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Scuffles break out along barricades of Hong Kong protest Scuffles break out along barricades of Hong Kong pro-democracy protest site
(about 4 hours later)
HONG KONG — Scores of men, many wearing medical face masks, moved in to forcibly remove some of the barricades surrounding the main protest site in the heart of Hong Kong’s business district on Monday, provoking scuffles and a tense stand-off with pro-democracy protesters. HONG KONG — Scores of men, many wearing medical face masks, moved in Monday to forcibly remove some of the barricades surrounding a main protest site in the heart of Hong Kong’s business district, provoking scuffles and a tense standoff with pro-democracy protesters.
The scuffles came just after police had quietly removed some barricades on the fringes of the protest site early Monday, and had asked protesters to vacate the area peacefully. But tensions rose sharply later in the day as hundreds of people approached the main protest site as part of an organized rally demanding the roads be re-opened. The scuffles came just after police had quietly removed some barricades on the fringes of the protest site early Monday and had asked protesters to vacate the area peacefully. But tensions rose sharply later in the day as hundreds of people approached the main protest site as part of an organized rally demanding that roads be reopened.
As they chanted slogans against the sit-in, groups of men took advantage of the chaos to rush the barricades at both ends of Queensway, a normally busy street flanked by gleaming skyscrapers.As they chanted slogans against the sit-in, groups of men took advantage of the chaos to rush the barricades at both ends of Queensway, a normally busy street flanked by gleaming skyscrapers.
At one end, they successfully removed many barricades, cutting through the plastic ties that had held them together with knives, and even taking away some of the students' tents in two large trucks. At the other end, they were less successful as students quickly regrouped to man the barriers, and there were scuffles as the two sides clashed. At one end, they successfully removed many barricades, using knives to cut through the plastic ties that had held them together and even taking away some of the students’ tents in two large trucks. At the other end, they were less successful, as students quickly regrouped to man the barriers and the two sides clashed.
“There were 40 or 50 of them, all very organized — they didn't talk to us, they just removed the barriers violently,” said 23-year-old student Chokin Wong, who was sitting down in the middle of the street. “We don't want to give back the road to violent people.”“There were 40 or 50 of them, all very organized — they didn't talk to us, they just removed the barriers violently,” said 23-year-old student Chokin Wong, who was sitting down in the middle of the street. “We don't want to give back the road to violent people.”
Students and pro-democracy protesters formed human chains across one end of the street and sat down behind barricades at the other end, facing a line of police, who tried to keep the two sides apart.Students and pro-democracy protesters formed human chains across one end of the street and sat down behind barricades at the other end, facing a line of police, who tried to keep the two sides apart.
“Open the roads,” chanted dozens of people unhappy with the sit-in protest, accusing the students of being tools of the West and not being “real Chinese.”“Open the roads,” chanted dozens of people unhappy with the sit-in protest, accusing the students of being tools of the West and not being “real Chinese.”
“Don’t let them pass,” the pro-democracy protesters replied, accusing their opponents of not being Hong Kong natives. “Go back to the mainland,” they chanted. “Speak Cantonese.”“Don’t let them pass,” the pro-democracy protesters replied, accusing their opponents of not being Hong Kong natives. “Go back to the mainland,” they chanted. “Speak Cantonese.”
The protests in Hong Kong have reflected growing tensions between natives and mainland Chinese, who have flooded into the territory since the handover from British rule in 1997. The protests in Hong Kong, a former British colony, have reflected growing tensions between natives and mainland Chinese, who have flooded into the territory since Britain handed it over to China in 1997.
Scores of taxi drivers drove up to the barricades to signal their opposition to the protesters, beeping their horns continuously. “We can't stand any more,” said one slogan pasted to a car, while another complained of loss of income. “You are breaking our rice bowl,” it read. Scores of taxi drivers drove up to the barricades to signal their opposition to the protesters, beeping their horns continuously. “We can't stand any more,” said one slogan pasted to a car. Another slogan complained of loss of income. “You are breaking our rice bowl,” it read.
Broken plastic ties, splintered wooden barriers and broken glass littered the street where barriers had been removed.Broken plastic ties, splintered wooden barriers and broken glass littered the street where barriers had been removed.
The police action earlier Monday seemed more symbolic than a concerted attempt to clear the roads. Outnumbered so early in the morning, protesters put up no resistence to the police action, witnesses said. But they soon regrouped, using bamboo poles to rebuild the barricades. The police action earlier Monday seemed more symbolic than a concerted attempt to clear the roads. Outnumbered so early in the morning, protesters put up no resistance to the police action, witnesses said. But they soon regrouped, using bamboo poles to rebuild the barricades.
