08-29-2016, 09:58 PM
*** 30-Aug-16 World View -- China's 'thuggery' transforms Hong Kong's Umbrella Movement into independence movement
This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com
****
**** Hong Kong's pro-democracy 'Umbrella Movement' is viewed as a failure
****
![[Image: g160829b.jpg]](http://www.GenerationalDynamics.com/ww2010/g160829b.jpg)
Umbrella Movement protest in Hong Kong, September 2015 (Reuters)
In the summer of 2014, tens of thousands of Hong Kong citizens, mostly
college age, staged a series of pro-democracy protests, bring central
Hong Kong to a standstill. These were the largest protests since
Britain gave up its Hong Kong colony in 1997, returning it to Chinese
sovereignty. It was also the worst and bloodiest police violence
in Hong Kong since 1997.
The police attacked the protesters with tear gas, and the protesters
defended themselves with umbrellas to protect themselves from the tear
gas. The sight of bright yellow umbrellas became commonplace, and the
protests have become known as the "Umbrella Revolution" or "Umbrella
movement."
What sparked the Umbrella Movement was that Beijing reneged on its
commitment to "one country, two systems." According to the agreement
that China made with Britain in 1997, when Britain returned its Hong
Kong colony to Chinese control, Beijing would pursue Communism and
Socialism, while Hong Kong would retain its democracy, its capitalist
system, and its way of life for at least 50 years, until 2047.
However, for the approaching 2017 elections, China is calling the
elections "free," but is tightly controlling who will be permitted to
run in the elections. The only candidates who will be permitted to be
run have to be approved a "nominating committee" completely controlled
by Beijing. So the effect is that the so-called "free" elections are
rigged to guarantee that only candidates selected by Beijing can win
the elections.
The Umbrella Movement is considered a complete failure, because
nothing change. China adamantly refused to make any changes to the
2017 election process, and so it's still absolutely guaranteed that
the so-called "free" 2017 elections will be tightly controlled, and
any candidate that wins the election is also guaranteed to be tightly
controlled by Beijing.
According to 25-year-old Edward Leung Tin-kei, who took part in the
Umbrella protests, "I was a peaceful protester. But what have we
achieved? Nothing."
The Umbrella Movement was conducted by peaceful protesters who only
wanted China to meet its commitment for free elections. The failure
of the Umbrella Movement to accomplish anything has caused the
radicalization of its leaders, to the point where for the first time
they're demanding independence for Hong Kong. BBC and
Hong Kong Free Press
Related Articles
****
**** Beijing 'thuggery' motivates the rise of the independence movement
****
The failure of the Umbrella Movement caused its young generation
leaders to reevaluate their motives and what risks they're willing
to take to achieve their goals.
However, it was an event several months ago that really galvanized the
rise of the independence movement. Several Hong Kong booksellers who
had been selling pro-democracy books in their bookstores disappeared
mysteriously in October of last year.
Although it was widely believed that Beijing had abducted them, there
was no proof until June of this year, when 61-year-old Lam Wing-kee,
one of the booksellers, suddenly surfaced in Hong Kong and held a
press conference, saying that Chinese agents had abducted him. "They
blindfolded me and put a cap on my head and basically bundled me up."
He gave a detailed description of what happened. he was arrested
after crossing the border from Hong Kong into the southern mainland
Chinese city of Shenzhen in October, and was kept in a 200 sq ft room
for five months under guard. He was forced to sign a document
admitting to crimes that he hadn't committed, and giving up his right
to a lawyer or to speak to his family.
Eventually he confessed to his "crimes" on television, and then was
released on bail. His press conference was a complete surprise to
everyone. He said he had decided to speak out after thousands of
demonstrators took to the streets of Hong Kong to protest the
booksellers’ disappearances. "Hongkongers will not bow down before
brute force," Lam said.
Four other abducted booksellers are still in Chinese jails.
Lam Wing-kee's story lit a fuse among the former members of the
Umbrella Movement, turning it into a full-fledged independence
movement. According to one Hong Kong lawmaker:
> [indent]<QUOTE>"It’s now obvious to everyone that the so-called ‘one
> country, two systems’ promise is completely in tatters. We need
> to stand firm and stand tall and really fight back. ...
