TEHRAN, Jun 22 - Hong Kong protesters have managed to pull off an unlikely victory, forcing the city's Beijing-appointed leader to suspend an extradition bill that would have allowed individuals to be sent to China for trial.
TEHRAN, Young Journalists Club (YJC) - But the victory has come at an uncertain cost for 24 people arrested during the largely peaceful demonstrations, with the government saying those at the frontline, charging at police with umbrellas for instance, would be shown no clemency.
Thirty-two were arrested in total and eight cases were dropped, police said. They did not give details of the charges.
The arrests have further enraged many protesters who are demanding the government drop the cases and stop referring to the protests as a riot, which could lead to heavier jail terms.
The former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997 under a "one country, two systems" formula, which guaranteed its freedoms, including freedom to protest and an independent legal system, which many say are being slowly eroded by Communist Party rulers in Beijing.
Demonstrators on Friday focused much of their anger on police as they surrounded their headquarters.
"Our kids are beaten by police, by tear gas and rubber bullets. Stop shooting our children," some shouted.
Source: Reuters
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