運動失控武力升級 警民衝突惡果難料

<轉載自2014年10月16日 明報 社評>

佔領行動由示威者佔領龍和道、警方驅散爆發警民衝突，到7名警員涉嫌以不當武力毆打示威者，事態顯示抗爭逐漸偏離理性和平非暴力，正在朝著武力升級方向發展。由於佔領事態已近3周，示威者與執勤警員都處於高度繃緊狀態，持續下去，他們的互動會發生什麼事故，已經難以預測。今次佔領行動平和落幕的機率，種種象顯示愈來愈低，情勢發展，值得擔心。

警員打人電視片段 當局應嚴查公正處置

警方在龍和道的清場行動，一名示威者被制服、反綁索上手帶之後，根據電視台拍到的片段顯示，多名警員把這名示威者抬到暗處，然後警員腳踢、揮拳等動作，令人相信這幾名警員使用了不恰當武力；被毆打示威者其後展示傷痕纍纍。從電視片段所見，被打傷的示威者曾向警員潑液體，即使如此，他承受法律以外的懲罰是有所爭議的。

香港是法治社會，警員行使法律授予的權力，若示威者違法，應予拘捕檢控，交由法庭按法律規定制裁。這名示威者的遭遇，有人指為警員涉嫌濫用私刑，甚至認為在表面上已經涉及刑事毆打傷人罪。不過，這幾名警員是否使用了不恰當武力，事態性質與後續跟進，仍待警方的調查處理，警方務必大公無私，以公平、公正原則處理這宗打人事件，這樣不單是向當事人，也是向整體社會交代。

龍和道清場，除了警員涉嫌毆打示威者一幕，武力升級還在其他方面顯現出來。首先，示威者衝出龍和道、佔領封路的行動，已知是由少數激進者透過互聯網聯絡發動，其他人附和跟進。由於是突發事故，起初警方人力單薄，一度被示威者步步進逼而後撤，另外也有示威者一開始就拆除附近設施，設置路障，情說明部分示威者偏離了和平理性非暴力，而是用武力奪路。

其次，警方增援清場，示威者雨傘、眼罩等裝備齊全，顯示早就準備與執勤警員對抗，而雨傘等物件，作為盾以抵擋胡椒噴霧，同時也可作為武器發出攻擊，這些舉動在對抗中都顯露出來。佔領行動獲國際媒體高度評價，主要在於示威者和平理性非暴力的一面；不過，國際媒體看到的平和示威場面，示威者只是單獨一方，若當局不克制而釀成衝突混亂，相信他們的評價會不一樣。事態說明一隻手掌拍不響，除非出現示威者安靜躺下，讓警察逐個抬走，否則就算示威者平和而警員動武，或示威者動武而警員平和，都不會出現非暴力場面。龍和道由佔領到清場，說明武力相互激盪升級，反映佔領行動向武力，甚至暴力演變的趨勢。

龍和道事件還有一個情況值得注意，就是激進者會否騎劫佔領行動。當晚有人在互聯網發起佔領龍和道，一呼百應，就聚行事，這類「野貓式佔領」，其實近日已經發生過多宗，只是規模小、示威者見警員出現就散去，因而未獲重視。不過，這類佔領有人解讀為激進取態者所為，學聯佔領主要幹道之後就固守，在激進者眼中，認為這是不思進取，他們要繼續佔領、繼續進逼，相對於激進者，學聯等已經保守了。任何群運動，激進必然導致暴力，也會激發警方提高武力應對，很大可能出現惡性循環，這是使人擔心事件難望平和解決的原因。

佔領偏離非暴力 警方仍應保持克制

警隊的狀態也值得注意。佔領行動以來，即使發生過施放催淚彈和龍和道清場，警方應對歷來僅見、武力逐步升級的龐大群眾聚集抗爭行動，與其他國家、地區同類事件比較，警隊表現出來的克制，不容否定。不過，要注意警隊受嚴格訓練的目的，是必要時須勇武有力，維持社會秩序。因此，警隊天生就有「野性的獠牙」；承平時期，這些獠牙會隱藏起來，處理動亂場面，獠牙就會不經意露出來。多名警員在龍和道清場涉嫌的打人事件，若屬實，就是獠牙威力的極致表現。現在只能期望警隊的野性獠牙，往後不會是使事態惡化，就是說，仍然期望警隊保持克制。

前線警員處理佔領行動面對極大壓力，他們被示威者辱罵甚至攻擊，只能保持克制，在許多信息渠道，都反映前線警員認為受委曲，情緒大受困擾，這種繃緊的精神狀態，對他們執法的影響，無法估計，如何讓他們的情緒得到適當宣泄，十分重要。不少警員認為媒體上一些指警方執法有問題的情，缺乏前文後理，對他們不公平，就一些個別事件，確實有這樣的情。據知，執勤警員配備了「隨身拍」的攝錄裝置，警方可考慮整理出一些片段，在不激化局面情下，適當公開，讓前線人員的忍辱負重，為社會所知，或許可以紓解前線人員的受屈情緒。我們仍然寄望警隊妥善應對今次群運動，使事態平和落幕，毋須外力介入，使香港免陷深淵。

Increased use of force in the Occupy movement

FIRST protesters occupied Lung Wo Road. Then police dispersed the crowd, leading to a clash with the protesters. Then it was alleged that seven police officers had used inappropriate force by beating up a protester. All this is an indication that the Occupy protests are deviating increasingly from the principle of peace, rationality, and non-violence, and are drifting towards the increased use of force.

