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August 16, 2019

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Brutal HK airport attacks overstep line

Source: Xinhua | 00:59 UTC+8 August 16, 2019 | Print Edition

protesters staged a shameful episode of sheer violence and brutality in full public view and broadcast on live television at the Hong Kong International Airport on Tuesday.

At 8pm, a group of protesters detained a traveler they claimed to be an undercover police officer from the Chinese mainland.

In lynch mob-style assaults, they repeatedly kicked and punched the man, tied his wrists together and pulled his identity documents from his wallet.

For nearly four hours, dozens of radical protestors attacked the man before he passed out.

They even obstructed an ambulance crew from taking him to hospital.

Later, the protesters besieged and assaulted another man they claimed to be a fake reporter masquerading as a protester.

Again, they beat him, tied his wrists together and continued assaulting him even as he was being taken away by paramedics on a stretcher.

Chinese newspaper the Global Times has confirmed the man is one of its reporters.

During an unauthorized rally at the airport terminal earlier in the day, they cursed and assaulted passengers and prevented them from departing, paralyzing for the second day the operations of the busy airport.

Such brutal and shameful acts are a flagrant violation of basic human rights, overstepping the line in a civilized society.

The radicals’ violent attacks on innocent citizens are tantamount to an act of terrorism that should be condemned in the strongest terms possible.

Their illegal detainment and brutal beating of a journalist is also an insult to the global press community and a serious violation of the freedom of the press.

On Wednesday, some protesters attempted to gloss over their atrocities by putting up half-hearted “sorry” signs, using soft language such as “imperfect decisions.”

It is naive and absurd to think one can act with impunity. The only way for them to atone for their brutalities is to face the punishment by law.

Undoubtedly, these incidents at the airport will be remembered as shameful episodes in Hong Kong’s history.

Opinion


 

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