Joshua Wong relies on Twitter to say that he is keeping well after two days being under lock and key. There are places in the world where you can become a symbol ahead of time, and at 17, he’s there to prove it. He tells of how during the clashes with the police-agents, he lost his glasses and shoes. His face is that of a callow teenager, who still smells of milk and should rather be staying at home and studying than being preoccupied about changing the world. But Joshua was not born to do ordinary things, and most of all, he lives in a country where democracy is hidden under a blanket of fog, similar to that produced by tear gas that has spread over the streets these days. For this reason he had decided to demonstrate in the square, along with other students,, to demand greater self-determination for Hong Kong from Beijing.
His story links two generations: that of dreams and that of a bare reality. When he was born, in 1997, the former colony would loosen from British rule and returning into the arms of China. An embrace embrace that has proved to be very tight, almost suffocating, as would be said some time after. But, at that time, no one would have immagine this. The promises of autonomy and democracy transformed those days into a time of redemption and reconciliation for the big Asian city.
A whole centurey seems to have passed since then. The economy has grown turning HongKong into one of the most important financial centres in the world. Millions of dollars of business transactions go through the local stock-exchange market and ultra modern skyscrapers sarin high above almost wanting to challenge the Sun. A science- fiction scenario which,on the other hand, is void of the minimum needed for the population to lead an emancipated life: living them the chance to elect their own representatives. The Chinese regime had guaranteed to Hong Kong that it would have been able to choose through universal sufferage its chief-executive government by 2017. A promise, which if maintained, if maintained, would have completed the process of independence in the region. Beijing’s back-tracking in the last period comes as a novelty, as well as the mobilization of millions of students who make up “Occupy Central with Love and Peace”.
A spontaneous protest, launched last January by Benny Tai Yiu-ting, a Professor in law, published in an article in the Hong Kong Economic Journal. The demands made are clear: a committment to follow up as promised in 1997. But Beijing’s response continues to be negative. “The protests of the demontrators is illegal” the Chinese government burst out yesterday,, that it wants to continue having a say as to whom should be governor. And while the government closed its doors again, thousands of umbrellas opened in the streets of the metropolis to protect the young peoples’ faces from burning chilly spray and rubber bullets fired by police to disperse the crowds. A vain attempt, because the more the regime tightens its grip, the more the anger ofthe new and old generations is mounting.
Concerning the peaceful demonstrations and non-violent movement, therefore, the State has decided to respond with force and suppression. It won’t be another Tiananmen Square but the face of China, when we talk about rights,his expression is grim. And a multitude of Joshua Wong continue to struggle, behind baby-like faces that are yelling for freedom. A slap in the face to all those youths who, even in Italy, no longer know what it means to fight for a change in their condition.
Translation provided by Marina Stronati