Mass arrest of 900 protesters

UPDATE: One of the highlights during the People’s Action Week was the mass arrest of around 900 protesters who participated in the December 17 protest action. Most of them were from the Korean farmers. There were also from different nationalities such as Indonesia, Thailand, Japan etc who also joined the rally.

The Hong Kong police used the violence to stop the protester to get closer to the venue of the Ministerial Conference. They used pepper spray and tear gas to disperse the crowded. Children and pedestrian became the victims of the police brutality as well. More unfortunate was some of the mainstream media even described the incident as the siege and riot. It was unfair to the people who come from far away to Hong Kong to express their objection to the WTO.

The ASA tried to negotiate with the police in order to deliver some foods and drinks to the 900 protesters who were surrounded by the police forces, but failed. Even none of the ASA delegation was captured by the police, but we always keep follow up with the situation in the protest area.
At the end, 14 protesters were charged by the HK police. 11 of them are Korean delegates, 1 from Japan, 1 from Taiwan and 1 from mainland China. The HKPA set up a support group to solicit assistance to those who are under arrest. The ASA calls the HK government for immediate release