>
> This is not just an ordinary detention. This is literally a
> kidnapping by Beijing authorities."<END QUOTE>[/indent]
In July, the Hong Kong administration disqualified six potential
candidates with pro-independence stances from running in the 2016
Legislative Council election.
Earlier this year, any talk of Hong Kong independence was completely
unthinkable. But the disqualification action led, in early August, to
the first pro-independence rally in Hong Kong history.
Pro-independence activists are now referring to themselves as
"localists." A poll last month showed that one in six Hongkongers
supported independence.
25-year-old activist Edward Leung Tin-kei, whom we quoted earlier, has
become a leader of the pro-independence movement. Speaking at the
rally, he said:
> [indent]<QUOTE>"Hong Kong’s sovereignty doesn’t belong to Xi Jinping,
> the Communist Party, the Chinese or local governments – the
> sovereignty always belongs to us."<END QUOTE>[/indent]
A 30-year-old mother of two, attending the rally with her children,
said, "If Hong Kong doesn’t become independent, our next generation’s
well-being will be hampered." AFP (16-June) and Guardian (London, 17-June) and Time (5-Aug) and Reuters (7/25)
****
**** Hong Kong debates the independence movement
****
The Beijing view of the independence movement is summarized by
Chinese state media Global Times:
> [indent]<QUOTE>"From mainstream society in Hong Kong to Beijing,
> there is awareness that Hong Kong independence should not be given
> any credence. However, some political forces in Hong Kong have
> tried to make use of these calls to serve their own
> ends. Meanwhile, other dissenting sentiments may also expand by
> riding on the extreme independence wave. These have created room
> for the Hong Kong independence farce to grow.
>
> The Hong Kong authorities have realized that it is time to set
> systematic restraints. The general public in Hong Kong has also
> acknowledged the harmful effects.
>
> Such things as Hong Kong independence can by no means be tolerated
> in the mainland. But under the Hong Kong system, odd things are
> never a surprise. The West would like to see a farce, but its own
> farces may be more eye-catching."<END QUOTE>[/indent]
So it's America's fault. Nothing new there.
Beijing is trying to crush the pro-independence movement by
disqualifying candidates and by acting like Mafia gangsters,
abducting booksellers of all people.
The Beijing politicians are just stupid as politicians in the west.
They think that they will stop protests by college age students by
abducting booksellers. Is Xi Jinping a total idiot? Do these Chinese
officials have no sense of their own history? Do they think that Mao
Zedong would have been stopped if Chiang Kai-shek had abducted some
booksellers?
According to a Hong Kong columnist:
> [indent]<QUOTE>"Don’t worry. All this talk of independence by Hong
> Kong’s younger generation will fizzle out in time. Anyone who
> tells you that is either an idiot or takes you for one.
>
> The independence movement has gained too much traction. Time will
> not derail it, nor temper the hostility many young people have
> towards mainland China. Compare it to a cancer if you like. It has
> spread from loony talk to universities, and now to secondary
> schools. ...
>
> When so many believe fantasy can become reality, the worst thing
> you can do is to dismiss it as a passing folly
>
> A political cause dies only when the reasons that spawned it no
> longer apply. But the reasons that lit the independence fire still
> remain. In fact, more have materialized, convincing young people
> that independence is a wall that can guard against mainland
> culture invading Hong Kong. You can’t blame them for thinking that
> way when they see booksellers being abducted, their peers being
> blocked as Legislative Council candidates for their political
> beliefs, and Beijing loyalists demanding a ban on independence
> talk in schools.
>
> Yes, Hong Kong independence is fantasy, but when so many believe
> fantasy can become reality, the worst thing you can do is to
> dismiss it as a passing folly. Trying to choke it with tactics
> that go against Hong Kong’s values won’t work
> either."<END QUOTE>[/indent]
As in America, this is a generational Crisis era for China. Just as
young Americans are supporting loons like Bernie Sanders, young
Hongkongers are going to support independence. The difference is that
America has political freedoms and structures that permit the
political energy to be diffused, while Chinese thugs use gangster
tactics that only guarantee that the political energy will increase.
