HONG KONG: Hong Kong students Monday began a week-long boycott of classes, the start of what democracy activists say will be a wider campaign of civil disobedience against China's refusal to grant the city full universal suffrage.
Democracy leaders are currently locked in a showdown with the mainland authorities after the former British colony's hopes for full and unfettered democracy were dashed by Beijing's plans to vet nominees who want to stand as its next leader.
A coalition of pro-democracy groups in the semi-autonomous Chinese city, led by Occupy Central, have labelled the restrictions a "fake democracy". They have vowed a series of actions including a blockade of the Central financial district.
The city's vocal student community Monday became the first wing of that coalition to move from protests to direct action -- starting a week of class boycotts designed to capture the public's imagination and bolster the pro-democracy fight.
Around a thousand students from different universities, many waving the flags of their faculties and sporting yellow ribbons, stopped going to classes in the morning and instead gathered on the leafy campus of the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
"I don't think the Chinese government is trying to protect our rights so now we are coming out to fight for our basic needs," 20-year-old architecture student Wu Tsz-wing told AFP.
"The boycott of classes can totally raise the awareness of Hong Kong society," added 19-year-old student Leanne Lo.
"They will think about what they can do for Hong Kong's future elections and justice," the second-year social work student said.
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