Protesters march on last day of WTO meeting

About 1 000 anti-WTO protesters marched through the streets Sunday as Hong Kong tried to recover from a night of rioting that marked one of the city’s worst spasms of violence in decades.The peaceful demonstrators chanted “Sink WTO” as trade ministers from around the globe wrapped up six days of negotiations at a World Trade Organisation meeting.

The protesters oppose the WTO’s efforts to open up markets to foreign competition. Hundreds of police cordoned off streets where the crowd was heading.Some of the marchers were South Korean farmers who beat gongs and carried cardboard signs saying, “Hong Kong government quickly release our comrades!” Police said they arrested 900 demonstrators after Saturday’s violence, and many were South Koreans who went on a rampage just outside the WTO meeting venue.They attacked police with bamboo poles and tried to break into the building.Police fought back with pepper spray, batons and water cannons.They eventually scattered the crowds with tear gas and seized control of the area.Such large-scale violence is rare in this stable Asian financial capital.The last time the city saw such a street melee was during 1967 riots aimed at usurping British colonial rule.Hong Kong was returned to China in 1997.Some activists have accused police of strip-searching those arrested and beating those who refused to have their hands bound.”Stop police violence!” yelled a group of Hong Kong protesters as they marched.But police spokesman Alfred Ma insisted the suspects received humane treatment.Hong Kong leader Donald Tsang said Saturday’s riot was “unacceptable” and pledged to prosecute those involved within 48 hours.He defended the police’s use of water cannons and tear gas against demonstrators.”I think you can see that our police force has used minimum force in response to violent action, even physical attacks on our policemen,” he said.During Saturday’s violence, 114 people – including 44 policemen – were injured but most were discharged from hospitals after treatment.The South Koreans began holding a sit-in Saturday night that blocked off one of Hong Kong’s busiest streets.Police began arresting the demonstrators early Sunday and spent hours loading them into buses.The South Koreans appeared to play a small role in Sunday’s procession, led by Hong Kong activists, who held a giant red banner saying “Oppose WTO.”The protesters included Thai and Filipino migrant workers along with Japanese farmers.- Nampa-APHundreds of police cordoned off streets where the crowd was heading.Some of the marchers were South Korean farmers who beat gongs and carried cardboard signs saying, “Hong Kong government quickly release our comrades!” Police said they arrested 900 demonstrators after Saturday’s violence, and many were South Koreans who went on a rampage just outside the WTO meeting venue.They attacked police with bamboo poles and tried to break into the building.Police fought back with pepper spray, batons and water cannons.They eventually scattered the crowds with tear gas and seized control of the area.Such large-scale violence is rare in this stable Asian financial capital.The last time the city saw such a street melee was during 1967 riots aimed at usurping British colonial rule.Hong Kong was returned to China in 1997.Some activists have accused police of strip-searching those arrested and beating those who refused to have their hands bound.”Stop police violence!” yelled a group of Hong Kong protesters as they marched.But police spokesman Alfred Ma insisted the suspects received humane treatment.Hong Kong leader Donald Tsang said Saturday’s riot was “unacceptable” and pledged to prosecute those involved within 48 hours.He defended the police’s use of water cannons and tear gas against demonstrators.”I think you can see that our police force has used minimum force in response to violent action, even physical attacks on our policemen,” he said.During Saturday’s violence, 114 people – including 44 policemen – were injured but most were discharged from hospitals after treatment.The South Koreans began holding a sit-in Saturday night that blocked off one of Hong Kong’s busiest streets.Police began arresting the demonstrators early Sunday and spent hours loading them into buses.The South Koreans appeared to play a small role in Sunday’s procession, led by Hong Kong activists, who held a giant red banner saying “Oppose WTO.”The protesters included Thai and Filipino migrant workers along with Japanese farmers.- Nampa-AP