[We Connect after 1 year. Part 1] Shot by water cannon outside of Kowloon Mosque and Islamic Centre, Mohan found his way to call the police to account for police brutality

Exactly one year ago around 4 pm, there was no protester outside Kowloon Mosque and Islamic Centre. However, when a water cannon vehicle passed by, water cannon was shot at the front gate of the mosque and people nearby were left stained by blue water. This triggered the rage of ethnic minorities and the Islamic community. At night, some senior policemen arrive to clean up and give their explanation, while Chief Executive Carrie Lam went to the mosque apologise in person. 

When you look back the previous year, this was the only case where the government apologized publicly amongst the numerous cases of police brutality in the 2019-20 Hong Kong protests.

Among the victims who had their bodies dyed blue was Mohan Chugani, a 74-year old former chairman of the India Association Hong Kong. Few days after the incident, Chief Executive Carrie Lam, the then deputy commissioner of police (current commissioner of Police) Tang Ping-keung and Chief Secretary for Administration Cheung Kin-chung sent their regards and apology to Mohan through phone call or email.

At that moment, Mohan seemed close to justice when compared to other Hong Kongers. However, 1 year after making a complaint against the police, in August Mohan received a letter from the police stating that the report of the investigation was passed on to the Independent Police Complaints Council (IPCC) and the final outcome was still pending. This was the critical blow that changed Mohan.

Photo caption [The police requested Mohan to highlight himself in the photo of the day according to his complaint.]

Ethnic minority leaders were labelled "rioters"—The path to pursue justice

There is always a reason if the government swallow their pride and apologize. The Stand News investigated to find that Kowloon Mosque and Islamic Centre once had a crisis related to its architectural structure due to MTR construction works. With the 25 million HKD raised from local and overseas Muslims, the mosque was rebuilt in 1984. Among the fundraised, the Government of Saudi Arabia donated 2.3 million HKD, which contributed to about 10% of the total amount. "If (the mosque) is damaged in any way, it is not Carrie Lam's own issue anymore. I think the Islam countries would directly negotiate with president Xi,” said Mohan.

“Why apologize to me? Because they know who I am. I am the former chairman of the India Association Hong Kong. I was born in Hong Kong and had meetings with many government officials. They know that I am not stirring things up and I am not a protester." Mohan mentioned that in the 70s, the India Association Hong Kong used to control 10% of the export of Hong Kong. “Of course it is less now."

Mohan went back to the scene with the reporter. He grasped on the railing and recalled that day when he was going to the clubhouse and met his friends on his way, including Phyllis Cheung, Executive Director of HK Unison and the legislator Tam Man-ho. So Mohan went out of the mosque and chatted with them. Then the water cannon vehicle passed by and fired "blue water" at them unexpectedly. The vehicle aimed at Mohan and he was not able to dodge away and was drenched in the "blue water" twice. He remembered that the power of the water cannon could go up to 300 pounds, so he had his back on the iron pillar outside the mosque and clenched tightly. "The doctor said if the eyes were shot, the eyeballs could blast." As his whole body was still burning even after a shower, he was sent to the hospital. His family brought him clothes in a hurry but forgot the shoes. So his feet were soaked in the "blue water" with unknown ingredients for about 3 hours.

Photo caption [20th October 2019, the water cannon vehicle was shooting at Kowloon Mosque and Islamic Centre. Mohan was dyed blue and injured.]

For 10 days, Mohan’s body was burning, especially in his feet. He could not sleep at night.

Mohan was over 70 years old. He suffered from diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and required regular health checks. His vision was impaired. His feet were not in pain but there were a tint of blue left on the skin. He still needed to put on prescription lotion every day.

Mohan witnessed no protestor at the scene. But the Hong Kong Police Force claimed on its Facebook page that the water cannon vehicle was sent to "disperse the rioters around Nathan road" and the coloured water was accidentally shot at Kowloon Mosque and Islamic Centre. Afterwards, the police held a press conference in which they claimed they were trying to "protect the mosque".