We haven't seen the end of this issue.
Global Times (Beijing, 8-Aug)
and Hong Kong Free Press and South China Morning Post (Hong Kong)
****
**** Hong Kong police prepare for election day riots from pro-independence activists
****
With the independence movement growing in Hong Kong, authorities fear
protests and violence during the Legislative Council elections to be
held on Sunday. Kowtowing to Beijing, the Hong Kong administration
had disqualified six potential candidates from running, on the grounds
that may support Hong Kong independence from China.
As a result, Hong Kong police will be deployed in massive numbers on
Sunday. Over 5,000 police officers will be stationed at police
stations around the city to combat "possible unrest." According to
officials:
> [indent]<QUOTE>"There is a risk of unrest [during the elections]
> because causing trouble is one of their propaganda campaigns to
> promote independence and reach their target. ...
>
> About 40 officers [on the morning shift] will be sent out in case
> of any trouble in their police district. Another 30 detectives
> working in each of the stations will also be deployed in case of
> any major unrest."<END QUOTE>[/indent]
In preparation, police have running training exercises, using dozens
of mock protesters staging a sit-in. South China Morning Post (Hong Kong)
KEYS: Generational Dynamics, China, Hong Kong, Umbrella Movement, Britain,
Edward Leung Tin-kei, Lam Wing-kee
Permanent web link to this article
Receive daily World View columns by e-mail
Contribute to Generational Dynamics via PayPal
John J. Xenakis
100 Memorial Drive Apt 8-13A
Cambridge, MA 02142
Phone: 617-864-0010
E-mail: john@GenerationalDynamics.com
Web site: http://www.GenerationalDynamics.com
Forum: http://www.gdxforum.com/forum
Subscribe to World View: http://generationaldynamics.com/subscribe
This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com
- Hong Kong's pro-democracy 'Umbrella Movement' is viewed as a failure
- Beijing 'thuggery' motivates the rise of the independence movement
- Hong Kong debates the independence movement
- Hong Kong police prepare for election day riots from pro-independence activists
****
**** Hong Kong's pro-democracy 'Umbrella Movement' is viewed as a failure
****
Umbrella Movement protest in Hong Kong, September 2015 (Reuters)
In the summer of 2014, tens of thousands of Hong Kong citizens, mostly
college age, staged a series of pro-democracy protests, bring central
Hong Kong to a standstill. These were the largest protests since
Britain gave up its Hong Kong colony in 1997, returning it to Chinese
sovereignty. It was also the worst and bloodiest police violence
in Hong Kong since 1997.
The police attacked the protesters with tear gas, and the protesters
defended themselves with umbrellas to protect themselves from the tear
gas. The sight of bright yellow umbrellas became commonplace, and the
protests have become known as the "Umbrella Revolution" or "Umbrella
movement."
What sparked the Umbrella Movement was that Beijing reneged on its
commitment to "one country, two systems." According to the agreement
that China made with Britain in 1997, when Britain returned its Hong
Kong colony to Chinese control, Beijing would pursue Communism and
Socialism, while Hong Kong would retain its democracy, its capitalist
system, and its way of life for at least 50 years, until 2047.
However, for the approaching 2017 elections, China is calling the
elections "free," but is tightly controlling who will be permitted to
run in the elections. The only candidates who will be permitted to be
run have to be approved a "nominating committee" completely controlled
by Beijing. So the effect is that the so-called "free" elections are
rigged to guarantee that only candidates selected by Beijing can win
the elections.
The Umbrella Movement is considered a complete failure, because
nothing change. China adamantly refused to make any changes to the
2017 election process, and so it's still absolutely guaranteed that
the so-called "free" 2017 elections will be tightly controlled, and
any candidate that wins the election is also guaranteed to be tightly
controlled by Beijing.
According to 25-year-old Edward Leung Tin-kei, who took part in the
Umbrella protests, "I was a peaceful protester. But what have we
achieved? Nothing."
