Student Protests: The difference between Hong Kong and Sri Lanka

The Sabaragamuwa University Students launched a picketing protest over an issue over the newly constructed hostel for female students last Sunday (05th). The main argument behind the entire protest was that the newly constructed hostel was not built according to proper standards and the associated authorities have ignored landslide warnings in the engineer’s reports pre-construction. The protest took a wild turn when the female students allegedly invaded the males hostel to find lodging and stated that they would not take up their rooms in the new hostel as long as it is a hazard to their health. Meanwhile, the protest continued while the Higher Education Minister S. B. Dissanayake attended the opening of the new hostel. Yes, they students unions were protesting during the opening ceremony.

To make matters worse, the student protesters were attacked by an identified group of people who had thrown petrol bombs and had burnt the tents the protesters were taking shelter in. Six students were injured in this particular incident. Police investigations to find these gang of thugs so far had been futile, however twelve students who were arrested on the day of the protest were produced before Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday (15th) and were released on bail.

Let’s look at another student protest which is happening in a different country: Hong Kong. Hong Kong is governed under the principle of “one country, two systems” under which China has agreed to give the region a high degree of autonomy and to preserve its economic and social systems for 50 years from the date of the handover from the British Empire.

Recently however, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPCSC) issued a “white paper statement” for a proposed electoral reform, which gives full power to China to decide who governs the state of Hong Kong. In other words, the Chinese government will decide who will run as candidates for the elections in Hong Kong, which ultimately questions Hong Kongese autonomy and their right as country for a fair and just election.

Enter the Umbrella Movement; The Hong Kong Federation of Students and Scholars began protesting outside the government headquarters on 22 September 2014 against the NPCSC’s decision. On the evening of 26 September, several hundred demonstrators breached a security barrier and entered the forecourt of the Central Government Complex led by Joshua Wong, which was once a public space that has been barred from public entry since July 2014. Officers cordoned off protesters within the courtyard and restricted their movement overnight, eventually removing them by force the next day. Occupy Central announced that they would begin their civil disobedience campaign immediately.

On 28 September, protesters blocked both east–west arterial routes in northern Hong Kong Island near Admiralty. Heavy-handed police tactics, including the unnecessary use of tear gas, and attacks on protesters by opponents that included triad members, triggered more citizens joining the protests. The government set 6 October as a ‘deadline’ for the protests to end, but this was ignored by protesters, although they allowed government workers to enter offices that had previously been blocked. The protests are ongoing.

Two different incidents with so much similarities but with entirely different outcomes. The Sabaragamuwa University student protest was over hazardous living space whereas the Hong Kong student protest was over free and fair elections for an entire nation. The Sabaragamuwa Student protest eventually died down after the intervention of the authorities who gave out false promises and pushed the public’s eye into submission. Why did that happen? Predominantly, because the University students fought over a petty cause. When there are so many other issues this country is facing right now, they just had to fight over a newly constructed hostel building with pre-construction engineer report warnings. Whereas, the Umbrella Movement is strongly holding it’s stance against the Chinese authorities with the support of it’s countrymen as well as from the outside world. They have inspired thousands and had given them hope of a better future. The Umbrella Movement of Occupy Central had roused Asia’s most economically frustrated countrymen into action.

Our glorious student protesters fighting over petty needs and causes can actually learn something from the Umbrella Movement. If you’re going to fight for something that you believe in, why not fight for something that influences the entire society and the country in a positive manner?

It is time you set aside your selfish desires and look at the big picture here.

#politics #economy #conflict #europe