Hong Kong protests: UN to hold crucial meet on human rights violations as pro-democracy movement enters third month

Washington: As protests across Hong Kong against a controversial extradition law enter its third month, the United Nations (UN) has decided to take up the matter in a crucial meeting, sources said. [caption id=“attachment_7151211” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Protesters at the arrival hall of the Hong Kong International airport. AP[/caption] On Wednesday, Beijing slammed the “terrorist-like” attacks by protestors on its citizens during the chaos at the city’s airport. The pro-democracy movement achieved early success in June with the suspension of the proposed bill that would have allowed the extradition of criminal suspects from Hong Kong to mainland China. This followed unprecedented peaceful demonstrations that brought up to two million people on the streets. Since then, the UN has shown concerns over human rights violations, especially the use of unethical measures as pepper spray on protesters. The organisation also said that the meeting would focus on the role played by China during the protests. Flights operations resumed at Hong Kong’s airport on Wednesday after two days of disruptions in the semi-autonomous Chinese city. Some 100 flights were cancelled in the two days after some protesters camped in the airport’s arrivals area a day after the demonstrations and frenzied mob violence. On Tuesday,UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, urged Hong Kong authorities to exercise restraint and investigate evidence of its forces firing tear gas at protesters in ways banned by international law. “Officials can be seen firing tear gas canisters into crowded, enclosed areas and directly at individual protesters on multiple occasions, creating a considerable risk of death or serious injury,” Bachelet said in a statement.