Bombs, tear gas, injured people and the death of a protester at the hands of the Hong Kong Police Force. Recently, an extradition law has been proposed by the Hong Kong government that would allow the semi-autonomous government to detain and relocate people with criminal backgrounds to Taiwan and China.
However, most people believe that this law will allow the Chinese government to detain not only criminals but those who openly oppose the communist government of China, participate in political protests and activists.
Due to this, nearly two million people have joined together to mass protest against The Fugitive Offenders and Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Legislation Bill.
As time progressed and protests became more agitated, Hongkongers received more reasons to cause turmoil. Protesters have been found dead, the use of tear gas against activists, and the 10-year jail sentence given to students who protested had all been fuel that created a bigger fire.
This fire became uncontrollable when Hong Kong citizens found out that a young woman may be blind in one eye due to the brutal tactics used by Hong Kong police against activists.
Thousands of Hongkongers clustered around Hong Kong’s International Airport screaming, “An eye for an eye!” Many of them wore eye patches on their right eyes symbolizing the woman who was previously injured. This caused one of the busiest airports in the world to close for two days.
During these two days, activists violently protested by attacking police officials and even tied up and beat up a Chinese journalist from China’s Global Times, and during all of this, multiple individuals were injured during the protest.
We can blame this chaotic day due to the fact that these activists are leaderless or because this revolt is the cause of the extreme fear Hongkongers feel at the moment.
It is not the first time the Chinese government tries to limit political freedom for the Hong Kong citizens. In 2014, China refused to permit Hong Kong universal suffrage. Hongkongers until this day can’t vote for their Chief Executive, which is the head of the government of Hong Kong. The Chief Executive can only be elected by a small committee and appointed by the Chinese government.
People are divided between two different opinions: the ones who believe that the violent protests should stop, and the others who applaud Hong Kong for their fight for democracy.
Singing the U.S. national anthem and waving the American flag is what activists in Hong Kong are doing to show their desire for freedom. We take for granted what is given to us from the day we are born. Hong Kong’s disruptive protests are well justified as they fear losing what is left of their democracy. If this new extradition bill becomes law, Hong Kong’s economy will suffer as a great number of tourists would be afraid to visit Hong Kong. Foreigners who have publicly said something negative about the Chinese government could also be subject of this extradition bill, and therefore, be extradited to China.
Many businesses and small shops will disappear as the Chinese communist government would incarcerate anyone who sells clothes made from foreign countries.
Of course this will affect U.S.-Hong Kong relations. The U.S. has invested money in Hong Kong and a vast number of businesses will close. The American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong said this bill will “reduce the appeal of Hong Kong to international companies.”
Cybernauts who use Twitter, Facebook and other social media could also be charged with crime and be extradited to a Chinese prison cell as these websites are prohibited by the Chinese government. People don’t realize that if the bill is passed, Chinese law will be enforced in Hong Kong. They won’t have the freedom of speech, to protest and to assemble. Imagine this happening in the U.S. and getting arrested for tweeting “I don’t like Trump.”
Although Hongkonger protesters have terrible mismanagement, lack a charismatic leader and have awfully threatened journalists and Chinese bystanders; all of this is done to get a basic level of freedom. As we speak, Hong Kong police are arresting unarmed civilians. Attacking and arresting activists who are only looking out for their country to have democracy. Even though there’s nothing we can do directly, we can still spread the news and be more conscious about what’s happening in the world.
