Protesters in need of carrots after sticks
- As violence gives way to peace at rallies, the government should consider reacting to latest overtures and taking a more conciliatory stance
For once, the Civil Human Rights Front delivered what it promised – civil and peaceful disobedience. Of course, the faction of so-called peace, rationality and non-violence carried the day because the more violent and extreme people were perceived to have crossed the line at the airport more than a week ago, with the attacks on mainlanders and massive disruption to flights.
Even some of their own comrades have criticised them while the foreign press, usually sympathetic, published stories that put them in a bad light.
Though the rallies were technically illegal, the government was right not to denounce them, noting only that they disrupted traffic.
But the government needs to go further and use this as a peace overture. There has to be carrots, not just sticks. When so-called cockroaches were unleashed to cause destruction and mayhem across the city, tear gas and batons were the only possible answer.
But if protesters behave, the government needs to take a more conciliatory stance. How to deal with their five demands? The extradition bill is dead, long live the bill! Let’s not waste any more time on that.