What now?

It was not too long ago when we we were so proud of our peaceful protest marches.  Only about 5 months.  What have been achieved in these 5 months of escalating violence?  

Thousands of young people have been arrested.  Many of them have their careers, lives destroyed before they barely started.  Some have died, under suspicious circumstances.  Many families, relationships, long term friendships broken.  Animosity between locals and mainlanders have grown tremendously.  

The police used to be respected, in fact, considered one of the best in Asia; now it is public enemy number one.  The government was at least considered fairly effective; now it is despised and considered incompetent by all sides.  

No one is completely without blame.  

The protesters are fighting for freedom and justice.  Yet some have beaten up people who disagree.  Some have tried to seriously hurt other people, to the extend of cutting other people’s throat, or burning with flammable liquid.  Many have complained and even exaggerated the violence against them; while ignoring or even justifying the violence they impose on others.  These are not honourable actions befitting someone who seeks freedom and justice.  

The police have a duty to ensure public safety, maintain effective traffic flow, catch people who violate the law.  Yet they have also, evidently, vented frustration beyond reason, insulted people with malice, used excessive force to brutalize, beaten people even when they are already down and subdued.  These are also not honourable actions befitting someone maintaining order and justice.  

The government, needless to say, is the main culprit in this mess.  They started the latest round of confrontations.  Their intransigence pushed the police against the people, induced the escalating violence.  They seem totally incapable of resolving the conflict.  From all angles, it is failed governance.  

Nobody claims to want this to happen. Everyone says they want this to stop.  But how?

One way, perhaps, is for all sides to stop and reflect.  For any organization to survive, let alone prosper, it must be able to improve itself.  Start with soul searching towards itself.  What have we done that is not honourable?  Do we have the courage to admit it and the determination to change?  If an organization, be it a group of protesters, the police, or the government, if it does not have this capability, it has no right to survive, and will soon be discarded by history. 

Perhaps some people who are traditionally more objective could help, such as respected scholars and the church.  Unfortunately, many leaders of mainstream churches have been tainted too much already.  Many are so enamoured by their association with the powerful and established that they have lost all credibility with the common people.  Many have been simply too fearful and aloof that they have lost relevancy.  

While the protagonists do their own soul searching, perhaps there are still some who are respected and trusted enough who can step in and mediate?  Perhaps someone can invite them if they are too modest to volunteer?

People of faith are supposed to be the salt and the light of the world.  Stepping in to help the people of a society suffering in a debilitating conflict is surely in line with faith in a God of justice and love?