Hong Kong on the march in honor of bus victims
By Min Lee |
August 30, 2010, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
Tens of thousands of people marched in Hong Kong yesterday in honor of eight local people killed in a bus hijacking in Manila, denouncing the Philippine police for botching the rescue operation and demanding justice for the dead.
The Philippine president has "begged for understanding" and ordered a thorough investigation into last Monday's incident, but that has done little to stem growing anger in Hong Kong.
About 20 Hong Kong legislators led the crowd at an urban park in a short ceremony honoring the dead before setting off on a march to the central financial district. Organizers said about 80,000 people took part.
"That 80,000 people can show up in such a short period of time - it shows the anger and unity of the Hong Kong people," lawmaker Cheung Man-kwong said.
Former police officer Rolando Mendoza commandeered a bus carrying a 20-member Hong Kong tour group visiting Manila last week, hoping to reverse his dismissal from the force on what he said were bogus robbery and extortion charges.
He released several children and elderly hostages early in the 12-hour standoff broadcast live on television, but later opened fire. A police sniper shot and killed him - but not before eight tourists had died.
Three others were seriously injured, including one who is still in a coma.
The bloody end stunned Hong Kongers, who blasted Manila police for what they called an amateurish rescue attempt. They also accused Philippine President Benigno Aquino III of indifference.
"Everyone saw how the Philippine government mishandled the situation before TV cameras and the chaos in the country. As a Chinese person, I need to demand justice," 49-year-old worker Andy Wong said at yesterday's protest.
Philippine presidential spokesman Herminio Coloma said his country respects the right of Hong Kongers to express their sentiments. He promised to announce the results of a "comprehensive, fair and accurate" investigation in three weeks.
Starting today, a group of Hong Kong forensic experts will be allowed to examine the bullet-peppered bus, a Philippine police spokesman said.
In a gesture of solidarity, hundreds of Filipinos employed as domestic helpers in Hong Kong held a candlelight vigil and urged the people of Hong Kong not to direct their anger at them.
"We ask the Hong Kong people who are watching us not to blame us for what happened because we also did not want this kind of thing to happen. This is why we are holding this prayer - to send our sympathy and condolences to them," Elma Oliva said.
Survivor Lee Ying-chuen, who along with her mother escaped with light injuries, said in an article published in the Ming Pao Daily News that the tourists thought about subduing Mendoza but didn't act because he seemed friendly and promised to release his hostages.
"If we didn't wait for the police rescue operation and acted decisively, there might have been a different outcome. But the horrible thing is there are no 'ifs' in history," she wrote.
The Philippine president has "begged for understanding" and ordered a thorough investigation into last Monday's incident, but that has done little to stem growing anger in Hong Kong.
About 20 Hong Kong legislators led the crowd at an urban park in a short ceremony honoring the dead before setting off on a march to the central financial district. Organizers said about 80,000 people took part.
"That 80,000 people can show up in such a short period of time - it shows the anger and unity of the Hong Kong people," lawmaker Cheung Man-kwong said.
Former police officer Rolando Mendoza commandeered a bus carrying a 20-member Hong Kong tour group visiting Manila last week, hoping to reverse his dismissal from the force on what he said were bogus robbery and extortion charges.
He released several children and elderly hostages early in the 12-hour standoff broadcast live on television, but later opened fire. A police sniper shot and killed him - but not before eight tourists had died.
Three others were seriously injured, including one who is still in a coma.
The bloody end stunned Hong Kongers, who blasted Manila police for what they called an amateurish rescue attempt. They also accused Philippine President Benigno Aquino III of indifference.
"Everyone saw how the Philippine government mishandled the situation before TV cameras and the chaos in the country. As a Chinese person, I need to demand justice," 49-year-old worker Andy Wong said at yesterday's protest.
Philippine presidential spokesman Herminio Coloma said his country respects the right of Hong Kongers to express their sentiments. He promised to announce the results of a "comprehensive, fair and accurate" investigation in three weeks.
Starting today, a group of Hong Kong forensic experts will be allowed to examine the bullet-peppered bus, a Philippine police spokesman said.
In a gesture of solidarity, hundreds of Filipinos employed as domestic helpers in Hong Kong held a candlelight vigil and urged the people of Hong Kong not to direct their anger at them.
"We ask the Hong Kong people who are watching us not to blame us for what happened because we also did not want this kind of thing to happen. This is why we are holding this prayer - to send our sympathy and condolences to them," Elma Oliva said.
Survivor Lee Ying-chuen, who along with her mother escaped with light injuries, said in an article published in the Ming Pao Daily News that the tourists thought about subduing Mendoza but didn't act because he seemed friendly and promised to release his hostages.
"If we didn't wait for the police rescue operation and acted decisively, there might have been a different outcome. But the horrible thing is there are no 'ifs' in history," she wrote.
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