“If the police were right, then why did the chief executive, Cheung Kin-chung and Tang Ping-keung apologise to me?" Mohan was unhappy that he was labelled a rioter. He made a complaint to the complaints against the police officer. A police officer asked, “Are you looking for an apology?" Mohan only had one demand, which was to correct the police record. "I only wanted them to set the record straight. I am not a rioter, nor a demonstrator. I am an innocent bystander. That’s it." He stated that if the police sent 1 or 2 minority officers of ethnic minority background to stay at and protect the mosque, the incident might not have happened.

[The abstract of Mohan's complaint about shooting "blue water" towards Kowloon Mosque and Islamic Centre on 22nd October 2019]

After the incident, a senior government official told him that the frontline police were not under control, while a senior police officer explained that the water cannon vehicle was new and the officer lacked experience handling it. Mohan then asked the senior police officer, "If that was the case, why did you let them handle the vehicle?” Mohan said aiming "blue water" towards Kowloon Mosque and Islamic Centre was a silly mistake. Even if an independent investigation for the overall situation of Hong Kong could not be held, the police force should at least look into this one incident. He felt it was very straight forward, "If that policeman faulted, just sanction him and it would be fine. At least we know where the fault lies." 

Mohan said. "Humans make mistakes. Why can't a police officer afford to make any mistake?"

Speak up to senior officials doesn't make me part of the "yellow" camp

Even though he was shot by "blue water", Mohan did not "turn yellow". He emphasised that he did not belong to any colour. "It doesn't make me part of the "yellow" camp even if I speak up." For Mohan, the incident was inspirational as well as awakening. He became more willing to speak up and cared more about politics because he had never seen Hong Kong in such a commotion. 

Ordinary citizens voice out by making to the streets or using social media while Mohan speaks to the senior officials

In late October last year, when he was celebrating Diwali, the Indian New Year, and sitting inside a car with his grandson on their way to worship near Ho Man Tin, he saw a student wearing a school uniform being chased by a few dozens of policemen. The student was pushed onto the floor and arrested by 3 to 4 policemen, the sight of it made Mohan's heart-wrenching. He asked Tang Ping-keung several times, "Sir Tang, aren't your policemen a bit too harsh? After all, they're children, not gangsters." Tang refuted that "these students could only to be subdued with this number of policemen." The conversation was then over.

[Photo from the Stand News]

The government invites Mohan to the National Day ceremony every year. This year, on his way to the venue, he saw the street full of policemen on duty like they were in a war. But there was no protest at the scene. Mohan did not feel comfortable and the sight reminded him of the scene where the water canon vehicle shot out water. He told the senior police officers, "Is this really needed? It's peaceful and quiet now.”

They answered that they had heard that there was going to be a protest while Mohan pointed out directly that the police should work on their intelligence as the waste of police force equals to the waste of taxpayer money.

Once Mohan met Tang Ping-keung and asked, “You (the police force) were the best in Asia. What is happening right now?" Tang did not reply directly and only said that the police force would do better.

Every time Mohan met a senior officer, he would mention, "You need to communicate more with the youngsters in Hong Kong." Even though he knew that they might not listen or "could not see what the government was doing", he still talked to them.

Mohan's friends from the pro-Beijing camp reminded him to speak more carefully. He knew that speaking up was not "welcomed". However, seeing Hong Kong fall downhill, the basic rights become corroded, the economy worsen and the political freedom tighten up, he wanted Hong Kong to turn back 10 years in time and this was his dream. "Who is willing to speak up? I don't get it. When Tung Chee-hwa and Tsang Yam-kuen were the chief executives, Hong Kong was not like this. Even when Leung Chun-ying was the chief executive, Hong Kong had its own say." 

“Who has the say of Hong Kong right now? Carrie Lam or the liaison office of the Central People’s Government? We all know the answer." Mohan said. "Now, Hong Kong needs a new government, a new leader to start all over again."

Even Mohan's brother, Michael Chugani, who worked in the media field and dared to talk more, also told Mohan to be very careful and not to go deep into politics because "nothing is gonna happen". Regarding this, Mohan kept an open kind and said, “At least I can try." But he then added, "Bur I am also more cautious when I talk to you now." 

