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Since June, the former British colony has been experiencing its worst crisis since its return to Beijing in 1997, with almost daily actions calling for democratic reforms.
Nearly 800,000 pro-democracy demonstrators marched on the streets of Hong Kong on Sunday (December 8th) to mark the anniversary of six months of protest against the Beijing regime, the organizers said. This figure is the highest since the protests began in Hong Kong last June .
" We will not back down "
The demonstration took place two weeks after the pro-democracy candidates triumphed in the November 24 local elections , which strongly contradicted the authorities' claim that the silent majority would oppose the protesters.
Many of them, dressed in black, were eager to express their anger at Beijing and the Hong Kong Executive Chief , Carrie Lam, who continue to refuse to accept demands that have been reinforced by the wider community. electoral victory of pro-democracy.
" No matter how we express our opinions, through a peaceful march, through civilized elections, the government will not listen, " lamented a 50-year-old protester at AFP. He obeys only the orders of the Chinese Communist Party. "
" I do not know how long the fight will last, " added another protester. For now, I do not see the end, but we will not back down. "
A peaceful demonstration after months of protest
Police have authorized this rally organized by the Civil Human Rights Front (CHRF) across the island of Hong Kong, a first since mid-August. " This is the last chance given by the people to Ms. Lam, " said Friday, December 6 to journalists Jimmy Sham, a leader of the CHRF. Advocating non-violence, the platform organized the big demonstrations of June and July.
In recent months, the Hong Kong authorities have banned major gatherings, citing risks of violence. Major demonstrations, however, have not ceased to defy these bans, and many have degenerated into violent clashes between protesters and law enforcement, plunging the usually ordered mega-city into recession and even chaos. The most spectacular episode: 1,100 people were arrested in November at the Polytechnic University , located on the Kowloon Peninsula, which had become the scene of violent clashes.
A few hours before the start of the demonstration on Sunday, the police presented weapons to the press, including a pistol and knives, claiming to have seized them during police operations, at night. 11 people were arrested. " We believe that the [interpellated] group intended to use these weapons to incite chaos at the rally ... and to attack the police, " said Chief Commissioner Lee Kwai-Wa, of the office of the fight against organized crime.
A new large-scale blocking action scheduled for Monday
This gathering comes on the eve of the anniversary of six months of mobilization. It began with an imposing demonstration on June 9 against a bill to allow extradition to China in particular, which has since been buried.
Many online forums used by the protesters call to mark this Monday this anniversary with a new action blocking large-scale public transport , in case of lack of response from the local executive. But there is no sign of a change in Carrie Lam's position.
Since the local elections, the head of the executive, whose support rate among the population is at a historically low level, made no concession to the pro-democracy camp. The reputation of the police has also been seriously damaged by these months of unrest. However, she defended the way she handled the demonstrations and claimed that the police were facing a rise in violence by the most radical protesters.
►To read more : Hong Kong: China responds to the United States with countermeasures
(with AFP)