HONG KONG: Tens of thousands of pro-democracy demonstrators gathered for a mass peace rally in central Hong Kong late on Saturday, defying recent attacks against their ranks as the city authorities denied using paid thugs to harass them.

Huge crowds streamed into the main protest site opposite the besieged government headquarters for a seventh night of their campaign for free elections in the semi-autonomous Chinese city, vowing to stand firm in the face of attacks on their ranks by aggressive counter-demonstrators.

Pro-democracy protesters have taken to Hong Kong’s streets to demand the right to nominate who can run as their next leader in 2017 elections. Beijing insists only candidates it has approved will be able to stand.

Tensions high after fresh clashes

Two of Hong Kong’s busiest shopping districts descended into chaos on Friday as angry opponents clashed with protesters, tearing down their tents and barricades, with widespread allegations amongst the pro-democracy crowds that triad criminal gangs had been brought in to stir up trouble.

Tensions remained high on Saturday with fresh clashes in Mong Kok, a densely packed working-class district of shops and apartments that saw some of the worst scenes of violence the previous night, with complaints of sexual assaults and attacks on journalists in the crowds.

Police said several suspected triad members were among those arrested after Friday’s clashes, but the city’s security chief angrily denied allegations that the government had called on the services of paid thugs in a bid to break up the mass protests that have brought key parts of the city to a standstill for a week.

Friday’s violence prompted student protest leaders to scrap talks with the government, scuppering hopes of a resolution to the crisis.

As night fell upon the usually stable financial hub, thousands chanted “Peace, anti-violence!” as they gathered in the downtown Admiralty district near government headquarters.

“The feeling is really strong tonight. You can see people are so calm — unlike in other countries where they burn things and destroy cars,” said 36-year-old protester Chris Ng.

But there were also angry accusations that the police failed to protect the demonstrators against the opposing crowds — some of whom showed up to confront them waving Chinese flags — and comparisons to the chaotic scenes last Sunday, when riot officers fired tear gas at peaceful protesters.

“The police used tear gas and pepper spray against peaceful students — but where are the tear gas and pepper spray for those who use violence against us?” protester Lau Tung-kok shouted through a loudspeaker, to cheers from the crowd.

City authorities furiously denied working with organised crime groups to disrupt the protests.

“These accusations are made up and are very excessive,” an angry Secretary for Security Lai Tung-kwok told reporters, raising his voice.

But pro-democrat lawmaker Albert Ho said the police “seemed to show a lot of indulgence to triad activities”.

Triad gangs have traditionally been involved in drug-running, prostitution and extortion but are increasingly involved in legitimate ventures such as property and the finance industry.

Some are believed to also have links with the political establishment and there have previously been allegations of triads sending paid thugs to stir up trouble during protests.

China has accused democracy campaigners of destabilising the city. The People’s Daily newspaper, a Communist Party mouthpiece, said in an editorial on Saturday that the protesters were “daydreaming” over the prospect of change.

Small rallies by crowds sporting blue ribbons were held in Hong Kong on Saturday by people who said they supported the police and the government, in a growing sign of a backlash against a campaign that has caused wide-scale disruption and taken a heavy toll on local businesses.

Published in Dawn, October 5th, 2014