This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/hong-kong-authorities-begin-dismantling-barricades-at-main-protest-site/2014/12/11/eeea5487-14b5-46d8-b270-9d68032b361c_story.html?wprss=rss_world

The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Hong Kong authorities begin dismantling barricades at main protest site Hong Kong police dismantle pro-democracy protest site and make more arrests
(about 5 hours later)
BEIJING — Hong Kong authorities began dismantling barricades at the main pro-democracy protest site Thursday, in a final push to clear streets occupied by students and activists for more than two months. BEIJING — Police dismantled the last barricades at Hong Kong’s main pro-democracy protest site Thursday, and began arresting activists who had mounted a final, defiant sit-in at the end of a civil disobedience campaign that had lasted more than two months.
The pro-democracy protests in the Chinese territory have represented one of the most serious challenges to the Communist Party’s authority a since the 1989 pro-democracy demonstrations in Tiananmen Square. But even if the streets of Hong Kong are finally cleared Thursday, protesters said the struggle for democracy would continue. The pro-democracy protests in the Chinese territory have represented one of the most serious challenges to the Communist Party’s authority a since the 1989 pro-democracy demonstrations in Tiananmen Square. But even as the streets of Hong Kong were finally cleared Thursday, protesters said the struggle for democracy would continue.
Watched by police, workers in white helmets began dismantling barricades and clearing part of the protest site that was covered by a court injunction granted earlier this week. They met no resistance from protesters. Watched by police, workers in white helmets began dismantling barricades and clearing part of the protest site that was covered by a court injunction granted earlier this week. before police with shields moved in to clear the rest of the streets. They met no resistance from protesters.
Police have vowed to finish the job later in the day and clear the entire site in Hong Kong’s Admiralty district, the iconic home of the protest movement in the heart of the city, where hundreds of tents have filled a major highway for weeks beside key government buildings and on the edge of the business and financial district. The acts brought to close 11 weeks of protests in Hong Kong’s Admiralty district, where hundreds of tents had been erected for weeks alongside study areas, a stage and first aid stations. The occupation had filled an eight-lane highway beside key government buildings and on the edge of the business and financial district, with banners calling for democracy dangling from bridges and artwork enlivening the site on every side.
Around 10,000 people had gathered at the protest site for a final, emotional rally on Wednesday evening, and as the workers began clearing barricades Thursday, banners at the site defiantly promised: “We’ll be back” and “It’s only the beginning.” Around 10,000 people had gathered at the protest site for an emotional rally on Wednesday evening, and as the workers began clearing barricades Thursday, banners at the site defiantly promised: “We’ll be back” and “It’s only the beginning.”
Some of the tents — as well as some of the artwork that had enlivened the site — have now been packed up, but hundreds of protesters remained at the site Thursday waiting for the police, some chanting: “I want universal suffrage.” Before the police moved in, protesters packed up many of their tents and carried away some of the artwork. Student leaders rallied the dwindling crowds, who chanted for “full democracy” and “universal suffrage.”
By late afternoon, just about 100 protesters remained, sitting on the road in a final act of defiance. After clearing the barricades, and issuing repeated warnings, police moved in and began carrying them away one by one.
“I believe in the concept of civil disobedience,” said 25-year-old hotel employee Manny Chan, as he awaited possible arrest. “To fight injustice we have to get arrested. I would feel very irresponsible if I just leave.”
Evidence has emerged that authorities have drawn up a black list of those involved in the protests, with several young people denied entry into mainland China in recent weeks. Students fear this could damage their employment prospects in the future, and some people stayed away or left the site earlier on Thursday for that reason.
“I don’t want to be arrested,” said 58-year-old housewife Wah Yeung, who said police had taken her identity card number when she took part in a protest march last week. She left the site before the final sit-in. “Sometimes I have to go to China, and I cannot risk being denied entry. This is white terror.”
But many people said they would return in the future -- both young people and old.
“I dont want this protest to end,” said 82-year-old woman Mak Sui-fong, adding that Hong Kong was being destroyed by China and by its own Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, whom she described as a puppet. “If I wasn’t this old I would be on the front line.”“I dont want this protest to end,” said 82-year-old woman Mak Sui-fong, adding that Hong Kong was being destroyed by China and by its own Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, whom she described as a puppet. “If I wasn’t this old I would be on the front line.”
