Page 11 - ARUBA TODAY

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WORLD NEWS Tuesday 2 July 2019

Protesters in Hong Kong break into legislature, paint logos

By KEN MORITSUGU der a blazing sun before the
Associated Press start of the march at Victo-
HONG KONG (AP) — Hun- ria Park. "She is protected
dreds of protesters in Hong by our flawed system."
Kong swarmed into the The protesters are also de-
legislature's main build- manding an independent
ing Monday night, tearing inquiry into police actions
down portraits of legislative during a June 12 protest,
leaders and spray-painting when officers used tear gas
pro-democracy slogans on and rubber bullets to dis-
the walls of the main cham- perse a demonstration that
ber. blocked the legislature on
The sharp escalation in the day that debate on the
tactics came on the anni- bill had been scheduled to
versary of the former British resume.
colony's return to China, a The police say the use of
city holiday, and reflected force was justified, but
mounting frustration with since then have largely ad-
Hong Kong's leader for opted softer tactics, even
not responding to protest- as protesters besieged po-
ers' demands after several lice headquarters in recent
weeks of demonstrations. Protesters deface the Hong Kong logo at the Legislative Council to protest against the extradition days, pelting it with eggs
The protesters whacked bill in Hong Kong, Monday, July 1, 2019. and spray-painting slogans
away at thick glass win- Associated Press on its outer walls.
dows until they shattered The area around Golden
and broke and pried open change the endpoint of through, pledged to be room as she shouted at Bauhinia Square, where the
steel security gates and their protest from the leg- more responsive to pub- Lam to resign and with- flag-raising ceremony took
propped them open with islature to a nearby park, lic sentiment but has not draw the "evil" legislation. place, was blocked off
barricades to get inside. after police asked them to responded directly to pro- She later told reporters she from Saturday to prevent
Police in riot gear retreated either call it off or change testers' demands. was voicing the grievances protesters from gather-
as the protesters entered the route. Police wanted In an address after a flag- and opinions of the protest- ing to disrupt it. Before the
about 9 p.m., avoiding a the march to end earlier in raising ceremony mark- ers, who could not get into morning ceremony, pro-
confrontation and giving the Wan Chai district, but ing the anniversary of the the event. testers trying to force their
them the run of the build- organizers said that would handover, Lam said the The extradition bill contro- way to the square were
ing. leave out many people protests and two marches versy has given fresh mo- driven back by officers with
They stood on lawmak- who planned to join the that attracted hundreds of mentum to Hong Kong's plastic shields and batons,
ers' desks in the main leg- march along the way. thousands of participants pro-democracy opposition the retreating protesters
islative chamber, painted Police estimated 190,000 have taught her that she movement, awakening pointing open umbrellas to
over the territory's emblem people joined the peaceful needs to listen better to broader concerns that Chi- ward off pepper spray.
high up on a wooden wall march, the third major one youth and people in gen- na is chipping away at the "We are horrified, this is our
and wrote slogans calling in as many weeks. eral. rights guaranteed to Hong obligation to do this, we
for a democratic election Hong Kong has been "This has made me fully re- Kong for 50 years under a are protecting our home,"
of the city's leader and de- wracked by weeks of pro- alize that I, as a politician, "one country, two systems" said Jack, a 26-year-old of-
nouncing now-suspended tests over a government have to remind myself all framework. The two march- fice worker who would only
extradition legislation that attempt to change extradi- the time of the need to es in June drew more than give his first name. "I don't
sparked the protests. Many tion laws to allow suspects grasp public sentiments ac- a million people, accord- know why the government
wore yellow and white hel- to be sent to China to face curately," she told the gath- ing to organizer estimates. is harming us. It's harming
mets, face masks and the trial. The proposed legisla- ering in the city's cavernous Jimmy Sham, a leader of the rule of law, the rule of
black T-shirts that have be- tion, on which debate has convention center. the pro-democracy group law is the last firewall be-
come their uniform. been suspended indefinite- She insisted her govern- that organized the march, tween us and the Chinese
Police announced about ly, increased fears of erod- ment has good intentions, told the crowd that Lam Communist Party."
10:30 p.m. that they would ing freedoms in the territo- but said "I will learn the les- had not responded to their The extradition legislation
clear the area, asking pro- ry, which Britain returned to son and ensure that the demands because she is has drawn opposition from
testers to leave and warn- China on July 1, 1997. government's future work not democratically elect- the legal profession, com-
ing they would use "ap- Protesters want the bills for- will be closer and more re- ed. The leader of Hong mercial groups and foreign
propriate force" if they en- mally withdrawn and Hong sponsive to the aspirations, Kong is chosen by a com- nations, reflecting Hong
countered resistance. Kong's embattled leader, sentiments and opinions of mittee dominated by pro- Kong's status as an interna-
The actions prompted or- Carrie Lam, to resign. the community." China elites. tional business center with
ganizers of a separate Lam, who has come under Security guards pushed "We know that Carrie Lam a strong independent judi-
peaceful march against withering criticism for try- pro-democracy lawmaker can be so arrogant," Sham ciary and high degree of
the extradition bill to ing to push the legislation Helena Wong out of the said, rallying the crowd un- transparency.q