Pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong accuses officers of beating him and targeting his groin during clearance of protest site
Student leader Joshua Wong, 18, speaks with reporters after two men pelted him with eggs as he left Kowloon City magistrates’ court on Thursday. Photograph: Aaron Tam/AFP/Getty Images
Tania Branigan in Beijing
Thursday 27 November 2014 23.53 AEST
A 18-year-old pro-democracy leader is considering legal action against Hong Kongpolice, his lawyer said, after officers allegedly struck him and targeted his groin during his arrest on Wednesday.
Joshua Wong was bailed on Thursday on condition he did not return to a large part of Mong Kok – the protest area cleared by authorities in a two-day operation in which there were repeated clashes and more than 100 arrests.
Another student leader, Lester Shum, and activist lawmaker Leung Kwok-hung, better known as Long Hair, faced the same charge of obstructing a police officer and were also banned from the area. All three are scheduled to appear again in court in mid-January.
Wong denies the allegation of obstructing bailiffs overseeing the court-ordered clearance of Nathan Road, said Michael Vidler, his lawyer. Vidler said Wong had simply asked workers who were tearing down barricades what authority they were acting under.
“For reasons best known to the bailiffs, they called the individuals away … they then called in police, who removed the obstructions, and then sent in a snatch squad,” Vidler said. “We are considering the issue of action against the police. We have put on the court record the fact that he has been assaulted.”
Video footage shows police forcing their way through the crowd to grab Wong as he stands with others after the removal of the barricades, dragging him to the ground.
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Following his release, Wong said: “One guy who looked like the leader pointed his finger at me and shouted ‘catch him’. Then about 10 police rushed in front of me and pushed me to the ground … causing me some injuries. I have injuries on my neck and face. They tried to beat me six to seven times and even targeted my private parts.”
Some protesters were hospitalised with head injuries from police batons, Reuters reported.
Hong Kong police could not be reached for immediate comment. On Wednesday evening a spokesman said police had repeatedly warned people to leave and had used the minimum level of force necessary in the face of “violent and unlawful” acts.
Two men pelted Wong with eggs as he left Kowloon City magistrates’ court. He tweeted: “Please all my friends, at this stage, do not surrender before the battle even begins – we still have a chance.”
Yvonne Leung of the Hong Kong Federation of Students told local broadcaster RTHK: “Further actions include a possibility of some escalations pointed at government-related buildings or some of the government-related departments.”
After almost two months demonstrators are still occupying the main protest area at Admiralty and a smaller site at Causeway Bay. They want Beijing to lift the tight constraints it has placed on candidates for the election of the next chief executive in 2017.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/nov/27/hong-kong-student-leader-police-arrest-joshua-wong-protest?CMP=twt_gu