[Kowloon Mosque and Islamic Centre was shot “blue water" by the police on 20th October. The next day, chief executive Carrie Lam visited the mosque and met the leader of the Muslim group. (Photo from Information Services Department)]

The minority amongst the pro-Beijing ethnic minority leaders—The awakening of the neutral

In the eyes of his pro-Beijing friends and other ethnic minority leaders, Mohan became part of the minority because he spoke up.

The Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB) established the Ethnic Minority Committee in 2005, which was the first in the DAB to build a pro-Beijing foundation amongst the ethnic minorities in Hong Kong of which Mohan was a member. Social affairs were not discussed in the committee, including the "blue water" incident that happened just outside Kowloon Mosque and Islamic Centre because a complaint was made. "I don't think any pro-government parties would suddenly start criticizing the government, especially the Hong Kong Police Force," Mohan admitted.

The pro-Beijing camp did not change, but Mohan did. In the past during election, Mohan's pro-Beijing friends would ask him to solicit votes, including Hung Chiu-wah, the chairman of the Ethnic Minority Committee. During the 2019 Hong Kong District Council Election, only photos of the candidates of the pro-Beijing parties were shown inside Hindu temples. Mohan requested the person in charge to put up photos of all candidates, "It is either to show all or none.” Mohan said that because this was a religious and public place, not a political organization. "The person votes who he wants to.” In the future elections, Mohan stated that he would be impartial and would not help the DAB to solicit votes “because I have friends in both sides and this is not fair."

Amongst the ethnic minority group leaders, no one would talk to the government regarding the political issues, except Mohan. "I don't understand. I don't want to criticize my community. But this is the fact." Mohan said carefully, "They don't like to rock the boat. Me either. But I want to speak my mind. If they (the senior officers) listen to part of what I'm saying, at least the system in Hong Kong would improve." Mohan hoped that more people could join him.

Mohan said that after the National Security Law was passed, Indian businessmen around 40-50 years old started to hold less Hong Kong real estate and turned other countries. They transferred their assets and even started considering to immigrate to Singapore. "Any other places but not Hong Kong." The prosperity of Hong Kong was built by multiple races together. “If only Chinese people were left in Hong Kong with no foreigners, Hong Kong could not survive." Such a situation was not what Mohan wanted, which was why he stepped up and asked for a change. Mohan's family was planted in Hong Kong over a hundred years ago. He was the third or fourth generation and he would not immigrate. "I have nowhere to go, Hong Kong is my home." 

[Cheif Executive Carrie Lam visited Kowloon Mosque and Islamic Centre and met with the leaders on 21st October 2019 (Photo from Information Services Department) ]

Hong Kong is sinking—Justice is missing

Mohan's family would sometimes mention the incident and told him to be careful if he saw the police on the street. "If I have not committed a crime, why do I need to avoid them?" However, he used to take the bus home outside the mosque before the incident, now he would walk to the next stop to get on the bus.

Amongst the many other victims of police brutality, only Mohan received the apologises from senior government officials and he admitted that he was privileged. At the same time, Mohan understood that justice was missing, it was not the problem of the "water canon vehicle", but the political consideration of the incident. This was because once the police explained once, this would set a precedent for similar cases in the future.

Complaining to the IPCC might not result in any change. From September last year to April this year, there were 1895 complaints made towards the police related to the anti-extradition law. Among these cases, 308 had the investigation reports completed, 98 were approved by the IPCC and 6 were given an outcome – in 3 cases the police was proven at fault while in 3 cases the police were considered not at fault.

If the outcome not fair, Mohan would continue to appeal. What would happen if a person had a stake in the society like Mohan did not fight back for justice? “It is very simple. If there is nothing I can do, then we will understand that Hong Kong has become a police state. This is the only conclusion.” 

[Mohan Chugani speaks up about police brutality after Kowloon Mosque and Islamic Centre and himself were shot with “blue water” by the water canon vehicle]

Source: StandNews 20 October 2020

https://www.thestandnews.com/politics/we-connect-一年-上-清真寺外遭藍水射傷-毛漢覺醒追究警暴之路/