Surprise Us

Fire bombing, destroying MTR stations, burning things, … These destructive methods are not ways to create something of value. It is often said that breaking into the Legislative Council on July 1 stopped the proposed Extradition Bill, while multiple million people marches didn’t.  Yet it worked probably because it was a surprise.  Everyone, including the government and the police, were used to dealing with massive peaceful marches, and was not expecting a breaking-in at the Legislative Council.  It disrupted normal modes of thinking and the establishment have to change tactics.  

Now the violence and destruction have been going on for months.  The government has worked out a routine and they feel comfortable dealing with that.  In fact, by focusing on the violence, they are making some headway with the citizens on the street, who have to go to work, who have businesses to run, who have to do business with Beijing, who have to travel, who have to making a living, who want to continue with their normal lives.  

This is the time to change tactics again.  To return to peaceful but creative means.  To form impressive human chains, to create evocative songs, to use art to expressive feelings and demands, to call for attention to return to the issues.  When the establishment cannot point to violence from the protesters, the focus will return to the issues, to the excessive brutality of the police, to the institutional violence from the establishment. 

On the other hand, it is also time for the police to surprise us.  To show that you can stop beating people after they have stopped resisting, to stop obstructing the press, to stop use your power to harass peaceful protesters and bystanders, to control your emotions even under provocation.   When you do that, the extremists cannot use your brutality to justify their violence.  The neutrals will respect you.  You can then start to rebuild your image as a force for law and order, for good - rather than simply a tool of repression. 

The government, of course, can surprise us by making genuine attempts to move forward.  Bring in people who are genuinely independent and more objective, rather than obvious cronies.  It may be difficult to be perfectly neutral these days.  But there are still people who are perceived to be relatively objective.  It is often said that a general pardon violates the rule of law.  But in the early days of the ICAC (Independent Commission Against Corruption), the then governor announced a general pardon of cases of corruption that occurred before 1977.  It was generally consider a brilliant move, removing a great obstacle so that the ICAC can move forward.  

Now that the violence has become routine on both sides, it is time to surprise us and each other.  Stop the violence and show some creativity.  

It is also the right thing to do.