Source:
https://scmp.com/comment/letters/article/3039430/hong-kongs-pro-democracy-candidates-triumphed-polls-now-they-must
Comment/ Letters

Hong Kong’s pro-democracy candidates triumphed at the polls. Now they must take the big debate off the streets

  • A society aspiring to become a mature democracy mustn’t justify violent acts – by the police or protesters
  • Unanimously denouncing violence will open the door to a much-needed conversation on Hong Kong’s future while protesters’ demands can be pursued through democratic processes
Pro-democracy candidate Jimmy Sham (right) celebrates with a supporter on November 25 after winning in the district council election. Photo: AP

The violence earlier this month has served as proof to even the most optimistic among us that the current conflict is far from over. While no one knows for certain where we are headed, it is clear that the sociocultural fabric that for decades characterised Hong Kong as one of the most modern and politically conscious cities in Asia is under serious threat.

Long gone are the days when the local media ran articles debating whether protesters had engaged in activities that could be described as riots. Violence on the streets has made the question moot. From vandalising businesses to assaulting those with opposing views, a growing minority within what began as a peaceful movement seemed to have found in violence the only solution to political grievances. This is unacceptable.

Any modern society that aspires to become a mature democracy can’t, under any circumstances, justify violent acts. I’m sad to say, however, that many in Hong Kong seem to have been dazzled by what used to be (and still is) a righteous cause and have turned a blind eye to the violence all around them, thereby doing a tremendous disservice to the city. Whether it is out of fear or fidelity, some people’s silence on the violence that has turned Hong Kong upside down speaks volumes about their lack of principles.

After a protester was shot on November 11, staff at Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital and many others on social media took a stand and condemned the violence. I won’t rationalise the way certain members of Hong Kong’s police force have handled the protests. The November 11 shooting was reprehensible and entirely unjustified; video footage shows the young protester not only unarmed but also posing no visible threat to the officer.

A few hours after that incident, a construction worker in Ma On Shan was confronted by a group of protesters and set ablaze. But protest supporters were largely silent, in a pattern that has become all too familiar: if the victim of violence had joined a protest, a public outcry is guaranteed; if the victim had questioned the protesters’ cause, the public looks the other way.

This double standard must end. Violence is violence, no matter the perpetrator. Radical protesters will feel empowered to carry out violent acts as long as the people of Hong Kong continue to wipe the slate clean after each wave of protests.

Hongkongers need to set aside their political differences and unanimously denounce all forms of violence. Such a gesture would not only deflate tensions, but also open the door to a much-needed, long-overdue conversation about the future of Hong Kong.

Given this week’s election results, it seems part of this responsibility has now fallen on the pan-democrats, who must pursue the protesters’ demands within the democratic processes established by the Basic Law, thus giving this city a chance to take the debate off the streets and back to the institutions where it belongs.

Cesar Lardies Rivas, Sham Shui Po