【HK612】Ethnic minority dared not to stand in the front line: I could be mistaken as a mafia
By: Stories Of Anti- Extraditionbill Hong Kong
Tags: Protest, Politics, International, Hong Kong

Date: June 13, 2019 22:24

Writer: Wong Guai Guai

Source: HK01

Translator: Angel Woo

Proofread: Canis Cheung, Hazel Fok

On June 12, tens of thousands of citizens occupied the Central Government Complex in Admiralty on their initiatives, requesting the government to retract the extradition bill amendments. In the afternoon, the police used pepper sprays, tear gases, bean bag shots and rubber bullets for the protest clearance. Amidst the heavy smoke from the sprays and gases, the protestors, including a group of ethnic minorities with darker skin, could not hold back their tears.

The ethnic minority social worker Raj (anonym) was not one of the protestors on the front lines, but he was still tear-gassed. He was not willing to leave even when his eyes were already reddened and full of tears. Instead, he stayed at the cordon line to help other protestors to wash their wounds and to distribute supplies. The demonstrators once retreated from Admiralty (where the Government complex is) to Central as the police were pressing forward. Raj stayed there until 11 pm, supporting the protest, he said, “I was born and raised in Hong Kong. I cannot just sit on the sidelines when Hong Kong is at stake.”

Tear gas spread across Admiralty, and protestors amidst of tear gas were crying. Raj’s eyes went red too, yet he didn’t leave the scene. (Photo: Wong Kwai Kwai)

The Late-Coming ‘Anti-Extradition Bill’ Petition by the Ethnic Minorities

In late May, there were hundreds and thousands of anti-extradition bill petition on the internet. However, the ethnic minorities’ one was missing. “I feel ashamed. Why are there petitions of the others, but only with ours missing?” Raj said. He and his friends then started an anti-extradition bill petition in the name of ethnic minorities in the city, named ‘Statement on the amendment bill on the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance from Ethnic Minorities in Hong Kong’. But in the early stage of the petition, only dozens of people signed.

‘A lot of ethnic minorities know nothing about the bill, literally,’ Raj said helplessly. He said, even though they were born and raised in Hong Kong, some of their Chinese level is worse than a primary student’. Therefore, they are not able to comprehend the newspaper articles written in Chinese, and thus know nothing about Hong Kong politics, including the bill.

When Raj saw that other marginalized groups had already created their own anti-extradition bill petitions, yet ethnic minorities, taking up 8% of the Hong Kong population, didn’t have their own petition, Raj felt ashamed so he created one for ethnic minorities and started explaining the effects of extradition bill to people around him: “You don’t have to sign it, but you have to at least know about it.” (Photo: Lo Kwan Ho)

Come for Freedom, ‘I don’t want Hong Kong to become India or Pakistan’

Even if they know about the bill, a lot of EMs think it’s none of their business. ‘A lot of the EMs said the bill doesn’t matter to them much, as they think they will be fine if they don’t break the law.’ Raj lifted up his voice, seemingly a bit irritated, ‘We are also HongKongers! This bill affects all Hong Kong people, including us!’ Some of them are turning a blind eye to the bill, ‘Although they know about the Xinjiang concentration camp, they choose to focus on China’s prosperity instead.’ Raj said, the ethnic minorities have cultural and religious differences with the mainland, so they would also be affected if the bill is passed. ‘We left India or Pakistan and then came to Hong Kong, just because we love her freedom. If the bill is passed, Hong Kong is not unique anymore. We don’t want her to become India or Pakistan.’

Raj said that his dad was very worried before he left home for the protest on the morning of 12 June. His dad was frightened, begging him: “Please don’t go!”

June 9th Protest Has Awakened the EMs

To protect the freedom of Hong Kong, he and his friends marched on June 9th, become part of the 1.03 million people. What surprised him is that — after the protest, the signatures of the petition turned to more than 480. ‘These 1.03 million awakened the EMs, they feel the fear after seeing so many people marched on the street. “It seems that this bill is really scary, since the locals are so scared about it — we must be put in trouble if it is passed.”’ Raj said, He hopes the petition could have more than 777 signatures, ‘I want to tell Carrie Lam — I have more supporters than you do!’

The Hongkongers that are not regarded as Hongkongers

However, as a minority in Hong Kong, they suffered a lot during the protest. ‘We went to the protest, somebody scolded us, saying “It’s none of your business!” Man, I was raised in Hong Kong. Why isn’t this my business?’ He remembered that on June 9th protest, some Legco members saw them and said, ‘Foreigners also come today, thank you.’ Raj‘s heart sank, ‘I was born and raised in Hong Kong, not foreigners.’

Can’t stand on the front line: I am afraid to be seen as the triad

An invisible wall is built between the “locals” and the ethnic minorities because of the difference in skin colours. That’s also the reason why they are stepping back to protest under the sunshine. ‘We could never stand in the front line during the protest.’ He explained, not because they don’t want to, it is because they are easy to be spotted just because of the difference of appearance. ‘Also, if citizens see some South Asians joining the protest, they will think that we are the triad members, who make the protest “impure”. That’s why we could only stay on the cordon lines. ’

Raj was standing right behind, his eyes watering from the tear gas. Seeing a Hong Kong like this pained his heart. (Photo: Tsang Zi Yeung)

Assemble, and help the protestors wash their wounds

Although the EMs have to face a lot of challenges, Raj still stands out. In the afternoon of June 12th, he went on Harcourt Road and Gloucester Road, standing in the crowd. He heard someone yelling ‘Hong Kong!’ and he replied ‘Fighting!’ and his silhouette merged with the crowd, making Raj no difference from the other protesters.

When the police fired tear gas, Raj, who was standing at the cordon line was the same as the other Hongkongers, trapped in the smoke and with his eyes bursting into tears. He went to the ambulance station to pour water on his eyes, and he stayed there to wash the wounds for the injured. He followed the protestors to retreat to Central. He was still distributing waters, foods, masks and other supplies till 11 pm. Raj said, the reason for standing out is simple, ‘Hong Kong is my homeland and I have the responsibility to protect this place.’