The Umbrella Movement was conducted by peaceful protesters who only
wanted China to meet its commitment for free elections. The failure
of the Umbrella Movement to accomplish anything has caused the
radicalization of its leaders, to the point where for the first time
they're demanding independence for Hong Kong. BBC and
Hong Kong Free Press
Related Articles
- Pro-democracy protests bring Hong Kong to a standstill (29-Sep-2014)
- Hong Kong police clash with protesters, worst violence in weeks (1-Dec-2014)
- Taiwan voters choose independence from China (30-Nov-2014)
****
**** Beijing 'thuggery' motivates the rise of the independence movement
****
The failure of the Umbrella Movement caused its young generation
leaders to reevaluate their motives and what risks they're willing
to take to achieve their goals.
However, it was an event several months ago that really galvanized the
rise of the independence movement. Several Hong Kong booksellers who
had been selling pro-democracy books in their bookstores disappeared
mysteriously in October of last year.
Although it was widely believed that Beijing had abducted them, there
was no proof until June of this year, when 61-year-old Lam Wing-kee,
one of the booksellers, suddenly surfaced in Hong Kong and held a
press conference, saying that Chinese agents had abducted him. "They
blindfolded me and put a cap on my head and basically bundled me up."
He gave a detailed description of what happened. he was arrested
after crossing the border from Hong Kong into the southern mainland
Chinese city of Shenzhen in October, and was kept in a 200 sq ft room
for five months under guard. He was forced to sign a document
admitting to crimes that he hadn't committed, and giving up his right
to a lawyer or to speak to his family.
Eventually he confessed to his "crimes" on television, and then was
released on bail. His press conference was a complete surprise to
everyone. He said he had decided to speak out after thousands of
demonstrators took to the streets of Hong Kong to protest the
booksellers’ disappearances. "Hongkongers will not bow down before
brute force," Lam said.
Four other abducted booksellers are still in Chinese jails.
Lam Wing-kee's story lit a fuse among the former members of the
Umbrella Movement, turning it into a full-fledged independence
movement. According to one Hong Kong lawmaker:
> [indent]<QUOTE>"It’s now obvious to everyone that the so-called ‘one
> country, two systems’ promise is completely in tatters. We need
> to stand firm and stand tall and really fight back. ...
>
> This is not just an ordinary detention. This is literally a
> kidnapping by Beijing authorities."<END QUOTE>[/indent]
In July, the Hong Kong administration disqualified six potential
candidates with pro-independence stances from running in the 2016
Legislative Council election.
Earlier this year, any talk of Hong Kong independence was completely
unthinkable. But the disqualification action led, in early August, to
the first pro-independence rally in Hong Kong history.
Pro-independence activists are now referring to themselves as
"localists." A poll last month showed that one in six Hongkongers
supported independence.
25-year-old activist Edward Leung Tin-kei, whom we quoted earlier, has
become a leader of the pro-independence movement. Speaking at the
rally, he said:
> [indent]<QUOTE>"Hong Kong’s sovereignty doesn’t belong to Xi Jinping,
> the Communist Party, the Chinese or local governments – the
> sovereignty always belongs to us."<END QUOTE>[/indent]
A 30-year-old mother of two, attending the rally with her children,
said, "If Hong Kong doesn’t become independent, our next generation’s
well-being will be hampered." AFP (16-June) and Guardian (London, 17-June) and Time (5-Aug) and Reuters (7/25)
****
**** Hong Kong debates the independence movement
****
The Beijing view of the independence movement is summarized by
Chinese state media Global Times:
> [indent]<QUOTE>"From mainstream society in Hong Kong to Beijing,
> there is awareness that Hong Kong independence should not be given
> any credence. However, some political forces in Hong Kong have
> tried to make use of these calls to serve their own
> ends. Meanwhile, other dissenting sentiments may also expand by
> riding on the extreme independence wave. These have created room
> for the Hong Kong independence farce to grow.
>
> The Hong Kong authorities have realized that it is time to set
> systematic restraints. The general public in Hong Kong has also
> acknowledged the harmful effects.
