Chinese group protest at French store

Updated 11.17 Sat Apr 19 2008
Keywords: carrefour, protest, Chinese, olympics

A Chinese group has demonstrated in front of a Carrefour supermarket in Beijing, in protest against those seeking to disrupt the Olympic games.

The protesters argue the French retail group supports pro-Tibetan groups and internet users have called on consumers to boycott French exports and to stop shopping at the store.

The group began their protest near the store and held their country's national flag and a cardboard stacked with pictures showing the chaotic Olympic torch relay in Paris

The group began their protest near the store and held their country's national flag and a cardboard display with pictures showing the chaotic Olympic torch relay in Paris.

An unidentified protester said: "We are trying to wake up more Chinese people's patriotisms in order to let them make their efforts to the Olympic Games and work together to protest against the Tibet separate activities.

"We have witnessed that many overseas Chinese had shown their patriotism, so, as a Beijing resident or as a domestic resident we should do something to show our supportiveness to their behaviours in a peaceful way."

Beijing police quickly arrived and tried to keep order on the site for about ten minutes, before they stopped the protest and took one of the protesters away.

Police said the demonstration was not registered at a local police station and would possibly harm public security. According to Chinese law, Chinese citizens who want to hold a public gathering or demonstration need to hand in application forms and get themselves registered at local police stations.

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