Organisers of a pro-democracy group who vowed to take over Hong Kong's streets admitted Tuesday they were powerless to change China's plan to vet candidates for the city's next leader, but said their protest would go ahead. The admission came after activist leaders promised a new "era of civil disobedience" in front of thousands of supporters at a Sunday rally after Beijing crushed hopes for full democracy.
"We have to admit the fact that up to this point it is quite unrealistic to think that our action will change the decision made by Beijing," Occupy Central co-founder Chan Kin-Man told AFP. "The first function about talking about Occupy Central is to create pressure for compromise and negotiation. Now I believe we have already reached the end point in terms of the democratic change in the system," Chan said.
He also said the movement could end if the city's legislature vetoes the proposed electoral changes. However Chan said direct action was still planned, mobilising thousands of people to block major thoroughfares in the financial district of Central to protect the city's "core values" and "existing rights and liberties".
But he acknowledged that supporters who are more "pragmatic" may back down. "Ten thousand protesters was our target set in the past, we are still confident that thousands of people will join and it will last at least for days." A statement from Occupy late Tuesday appeared, however, to backtrack on comments that support might wane.
Comments
Comments are closed.