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By LIM SUE GOAN Translated by SOONG PHUI JEE Sin Chew Daily

Whenever lawyers march in protest to fight for democracy and freedom, it reflects something is wrong in the judiciary.

The Bar Council had so far organised four marching protests. The first was held in 1981 to protest against amendments to the Society Act 1966, which restricted non-governmental organisations from conducting political activities while empowering the authorities to declare illegal on any organisations.

The second protest was staged in September 2007 to seek the setting up of a Royal Commission over the VK Lingam video clip. About 2,000 lawyers and members of public joined the Walk for Justice and marched from the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya to the Prime Minister's Department, to present a memorandum to the Prime Minister.

The third protest was called the Walk for Freedom in 2011, to protest against the government's Peaceful Assembly Bill. The fourth was the Walk for Peace and Freedom to urge the government honor its promise to immediately abolish the Sedition Act 1948.

The Walk for Peace and Freedom was the largest marching protest since the 2013 general election. However, people are in doubt whether it was effective in urging the government to repeal the Sedition Act.

The political situation changed after the 2013 general election. Umno faced overwhelming political pressure before the election but with the changing situation, the government's pressure has been reduced and legal reform plans have thus shelved.

Umno is the BN government leader and if it does not feel the need for change, the demands of civil society would face great resistance,it is now the case.

The reasons why Umno shifted from moderate to conservative include the rise of right-wing forces, the split of Pakatan Rakyat, public demoralisation and the exposure of NGO's weakness of inadequate mobilisation capacity.

The relations among the three Pakatan Rakyat component parties seem dubious, particularly after PAS chose to retake the religious path, internal conflicts have expanded, greatly reducing Umno's pressure in the Malay community.

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Democracy movements face tests

After a flare-up of violence between Hong Kong police and pro-democracy demonstrators Saturday, government officials and protest leaders alike warned that the situation was heading toward a breaking point.

Demonstrators remained encamped around government headquarters in the Admiralty district and had reoccupied streets in the dense commercial Mong Kok area. Police had cleared the Mong Kok sit-in early Friday, but demonstrators returned later in the day and took back control of several key streets, clashing with officers throughout the night.

Speaking out after 26 people were arrested and dozens injured in Mong Kok early Saturday, Hong Kong Police Commissioner Andy Tsang Wai-hung said police had been "extremely tolerant" and that protesters' increasingly "illegal acts are undermining the rule of law."

"These violations are ... destroying Hong Kong," he said, adding that schools, businesses and hospitals had been disrupted. If police fail to "uphold the law ... who is there to benefit? What is there to gain?" Tsang said. If police fail to carry out their duties, he added, the entire society would suffer.

Tensions seemed to ease a bit by late Saturday. In Admiralty, the police presence was minimal and more and more tents had sprung up, giving the encampment a rooted feel. Some tents have even adopted improvised addresses such as Umbrella Square Tent 30 or Fighting Lodge No. 1.

In Mong Kok, where a few thousand demonstrators were massed, about 70 officers were on duty, some carrying batons. Demonstrators jeered at counter-protesters, shouting profanities and urging them to go back to the Mainland, a suggestion that they were doing Beijings bidding.

We need to occupy here to have more bargaining power in future dialogue with the government," said Paula Wong, who was at Mong Kok on Saturday evening. "I saw pictures about reclaiming the protest area in Mong Kok and I knew I needed to come; the more people [who are] here, the safer we are."

Government representatives and leaders of the Hong Kong Federation of Students, one of the lead protest groups, are scheduled to meet Tuesday for a first round of dialogue. Exactly what the talks will cover remains unclear.

Protesters have been agitating for Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying to resign and for the reversal of a decision by the standing committee of China's National People's Congress to limit candidates to his post in the city's 2017 election. But Leung has rejected both demands.

"Hong Kong people have been waiting for democracy for more than 10 years, but the situation is just getting worse and worse," said a 22-year-old student surnamed Lin who was in Mong Kok on Saturday afternoon. Now Beijing wants us to accept a false election, I don't think we can take it any more.

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Both sides in Hong Kong warn of crisis as clashes continue

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