Occupy supporters are like jihadists, says pro-Beijing columnist in open letter at 'freedom of speech' march
About 400 march for freedom of speech after column draws death threats
About 400 people turned up for a "freedom of speech" march yesterday to support pro-Beijing columnist Chris Wat Wing-yin - who, in an open letter read out by Robert Chow Yung, compared pro-democracy protesters to those joining Islamic State.
Wat claimed she had received death threats after she wrote in a column for Headline Daily dated May 14 that Hongkongers should be grateful an autistic man wrongfully accused of manslaughter spent "at most 72 hours" in detention.
The writer was absent from yesterday's march on police advice and Chow, a founding member of the pro-establishment Alliance for Peace and Democracy, carried a placard reading "Je suis Wat Wing-yin", borrowing the slogan of support for French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in the aftermath of a deadly terrorist attack at its Paris office.
"A new dark force has emerged in today's Hong Kong, and it's called the 'hegemony of democracy'," Wat was quoted as writing in the open letter to thank her supporters. "They are more triad than triads; they are effectively terrorists.
"Many are asking… why have some of those close to us suddenly acted as if they are possessed and worship this cult called democracy hysterically?"
"I can tell you, don't waste time finding the answer. Not everything can be explained. Just look at those who live in comfort going to Syria to join ISIS."