Well what exactly did they lose? (im aware of the repression, but what exactly do you mean) Not to say this is completely legal. The western backed protests did their part, make cpc look bad. But compared to LA for example shooting with rubber of foreign journalists, holding a protester down and repeatedly trampling him with a horse, unmarked ice illegaly detaining brown people. Common argument i read was that these illegals and aliens should not behave like this in MY country. Freedom of speech. Meh I agree western democracy is different.