Chairman of the Independent Police Complaints Council Anthony Neoh speaks during a press conference in Wan Chai, Hong Kong, May 15, 2019. (PARKER ZHENG / CHINA DAILY)
HONG KONG - The city’s police watchdog on Friday dismissed claims of police brutality by protesters, saying in its report that the use of force was necessary to maintain law and order and “in reaction to” the violence, vandalism and vigilantism in the protests.
The 1,000-page report by the Independent Police Complaints Council (IPCC) stated that while labeling police actions as “brutality”, protesters chose to disregard their own acts of violence, vandalism and vigilantism.
The report revealed, based on facts collected, that the police’s use of force in violent protests was “in reaction to illegal actions by protesters”, and “for protection of themselves and others when attacked by the violent protesters”.
The report revealed, based on facts collected, that the police’s use of force in violent protests was “in reaction to illegal actions by protesters”, and “for protection of themselves and others when attacked by the violent protesters”
The report also questions how some people and the media could believe that the acts of protesters were understandable while those of the police, carried out in performing their duty, were excessively brutal.
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The IPCC was tasked by the government to conduct fact-checking and reviewing of major protests and police actions in the prolonged anti-government unrest that broke out in June last year.
In its report, the IPCC also took note of the change in the nature of the protests over the past 10 months.
“The protests of the last 10 months have transformed from peaceful rallies and public meetings to extreme forms of violent protests in the streets,” according to the report.
These violent protests have wreaked havoc in Hong Kong, destroying public and private properties, disrupting transport services, and severely wounding many citizens holding different views to those of the protesters. At least one person has died during the protests.
“From recent seizures of assault rifles, handguns and ammunition, and materials for bomb making, it seems that our community is being dragged into an era of terrorism,” according to the report.
The IPCC scrutinized the police’s handling of several key events during the protracted violent protests, including the highly contentious Yuen Long incident and the mayhem in Prince Edward MTR station.
Noting that the handling of these incidents leaves room for improvement, the IPCC nevertheless said the rife of hate messages and threats aimed at police were “blatant propaganda with little or no factual basis”.
They were aimed at smearing the police so as to impede them from performing their duties to maintain law and order, according to the report.
For the Yuen Long incident, there has been no evidence of police officers colluding with triads. It was a rumor that police killed protesters at Prince Edward station last August, according to the report.
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The IPCC expressed the hope that the facts set out in this report will help the public form their opinions based on facts.
Chaired by Anthony Francis Neoh, the committee started drafting the report in July last year.
“It is the duty of the police to keep the peace and maintain law and order for the protection of all. In face of violence in performing their duties, police had found it necessary to resort to the use of force,” Neoh said in a press conference unveiling the report.
“It is hoped that this study will enable better understanding of the role of police in the face of such violence and their accountability under the law,” Neoh said.
IPCC made 52 recommendations to the police force, including a review of their roles in the maintenance of law and order and to improve their strategy for action amidst protests, according to the report.
The report has been submitted to Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor.
With Xinhua inputs
