Hong Kong police cleared one of the largest protest sites on Wednesday that has left the city choked for months. Many pro-democracy activists were arrested in what may be a turning point in the fight for control of Beijing.
Student leaders Joshua Wong and Lester Shum were arrested with others as hundreds of riot police swept through the Mong Kok area, clearing away tents and barricades that have blocked roads in the Chinese-controlled city for over two months, the Huffington Post reported.
Since Tuesday, 148 people have been arrested for varying offenses.
Joshua Wong, the 18-year-old founder of the secondary school activist group Scholarism, was among those arrested, along with student leaders Lester Shum and Jason Szeto. Before his arrest, Shum, the deputy secretary general of the student federation, urged protesters to stay on the street until they were arrested.
Seven police officers were also arrested and accused of a beating of a pro-democracy protester last month. The officers, who were not named, were arrested on “assault of occasioning actual bodily harm,” according to police.
On October 15, Ken Tsang, a social worker, was beaten by several officers in an incident that was filmed by a TV crew, increasing animosity between Hong Kong police and protesters, the New York Times reported.
Tsang is expected to make a statement.
[quote text_size=”small” author=”– Police statement”]
Police reiterate that if any Force member commits illegal acts, Police will handle this seriously and investigation will be conducted in a fair and impartial manner.
[/quote]
Hours after the protest site was cleared, protesters and police once more faced off in the Mong Kok district. Thousands of people, some protesters and some onlookers, filled the area to see events unfold, CNN reported.
Pro-democracy protesters have occupied camps in areas of Hong Kong for almost two months, including the main protest site outside government buildings in Admiralty. Protesters are seeking universal suffrage and the ability to nominate candidates for the election of the city’s chief executive in 2017. China’s National People’s Congress has said they will only be able to vote for candidates from a short list approved by the pro-Beijing committee.
