Hong Kong braces for weekend protests

If would be much more helpful if Merkel said it to the rioters that violence isn't democracy.

Protesting doesn't equal violence Akie. It's funny how you keep associate both.

The protesters' three other demands are: retraction of the word "riot" to describe rallies, release of all demonstrators arrested and the right for Hong Kong people to vote for their own leaders.

A riot is when property is damaged or people are harmed. There were riots in parts of the protests. Not everywhere. Showing up doesn't make anyone guilty of anything. There needs to be proof that the individual did actually do the property damage or harm any other individual.

Protestors caught damaging property or harming others need their day in court. Bail amounts should depend on the amount/cost of the damage and seriousness of the harm to other humans. What is the typical fine for a bar fight? Guilt or innocence is for a court to decide based on facts and testimony.

The police appear to have used normal crowd control methods. An independent review shouldn't be feared.

Choosing and voting for their own representatives is the only demand that matters, really.

I still think that Lam needs to go. She clearly doesn't represent Hong Kong people and nobody trusts her. She is the lap dog of the CCP in Beijing. Goodbye.

One thing that I can’t imagine ever happening in Japan is seeing a guy in his twenties putting an old man sixties in a headlock. The elderly man was lecturing and obviously in disagreement with the way they’re protesting.

Eppee, no, I didn't associate the two. It is your guys that call these masked terrorists freedom fighters for democracy.

Can the protests maintain popular support from the people of Hong Kong, or not? I think this weekend may very well prove to be pivotal.

We will know a lot more about the the posssible final shape of it all come Monday. If the the protestors stay united, non=violent and popular, I don't see how Beijiing will be unable to comprise on power sharing with a local representative body.

woops.

"be unable to NOT compromise...."

Right now, what the protesters are asking is for "independent" investigation of police. (I stress again, independent.) Not the existing one that using police to monitor police as they no longer trust the police.

Right now, what the protesters are asking is for "independent" investigation of police.

Why? The police acted within their authority. How are they supposed to deal with hooligans destroying property and disrupting business? The police didn't use military assault weapons, maiming and mass murdering the "protesters", did they?

And if the so-called "independent" investigators find the police acted within their authority and handled rioters appropriately, you can bet that won't sit well with the protesters and they will start new riots.

Protesting doesn't equal violence.....

No but it can't be denied that it escalated to that level. The protesters destroyed property and disrupted business. They and their leaders and organizers should be held accountable for their actions and prosecuted.

Protestors caught damaging property or harming others need their day in court. 

Protectors caught AND THEIR ORGANIZERS AND LEADERS. From the way those rioters and instigators continue to act, they expect full immunity from prosecution because their actions were "in the name of democracy"? Otherwise they wouldn't be demanding retraction of the word "riot" describing their "rallies" and release of all rioters.

We will know a lot more about the the posssible final shape of it all come Monday. If the the protestors stay united, non=violent and popular, I don't see how Beijiing will be unable to comprise on power sharing with a local representative body.

Let's hope come Monday, the protesting leaders will instruct their protesters to act in a more responsible manner.

If the leaders and protesters continue to display temper tantrums, destroying property and disrupting businesses, it's only going to reinforce the impression that the so-called "freedom-fighters" and their leaders can't govern themselves in a peaceful and responsible manner. Beijing will have to send in troops and instill martial law and the protesting leaders and organizers arrested and prosecuted. Prosecution in HK rather than China, hopefully.