[ad_1]
Anger shot up in Hong Kong on Monday following the badault of alleged protesters of the triad against pro-democracy protesters who injured dozens of anti-government protesters.
"With regard to organizations such as triads in Hong Kong, as long as these people are patriotic, as long as they are concerned about the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong, we should unite with them."
Tao Siju, Chinese Minister of Police (1990-1998), made the remarks at a press conference in 1993.
He went on to say that "our public security organs have extensive ties and links with different strata of society, including such groups" and recalling how, when an unnamed Chinese head of state made a visit abroad, the Chinese secret services were helped by "800 members of the triad to protect our head of state from danger".
China has subsequently downplayed Tao Siju's claims, but today in Hong Kong, there is little doubt that ties between the triads and Beijing are still strong.
Pro-democracy legislator Lam Cheuk-ting was one of those injured during the weekend's violence, who inflicted lacerations on his face and arms.
He criticized the police for his response and accused the "members of the triad" of being behind the attacks.
"Their very barbaric and violent acts have already completely violated the results of Hong Kong's civilized society," he told reporters on Monday.
Furious fellow pro-democracy lawmakers held a press conference Monday in which they accused the city's pro-Beijing leaders of turning a blind eye to the attacks.
"Triad gangs are hitting Hong Kongers," legislator Alvin Yeung said. "Still, you claim that nothing had happened?"
"Nobody recognizes exactly who these people were and who organized them," said Michael Dillon, a veteran observer from China, author ofChina, a modern history.
"It was clearly an organized attack."
Underworld Secret Societies
"What triggered that, is the Sunday demonstration on the island of Hong Kong that moved to the west of the island and a small group of protesters. attacked the Beijing Liaison Office. "
According to Dillon, the gangsters reportedly belonged to "secret underground societies" in Guangdong province, just across the border with Hong Kong.
"Nobody admits it, but that's what happened and it can only be done in Beijing's interest," he says.
"In other words, it's an attack on the protesters. But it's disappointing because Beijing will not admit that it is fighting against pro-democracy protesters. "
According to Dillon, the triads came from the Chinese nationalist movement against the Manchu empire, which gave birth to the Republic after the revolution of 1912.
"They have degenerated since then and they really have very little political impact.
"But they are pro-Chinese in the broadest sense of the word, and if they can be persuaded that what is happening in Hong Kong is" anti-Chinese, "they could be mobilized against what might be considered anti-Chinese protesters. "
Chinese governments in the past have used triads for political purposes.
"In 1927, when the nationalist KMT under Chiang Kai-shek attempted to break the Communist Party in Shanghai, Chiang Kai-shek used the Shanghai Triads equivalent, the Green Gang, to attack and badbadinate Party members. Chinese Communist. Dillon.
"So it's rather ironic that the Chinese state now uses similar triads to attack its own opponents."
Source link
