HONG KONG: Hong Kong protesters have managed to pull off an unlikely victory, forcing the city’s Beijing-appointed leader to suspend an extradition bill. If allowed to turn into Act, the Extradition Bill would have allowed individuals to be sent to China for trial.
But, the victory has not come without cost as 24 people were arrested during the largely peaceful demonstrations. The Government accuse them for being at the front-line. They would be shown no clemency, says the Government.
Thirty-two were arrested in total and eight cases were dropped, police said. They refused to give details of the charges slapped on the peaceful demonstrators. The arrests have further enraged the protesters who are demanding the government drop the cases and stop referring to the protests as a riot, which could lead to heavier jail terms.
Demonstrators on Friday focused much of their anger on police as they surrounded their headquarters. “Our kids are beaten by police, by tear gas and rubber bullets. Stop shooting our children,” some shouted. (Agencies)
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