Group threatens unauthorised WTO protests in Hong Kong
Hong Kong People's Alliance Against the WTO, the co-ordination group for thousands of global protesters expected here, said the government has built a one-meter wall in front of one of the two harbourfront protest areas.
Alliance spokeswoman Elizabeth Tang told reporters Tuesday that she was concerned their anti-globalisation message would not be able to get across to the trade ministers attending the WTO conference.
"We were shocked to see that. We originally thought we would be able to voice our concerns (to the ministers). We didn't expect this to happen," she said. "We request the police to remove all unnecessary obstacles."
After months of negotiations, the Hong Kong government agreed in October to designate a sporting ground and a cargo handling area near the venue for the WTO conference, set for December 13-18.
The two venues are to be used for peaceful demonstrations for up to 10,000 local and global protesters organised by the Alliance.
However, Tang said some protesters were very upset at being fenced in and did not rule out violent protests if the police failed to deal with the situation.
"They were all very disappointed. They have said that they won't accept the venue (if the fence is not removed)," she said.
"There have already been several organisations who said they were ready to organise their own protests without us. We don't want to see the protesters lose their temper," she said.
Several members of the Korean Peasants League, a South Korean farmers' group known for its feisty protests against globalisation, are in Hong Kong to visit the protest areas and venue for the WTO forum.
The group, which says up to 2,500 members will protest in Hong Kong, has requested a change of venue from the police although it has promised to comply with the law and hold peaceful protests during the conference.
A member of the organisation, which is opposed to the slashing of subsidies to farmers, stabbed himself to death during a protest at the WTO's last ministerial meeting in Cancun, Mexico, in 2003.
The organisation's members also regularly clash with South Korean police at domestic protests.
Hong Kong police spokesman Alfred Ma said the fence was built for the safety of protesters.
"The area is near the harbour and we have to think about people's safety," Ma said.
"What if they fall into the water. This is a safety measure and is necessary."
The Alliance is organising three large-scale protests before and during the WTO conference.