Hong Kong and Catalonia: protest movements contrasting in style but similarly bound
- As two groups thousands of miles apart express common cause, how far do the comparisons stretch?
- Catalans voted for independence whereas Hong Kong protesters deny this is their aim – but their central governments’ stances are equally clear
In a nod back to their fellow demonstrators in Catalonia, Hong Kong protesters organised a sit-in in the city’s financial district Central in October to show solidarity with those fighting for their independence from Spain – a cause that has been relentlessly suppressed by Madrid.
Spain’s ambassador to China, Rafael Dezcallar, played down the comparison, saying: “In both cases, there were protests on the streets and clashes with the police. However, the parallels stop there.”
There are fundamental differences in the demands of the two peoples thousands of miles apart. But many Catalans say the affinity between the two goes deeper than that suggested by the Spanish envoy.
Both are pursuing what seem to be near-impossible goals, yet neither are giving up. They are learning from each other in their struggles with powerful central governments, according to protesters, academics and the ousted Catalan president Carles Puigdemont, talking to the South China Morning Post.
“We have been following Hong Kong’s protests since the beginning – it resonates with us a lot,” said a Catalonian protester and university student, who would only give her name as Isabella. “The similarity is bigger than police misconduct. We share the same determination to fight for democracy and freedom and justice.”