The heart of the main protest site has a more permanent feel to it with each passing day, with tents, awnings, desks and mats stretching down normally busy roads, as students prepare to carry throughon their threat for a “long-term occupation” if the government refuses to cometo the negotiating table to disccuss their demands for democracy. The heart of the main protest site has a more permanent feel to it with each passing day, with tents, awnings, desks and mats stretching down normally busy roads, as students prepare to carry through on their threat for a “long-term occupation” if the government refuses to come to the negotiating table to discuss their demands for democracy.
On Sunday, Hong Kong’s embattled chief executive, Leung Chun-ying, said pro-democracy protesters were making “impossible” demands and warned their movement had “spun out of control,” as the sit-in entered its third week with no sign of a solution. On Sunday, Hong Kong’s embattled chief executive, Leung Chun-ying, said pro-democracy protesters were making “impossible” demands. He warned that their movement had “spun out of control,” as the sit-in entered its third week with no sign of a solution.
Student leaders argue they cannot call the protests off unless the government makes some concession and at least agrees to properly represent their views to the Chinese government in Beijing. Student leaders argue that they cannot call the protests off unless the government makes some concession and at least agrees to properly represent their views to the Chinese government in Beijing.
The Hong Kong government, with China at its back, is refusing to even talk to student leaders unless they end their protests and drop their demand for genuine democracy when the chief executive’s role next comes up for election in 2017. The Hong Kong government, with China at its back, is refusing even to talk to student leaders unless they end their protests and drop their demand for genuine democracy when the chief executive’s role next comes up for election in 2017.
It appears to be playing a waiting game, hoping that support for the protests will continue to wane as frustration mounts among the general public with the accompanying disruptions to daily life. The government appears to be playing a waiting game, hoping that support for the protests will continue to wane as frustration mounts among the general public with the accompanying disruptions to daily life.
Calling the protests a “mass movement that has spun out of control,” Leung said in a Sunday television interview that he was confident they could not go on for a long time. Leung said in a Sunday television interview that he was confident the protests could not go on for a long time. He said it was impossible to grant the students’ demand for an open election in 2017, because the Communist Party in Beijing would have to revoke its August ruling setting out in detail how these elections would be held. There was, he said, “almost zero chance” of that.
He said it was “impossible” to grant the students’ demand for an open election in 2017, because this would mean the Communist Party in Beijing would have to revoke its August ruling setting out in detail how these elections would be held. There was, he said, “almost zero chance” of that.
China wants the right to vet candidates in the 2017 elections through a nominating committee stacked with its loyalists; protesters want an open field of candidates, nominated by the public.China wants the right to vet candidates in the 2017 elections through a nominating committee stacked with its loyalists; protesters want an open field of candidates, nominated by the public.
On Sunday, construction workers and taxi drivers turned up near the protest site to complain that the sit-in was damaging their livelihoods. Hundreds of people also took part in a march asking the government to end the protests and remove the barricades.On Sunday, construction workers and taxi drivers turned up near the protest site to complain that the sit-in was damaging their livelihoods. Hundreds of people also took part in a march asking the government to end the protests and remove the barricades.
Conscious of the frustration their occupation is causing, some protest leaders had discussed closing one or two of the three main protest sites, or opening more roads around the fringes to minimize disruption to traffic. But there is reluctance among many of the rank-and-file to give ground unless the government makes some concession to their demands. Conscious of the frustration that their occupation is causing, some protest leaders had discussed closing one or two of the three main protest sites, or opening more roads around the fringes to minimize disruption to traffic. But there was reluctance among many of the rank-and-file to give ground unless the government makes some concession to their demands.
On Saturday, student leaders issued an open letter to Chinese leader Xi Jinping, urging him to consider political reforms in the city and blaming Hong Kong’s chief executive for the demonstrations. Throughout the protest, they have been careful not to criticize the Chinese government directly. On Saturday, student leaders issued an open letter to Chinese President Xi Jinping, urging him to consider political reforms in the city and blaming Hong Kong’s chief executive for the demonstrations. Throughout the protests, they have been careful not to criticize the Chinese government directly.
There appears to be little chance of China conceding ground. In the latest of a series of critical editorials, the official People’s Daily newspaper in Beijing described the protest movement as “unrest” on Saturday — language that some observers said represented growing impatience among China’s leaders with the movement. There appeared to be little chance that China would give ground. In the latest of a series of critical editorials, the official People’s Daily newspaper in Beijing described the protest movement as “unrest” on Saturday — language that some observers said represented growing impatience among China’s leaders with the movement.
Daniela Deane contributed to this report from Rome. Daniela Deane in Rome contributed to this report.