>
> Such things as Hong Kong independence can by no means be tolerated
> in the mainland. But under the Hong Kong system, odd things are
> never a surprise. The West would like to see a farce, but its own
> farces may be more eye-catching."<END QUOTE>[/indent]
So it's America's fault. Nothing new there.
Beijing is trying to crush the pro-independence movement by
disqualifying candidates and by acting like Mafia gangsters,
abducting booksellers of all people.
The Beijing politicians are just stupid as politicians in the west.
They think that they will stop protests by college age students by
abducting booksellers. Is Xi Jinping a total idiot? Do these Chinese
officials have no sense of their own history? Do they think that Mao
Zedong would have been stopped if Chiang Kai-shek had abducted some
booksellers?
According to a Hong Kong columnist:
> [indent]<QUOTE>"Don’t worry. All this talk of independence by Hong
> Kong’s younger generation will fizzle out in time. Anyone who
> tells you that is either an idiot or takes you for one.
>
> The independence movement has gained too much traction. Time will
> not derail it, nor temper the hostility many young people have
> towards mainland China. Compare it to a cancer if you like. It has
> spread from loony talk to universities, and now to secondary
> schools. ...
>
> When so many believe fantasy can become reality, the worst thing
> you can do is to dismiss it as a passing folly
>
> A political cause dies only when the reasons that spawned it no
> longer apply. But the reasons that lit the independence fire still
> remain. In fact, more have materialized, convincing young people
> that independence is a wall that can guard against mainland
> culture invading Hong Kong. You can’t blame them for thinking that
> way when they see booksellers being abducted, their peers being
> blocked as Legislative Council candidates for their political
> beliefs, and Beijing loyalists demanding a ban on independence
> talk in schools.
>
> Yes, Hong Kong independence is fantasy, but when so many believe
> fantasy can become reality, the worst thing you can do is to
> dismiss it as a passing folly. Trying to choke it with tactics
> that go against Hong Kong’s values won’t work
> either."<END QUOTE>[/indent]
As in America, this is a generational Crisis era for China. Just as
young Americans are supporting loons like Bernie Sanders, young
Hongkongers are going to support independence. The difference is that
America has political freedoms and structures that permit the
political energy to be diffused, while Chinese thugs use gangster
tactics that only guarantee that the political energy will increase.
We haven't seen the end of this issue.
Global Times (Beijing, 8-Aug)
and Hong Kong Free Press and South China Morning Post (Hong Kong)
****
**** Hong Kong police prepare for election day riots from pro-independence activists
****
With the independence movement growing in Hong Kong, authorities fear
protests and violence during the Legislative Council elections to be
held on Sunday. Kowtowing to Beijing, the Hong Kong administration
had disqualified six potential candidates from running, on the grounds
that may support Hong Kong independence from China.
As a result, Hong Kong police will be deployed in massive numbers on
Sunday. Over 5,000 police officers will be stationed at police
stations around the city to combat "possible unrest." According to
officials:
> [indent]<QUOTE>"There is a risk of unrest [during the elections]
> because causing trouble is one of their propaganda campaigns to
> promote independence and reach their target. ...
>
> About 40 officers [on the morning shift] will be sent out in case
> of any trouble in their police district. Another 30 detectives
> working in each of the stations will also be deployed in case of
> any major unrest."<END QUOTE>[/indent]
In preparation, police have running training exercises, using dozens
of mock protesters staging a sit-in. South China Morning Post (Hong Kong)
KEYS: Generational Dynamics, China, Hong Kong, Umbrella Movement, Britain,
Edward Leung Tin-kei, Lam Wing-kee
Permanent web link to this article
Receive daily World View columns by e-mail
Contribute to Generational Dynamics via PayPal
John J. Xenakis
100 Memorial Drive Apt 8-13A
Cambridge, MA 02142
Phone: 617-864-0010
E-mail: john@GenerationalDynamics.com
Web site: http://www.GenerationalDynamics.com
Forum: http://www.gdxforum.com/forum
Subscribe to World View: http://generationaldynamics.com/subscribe
