香港デモに「ガイ・フォークス」の仮面　新たなシンボルに

【香港ＡＦＰ＝時事】今夏から抗議活動が続いている香港では最近、デモ参加者の多くが新たなシンボルとして、笑みを浮かべる「ガイ・フォークス」の仮面を着用している。（写真は香港でガイ・フォークスの仮面を着用して抗議を行う人）
　ガイ・フォークスは１６０５年に、カトリック教徒が英国議会爆破を企図した事件の実行者とされる。
　その仮面は、漫画「Ｖフォー・ヴェンデッタ」やその映画版に登場したことで有名になり、近年では国際ハッカー集団「アノニマス」など、さまざまな抗議団体が使用している。
　香港でも１日の中国建国記念日に合わせて、デモ参加者にガイ・フォークスの仮面を着用する呼び掛けがオンライン上で多数あった。
　仮面を着用してデモに参加した男性の一人は、「ヴェンデッタの登場人物は世界中の反全体主義のシンボルだ」とコメント。
　香港のデモ隊が、共産主義の中国に対し完全な民主的自由を要求する中、その主人公から刺激を受けたと述べ、これが国際的な注目と関心を集めることにつながればと語った。
　１日にはデモ隊と警察が衝突し、１８歳のデモ参加者が銃で撃たれる事態に発展。警察側は事件を正当化しているが、デモ隊の怒りはさらに強まっている。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2019/10/03-08:42）

As Hong Kong raged with the worst political violence so far this summer, many of those hitting the streets adopted a new symbol -- smiling Guy Fawkes masks.
The face coverings, made popular by the comic book and film V for Vendetta, have been embraced by multiple protest movements in recent years, particularly Anonymous hactivists and Occupy Wall Street.
But until recently they had not made much of an appearance at the huge pro-democracy demonstrations currently battering Hong Kong.
That changed on Tuesday when China celebrated 70 years of Communist Party rule with a massive military parade in Beijing.
Protesters in Hong Kong dubbed the celebrations a Day of Grief, and took to the streets in huge numbers as battles raged for hours with police.
Many online forums encouraged protesters to wear Guy Fawkes masks.
The masks first appeared in the early 1980s in the cult-hit comic V for Vendetta by British writer Alan Moore.
In his book a masked anarchist takes on an imaginary British fascist government by blowing up the Houses of Parliament -- echoing the ultimately unsuccessful actions of the real Fawkes in 1605, who attempted a Catholic rebellion.
A 2005 film based on the comic brought Moore's character mass appeal.
One man, protesting on Tuesday while wearing the mask, said he took inspiration from the book's protagonist as demonstrators push communist China for full democratic freedoms.
The character of Vendetta is a symbol of anti-totalitarianism around the world. I believe this vivid character would bring international attention and concern, he told AFP.
Later that day an 18-year-old demonstrator was shot in the chest as he and a group attacked police officers.
The incident, which police have said was justified, has sparked more protester fury.
At a sit-in outside the teenager's school on Wednesday, a person delivered a statement condemning police -- hiding his face behind a Guy Fawkes mask.
Hours later, protesters held a Citizen's Press Conference in the same district. Two speakers were wearing the masks.