WARNING - INCLUDES GRAPHIC IMAGES
If you have noticed the Hong Kong protest on the news these few days, you may have seen the situation worsening. Here is the TL:DR version of some of the events triggering the escalation.
Chinese University, 13th November 2019, from Apple Daily Newspaper
4th November, Sunday
Police release tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse a crowd who have gathered outside a hotel. A 22 year old student Alex Chow was found to have fallen from the third to second floor of car park. Firefighters were nearby for another incident and rushed to him along with volunteer first aiders. The ambulance was delayed by at least 20 minutes trying to reach him as they were blocked by multiple vehicles including police cars.
8th November, Friday
There are inconsistent versions of what exactly happened. Medics says Alex Chow's injuries are inconsistent with an accidental fall. Only his skull and pelvis had fractures and there were no self protection injuries on his arm or legs as you would expect when a conscious person falls.
Alex Chow eventually passed away 5 days later.
9 - 10th November, weekend
There were many gatherings across Hong Kong over the weekend to mourn Alex Chow. Tensions were running high over the mysterious circumstances over his death. Protesters continued to fight for the cause, the police continues to be an arse and arrest many random people. They were even caught on video provoking protesters, mocking Alex Chow's death and say they're going to open a bottle of champagne to celebrate.
11th November, Monday
There was a call to paralyse Hong Kong by going on strike and not going to school. The protesters set up blockages on the roads and threw objects on railway tracks to stop people going to work.
A police officer drew his firearm and grabbed a man for no apparent reason. A guy in black tried to help free him and was shot in the torso. The police then shot another guy in the foot. None of the three men were armed. The entire incident was captured live on video. Please note this video footage from the BBC is in Chinese and contains graphic scenes.
This article by The Guardian newspaper provides a comprehensive overview of the rest of the events during the day.
12th November, Tuesday
Riot police stormed onto Chinese University campus, they said the students were at an illegal gathering. This is a university campus where students study and live! The police fired tear gas at the students who threw back bricks and petrol bombs.
The Chancellor came out to negotiate with the police who agreed to retreat a little. A few moments later riot police came back again. The standoff continued throughout the night and is still ongoing as I write. This is the scene from the campus from Eye press.
Over 2300 tear gas have been fired by the police over these two days.
13th November, Wednesday
The blockages on the roads, and delayed trains continue in the morning. The government refused to suspend schools and this is how police treated students this morning.
At around 10pm a person dressed in black was found lying unconscious on the road. He was confirmed dead two hours later.
Both images can be found all over internet.
When I was studying law many years ago, the Latin phrase Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? was in chapter one of the text book. The phrase originates from the Roman poet Juvena, from the late 1st to early 2nd century AD. Translated into English it means Who will guards the guards themselves?
In modern day society it is often used to discuss the problem of controlling those who hold power.
More than two thousand years on, we're still asking the same question.