet away. I can't say that wasn't understandable. I'm glad the protester is now in stable condition.

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There’s an FB post going round (bilingual) that shows the protester wasn’t doing anything, though he had a weapon. The second protester was approaching, but to do what is a mystery. The policeman opened fire for no apparent reason. Fearing for his own life? If only that were believable. None of the other cops pulled their weapons until after that one pulled his and used it.

I can understand easily why the protests are continuing, because if I lived there I might be one of those protestors had I lived in free Hong Kong and now China was closing in. Xi has declared himself ruler for life. They are using incredibly advanced surveillance to control the population from publicly shaming people who owe unpaid debts to incarcerating Uighers and putting them in re-education camps. That's not bordering on a dystopia, that is a dystopia.

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HK citizens want to protect our freedoms. We have (had?) a semi-democracy and privacy. We’re still a long way from being subject to China’s full rule and we’re aiming to keep that. But the HK Gov has proven to be only a pawn of China’s Gov. And we’re fed up.

Carrie Lam (Chief Executive of HK) is now putting ‘face’ first instead of protecting HK citizens, whether said citizens are wrong or right. But I’m especially angry at her (and the EDB (Education Bureau)) for not suspending classes for all students and teachers in light of this week’s horrifics. There were kindergarteners and pupils and teachers still trying to make their way to school this morning HKT. WTF?!

But what is all the destruction going to accomplish except to trigger mainland China to send a swarm of soldiers in to quell the protestors? Do they have a goal they think they can achieve? Is there general support or are they causing some citizens to side against them?

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A lot of the violence is still from people who’ve been paid to do this. And many are probably agents of some sort, too.

I do so hope it ends well and I am on the side of the citizens of Hong Kong if that isn't clear.

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Thanks MaeZe. I’m hopeful this will end well, too, but my realism is saying “it’ll probably get worse before it gets better”. But I’m tired of this — five and something months. After Nov, it’ll be half a year since this started. And we tried the peaceful version: we did march quietly, did just sit-in. None of it to any avail. It’s now escalated to this.

Personally, I don’t see this dying down till just before CNY, and I’m not sure that it will either then — there are rumours that some of these extremists want to continue this till 01 July 2020 (“return to China day”).

But I’m tired.

Alessandra Kelley said:

If protesting Chinese rule is punished with death and cultural erasure, if there is no magnaminity, no mercy, only harsh punishment and genocide awaiting protesters, then there’s no reason to ever stop fighting, goes the argument.

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Certainly a legit reason to continue fighting.

But everyone's tired: the police, the protesters, the government, HK citizens.

We just want the government to do the right thing.

If anyone wants different perspectives about what's happening in HK right now (in English), take a look at this Twitter thread:

https://mobile.twitter.com/laurelch...bMbFwD5m-_6M_fwXLSDM8c9PD-ZZ148-q-kxkkyASE-l0

The protests are centred around 2 main universities right now (a third has been "released" from the situation): PolyU and CHUK (not the Shatin/University campus).

(Also, this is chilling -- it's about the Uighurs and Islamic extremism: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive...tion=click&module=Top Stories&pgtype=Homepage)

More transport disruption: https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong...otests-radicals-respond-online-calls-paralyse

Riot policeman perspective: https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1493256-20191119.htm

Universities in HK: https://scontent-sin2-2.xx.fbcdn.ne...=4fce5cdb18a80f788b4d31cdf432bf35&oe=5E852B67

I'm done with the news for now. It's overloading all the senses -- emotional, mental, physical.

Key elections going ahead this Sunday. I need to confirm a few things, but barring that, I'll be voting.

https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong...e-guard-all-polling-stations-protest-hit-hong

MaeZe said:

I can't imagine how it must be.

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It's stressful, but survivable.

District council elections today. And the turnout percentage show the level of dissatisfaction HKers have with the government. I voted.

https://www.hongkongfp.com/2019/11/...polling-stations-turnout-already-record-high/

Bufty said:

And wow - these queues are orderly. Thinking about you and your fellow voters.

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Thank you.

HKers have spoken: We have rejected the pro-establishment camp (and by extension, the Chief Executive). AKA, the opposition won.

https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1494295-20191125.htm?spTabChangeable=0