Crystal Tse, a 27-year-old social worker, said she would take part in other protests as long as they were peaceful. “I think we should persist and actually do more,” she said. “I am angry that the government hasn’t done anything in the past two months.”Crystal Tse, a 27-year-old social worker, said she would take part in other protests as long as they were peaceful. “I think we should persist and actually do more,” she said. “I am angry that the government hasn’t done anything in the past two months.”
The demonstrators have been demanding full democracy for Hong Kong, with an open process to nominate candidates to replace Leung in elections scheduled for 2017. Beijing demands the right to control the nomination process, and the Hong Kong government, arguing that its hands were tied, has refused to make concessions to the protesters.The demonstrators have been demanding full democracy for Hong Kong, with an open process to nominate candidates to replace Leung in elections scheduled for 2017. Beijing demands the right to control the nomination process, and the Hong Kong government, arguing that its hands were tied, has refused to make concessions to the protesters.
Support for the protests has waned in recent weeks, and the city has become increasingly polarized. Nevertheless, the desire for democracy in Hong Kong remains strong, with the younger generation increasingly politicized and alienated from the Communist Party.Support for the protests has waned in recent weeks, and the city has become increasingly polarized. Nevertheless, the desire for democracy in Hong Kong remains strong, with the younger generation increasingly politicized and alienated from the Communist Party.
“You might have the clearance today, but people will come back on the streets another day,” Alex Chow, leader of the Hong Kong Federation of Students told reporters, as protest leaders called on supporters to stay until the last moment, but not to resist the police. “Don’t forget, the clearance can’t resolve political conflicts, it can’t resolve society’s dilemma,” said the 18-year-old leader of the Scholarism movement Joshua Wong, who called off a hunger strike on doctor’s orders over the weekend after nearly five days.
“Don’t forget, the clearance can’t resolve political conflicts, it can’t resolve society’s dilemma,” said 18-year-old leader of the Scholarism movement Joshua Wong, who called off a hunger strike on doctor’s orders over the weekend after nearly five days. Professor Joseph Cheng, a political science professor at the City University of Hong University who had advised the protest leaders, said the campaign had drawn many more people than anyone had expected, won the sympathy of the international community and had remained largely peaceful.
But he said its spontaneous nature meant it lacked universally accepted leaders, making a withdrawal harder to coordinate when it became obvious the government would not budge.
“With the benefit of hindsight, if the protesters had withdrawn after seven or 10 days, it would have been much better,” he said.
The problem will now be to maintain the momentum, especially when the Chinese government has made it clear it is not about to give in. “It is a serious challenge,” said Cheng. “We have nothing we can deliver in concrete terms in the near future.”
The campaign for democracy has become known as the Umbrella Movement, after protesters sheltered behind them when police used tear gas and pepper spray at the start of the protests.The campaign for democracy has become known as the Umbrella Movement, after protesters sheltered behind them when police used tear gas and pepper spray at the start of the protests.
At some supply stations on the site on Thursday, protesters laid out boxes of goggles and umbrellas in case police used pepper spray or batons later in the day, the Reuters news agency reported. Police said 655 people have been arrested during the protests, and 129 officers injured, while many protesters have also been hurt, hit with batons, kicked by police or sprayed in the eyes. Police said 655 people have been arrested during the protests, and 129 officers injured, while many protesters have also been hurt, hit with batons, kicked by police or sprayed in the eyes.
Cheng reported from Hong Kong. Protesters are now setting their sights on a possible rally on New Year’s Day, and considering another possible campaign of civil disobedience when the city’s legislature debates the government’s proposals for political reforms next year.
The protests may have gripped the world’s attention, but they have seemingly been largely ignored by many people on the Chinese mainland, where state media has consistently vilified the protesters as a small, irrational group doing the bidding of Western powers. There was little reaction to the clearance on Chinese social media on Thursday.
Denyer reported from Beijing. Gu Jinglu also contributed from Beijing.