Millions of peace-loving and law-abiding residents of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region were hit right in their face by the news that a Norwegian lawmaker by the name of Guri Melby has nominated the people of Hong Kong for next year's Nobel Peace Prize. The report quoted the liberal politician as saying that, by "Hongkongers", she meant those who are "fighting for freedom and democracy" as we speak. Since there's no mention of the definition of "peace" in that report, we shall assume she genuinely believes all the rioters, including foreign nationals who joined the "fights", perhaps deserve the NPP for the carnage and suffering they have inflicted on the great majority of Hong Kong citizens in nearly five months to date of hell on earth.

As if there isn't enough controversy surrounding the whole NPP selection process each year, the Norwegian politician just pulled off the ultimate fan-girl act by nominating the culprits of wanton human rights abuses, violence and destruction for an NPP just because they used "freedom" and "democracy" as an excuse. According to the Norwegian newspaper that broke the news, Melby visited Hong Kong late last month during some of the worst incidents of violent attacks on police officers and local residents who disapprove of the rioters' behavior and some of the worst cases of mass criminal vandalism the city had experienced in decades. Unless she was in a stupor or kept in solitude confinement at the time, there is absolutely no way she didn't see anything disturbing on TV during her stay here.

The report also quoted Melby as wishing that "(Hong Kong) protesters will continue their fight in a non-violent way." That can only mean she knew the "fight for freedom and democracy" in Hong Kong has been violent. The question is: Where does the word "peace" fit in for her reason to nominate the rioters for the NPP, which comes with a lot of money, as well as a ton of controversy? Does the Nobel Prize Committee conduct its own investigation to verify the worthiness of each nomination? Or will it also be oblivious to the fact that those "freedom and democracy fighters" are heavily outnumbered by real Hong Kong residents who have refused to join or support their criminal enterprise, as Melby appears to be?

Speaking of controversies, it's safe to name then-US-president Barack Obama's winning the NPP in December 2009 as the best example of them all. Props to Obama for accepting the "honor" in good humor, when he acknowledged the irony of being the commander-in-chief of a military machine actively engaged in two simultaneous wars launched by his predecessor. He won the NPP because he "had created a new climate in international politics" and had stimulated disarmament and arms control negotiations, according to the Norwegian Nobel Committee. Now, who would MP Melby of Norway recommend as the undisputed representative of Hong Kong rioters to receive the NPP and check with Oslo if her nomination has been accepted?

(HK Edition 10/18/2019 page12)