Chinese in France to rally in support of Olympics
Updated: 2008-04-18 22:42
PARIS - Chinese expatriates and students in France are planning a peaceful demonstration Saturday at the Place de la Republique square in Paris, to express support for the 2008 Beijing Olympics and establish the truth about China and Tibet.
About 10,000 people are expected to join the rally, the first ever to be staged by the Chinese in France, said Wu Rui, a Chinese student and the event's coordinator, at a press briefing Thursday.
Wu said the demonstration is aimed at expressing support for the Beijing Olympics, protesting against the views expressed in some European media, telling the truth about China and Tibet -- issues on which the European people are not well informed, and consolidating the French-Chinese friendship.
In a statement, the organizers said that some Western media had ignored the truth and published false information about the March 14 riots in Lhasa, capital of China's Tibet Autonomous Region, and about incidents surrounding the global Olympic torch relay.
"During the relay of the Olympic flame in Paris on April 7, thousands of overseas Chinese were deeply offended and outraged by actions against the flame, in particular the attack by a 'pro-Tibet independence' activist on a disabled Chinese athlete carrying the Olympic torch," said Wu.
"We are protesting against the stance of the European media, which did not provide fair and objective information on the Olympic torch relay in Paris," Wu added.
"The mobilization is via Internet, and we expect Chinese from all parts of France to take part in this event," said Wu, adding that similar events were scheduled for the same day in London and Berlin.
The demonstration, expected to last four hours, will include stands with a photographic and video presentation on Tibet titled "economic progress in recent years," speeches from Chinese settled in France and traditional songs.
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