We are infuriated A Statement of Condemnation of the Excessive Use of Force by The Hong Kong Police - OCLP Medical Team ***** We are infuriated. We are a group of volunteer doctors, nurses and first-aiders who have provided more than 60 days of continuous medical services for the people involved in the street occupation. Throughout the last 2 months, we have upheld our duties and looked after a variety of medical problems – from physical injuries and body insults caused by tear gas and pepper spray, to tendering the sick on the streets. Our stance has always been unequivocal and unwatered – to maintain political neutrality. We have prohibited volunteers from being involved in any act that would disrupt this principle whilst representing our medical team, such as chanting slogans and direct involvement in the protest. Our primary objective was to make best use of our skills in order to fulfill the sworn duty of healthcare professionals – to serve any sick and injured, no matter who they may be and no matter what their political stance is. Therefore, when the police officers irrationally halted us from taking care of those who were wounded, we were drawn into deep shock and resentment. ***** First-aid on Hold, Medical staff in Shock At dawn on December 1st, the police force made a belligerent attempt to clear off the protest camps and this resulted in many injuries. The scale and severity of the injuries were the worst since 928”. These included many head injuries and bone fractures. Under such conditions, critical care such as haemostasis and stabilisation of wounds were of utmost importance. While performing these timely and critical measures, numerous police officers brandished their batons and threatened our healthcare volunteers. Some police officers even shouted, “I don’t care if you are saving lives. I am arresting you anyway!” They even attempted to make unjustified arrests. Standing amongst the seriously injured and blood-covered faces, humanitarian ground should always be the priority; regardless of one’s political stance and position. If anyone in need is delayed from accessing emergency care, resulting in any irreversible damage or even fatality, the question we would like to ask is - who could shoulder these consequences? Could the police officers not show the slightest human compassion, instead of spurting their brutalities on the unarmed teenagers and youngsters? ***** Humanitarian Grounds Ignored, First-aider Beaten Up Moreover, according to the report from one of the Admiralty first-aid stations, a volunteer first-aider were wounded by police officers who irrationally attacked them from behind. At that time, the volunteer was taking care of another police officer who appear fainted in the lobby of Admiralty Centre. Even in battlefields, where armed soldiers are under notoriously stressful and life-threatening situations, humanitarian ground must be upheld as part of the rules of war. According to international practice, launching any attack to medical personnel is forbidden under any circumstances. Many of our team members had taken part in numerous international humanitarian efforts and had never been treated in such a rash and drastic manner. Ironically, we have not seen true madness and violence in our peaceful city of Hong Kong until this day, demonstrated by police officers who were raging with profanities and were desperate to erupt their violence towards the healthcare volunteers. For a long time, we tried our best to rescue and safeguard the health of the people of Hong Kong. Further more, during the incident, we were rational enough to attend a wounded police officer; yet we were irrationally attacked by his comrades. These are not acts of sanity and the police officers lost their sense and control. It is equally terrifying to realise that this is the behaviour of the professionals whose jobs are to guard our law and social order. ***** Healthcare Professionals Never Been More Determined We are enraged by the reaction of the government that is led by LEUNG Chun-Ying. Not only did the Government not put a stop to the ruthlessness, but they supported the blatant violence; believing that this could scare us away from our duties. As a matter of fact, since these brutalities, an exponential amount of new healthcare professionals have signed up with our team, strengthening our determination to safeguard the people of Hong Kong. We condemn the violence of the police towards healthcare personnel and the citizens of Hong Kong. We are infuriated. However, retreating from our professional and sacred duty of treating the sick and the injured has never crossed our minds. We shall always stand alongside the people of Hong Kong. Dr Au Yiu Kai, the OCLP medical team and, a group of volunteer first aider
Posted on: Sun, 07 Dec 2014 11:39:35 +0000
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