A protester was subdued and handcuffed behind his back when police were clearing Lung Wo Road. As shown in TV footage, several police officers took him to a dark corner before raining kicks and punches on him. There was suspected inappropriate use of force on the part of these officers. The protester demonstrated the wounds all over his body. Though TV footage shows that he had poured liquid on police, it is debatable whether he deserved such extrajudicial punishment.

In a society such as Hong Kong where the rule of law is upheld, the police exercise the power granted by the law. Any protester who has violated the law should be arrested, prosecuted and punished by the court in accordance with related regulations. As for the treatment of the protester, some say the police officers involved in the case may have meted out punishment unlawfully. Some even claim there is prima facie evidence that they may have committed the criminal offences of wounding and assault. However, whether they employed inappropriate force is to be investigated by the police, as are the nature of the incident and the follow-up actions that were taken. To answer the queries of not only the protester but also society as a whole, the police must be impartial and handle the incident fairly and justly.

The increased use of force during the clearing of Lung Wo Road was manifested in other aspects. First, protesters rushed onto and blocked Lung Wo Road. It is understood that their actions were suggested on the Internet by a few radicals and joined by others. As they acted without any prior warning, police officers at the scene, initially outnumbered by the protesters, had no choice but to retreat facing their continued advance. Another group of protesters started their actions by dismantling the facilities nearby and erecting barriers. All this shows that some protesters have deviated from the principle of peace, rationality and non-violence, and have chosen to occupy the roads by force.

Second, when police reinforcements arrived, the protesters were seen fully equipped with umbrellas and goggles. Apparently they had braced themselves for a confrontation with the police on duty. We are convinced that objects like umbrellas can be used as shields to protect them from pepper spray, and as weapons can be used to carry out attacks.

Since the Occupy movement broke out, the Hong Kong police, in the face of an unprecedented mass movement characterised by the increased use of force, have undeniably shown a kind of restraint rarely seen in other countries or regions. Particularly under pressure are the police on the front line. They have taken the insults - and even attacks - from protesters in their stride, though they have had no other choice but to do so. It is understood, through many channels of communication, that many police officers feel they have been misunderstood, and are distressed. How such emotional tension will affect their enforcing the law cannot be answered easily. At this stage, the most important thing is to help police officers let off steam in an appropriate manner.

運動失控武力升級 警民衝突惡果難料

佔領行動由示威者佔領龍和道、警方驅散爆發警民衝突，到7名警員涉嫌以不當武力毆打示威者，事態顯示抗爭逐漸偏離理性和平非暴力，正在朝著武力升級方向發展。

警方在龍和道的清場行動，一名示威者被制服、反綁索上手帶之後，根據電視台拍到的片段顯示，多名警員把這名示威者抬到暗處，然後警員腳踢、揮拳等動作，令人相信這幾名警員使用了不恰當武力；被毆打示威者其後展示傷痕纍纍。從電視片段所見，被打傷的示威者曾向警員潑液體，即使如此，他承受法律以外的懲罰是有所爭議的。

香港是法治社會，警員行使法律授予的權力，若示威者違法，應予拘捕檢控，交由法庭按法律規定制裁。這名示威者的遭遇，有人指為警員涉嫌濫用私刑，甚至認為在表面上已經涉及刑事毆打傷人罪。不過，這幾名警員是否使用了不恰當武力，事態性質與後續跟進，仍待警方的調查處理，警方務必大公無私，以公平、公正原則處理這宗打人事件，這樣不單是向當事人，也是向整體社會交代。

龍和道清場，除了警員涉嫌毆打示威者一幕，武力升級還在其他方面顯現出來。首先，示威者衝出龍和道、佔領封路的行動，已知是由少數激進者透過互聯網聯絡發動，其他人附和跟進。由於是突發事故，起初警方人力單薄，一度被示威者步步進逼而後撤，另外也有示威者一開始就拆除附近設施，設置路障，情說明部分示威者偏離了和平理性非暴力，而是用武力奪路。

其次，警方增援清場，示威者雨傘、眼罩等裝備齊全，顯示早就準備與執勤警員對抗，而雨傘等物件，作為盾以抵擋胡椒噴霧，同時也可作為武器發出攻擊。

佔領行動以來，即使發生過施放催淚彈和龍和道清場，警方應對歷來僅見、武力逐步升級的龐大群眾聚集抗爭行動，與其他國家、地區同類事件比較，警隊表現出來的克制，不容否定。前線警員處理佔領行動面對極大壓力，他們被示威者辱罵甚至攻擊，只能保持克制，在許多信息渠道，都反映前線警員認為受委曲，情緒大受困擾，這種繃緊的精神狀態，對他們執法的影響，無法估計，如何讓他們的情緒得到適當宣泄，十分重要。