Chinese in Paris protest crime

By Li Jing

The Chinese community in France held a parade Sunday in Belleville, Paris, calling on local authorities to attach more importance to the security of Chinese citizens.

Xu Jiangong, director of the Consular Department of the Chinese embassy in France, told the Global Times that the embassy would firmly support the demands of overseas Chinese to defend their legitimate rights by legal means.

Chen Shengwu, chairman of the Chinese Immigrants and Expatriates Association in France, who is in charge of the organizing committee of the parade, said that the number of robberies and thefts of overseas Chinese in Belleville, located at the junction of multi-administrative regions in Paris, had risen in recent years, severely impairing the normal lives of citizens.

"However, the local government has not adopted valid measures to rectify the poor security situation in some ar-eas of Paris," he told the Global Times, adding, "This parade not only aims to urge the local department to intensify efforts to lessen crimes, but it represents the dissatisfied sentiment of the local Chinese citizens."

According to Radio France Internationale, this was the largest demonstration by Chinese in France protesting social issues, Chinanews.com reported.

Yao Meng, a Chinese journalist in France, said that the robbery involving a Chinese in Belleville, Paris, on June 1, provoked this parade.

According to some Chinese media, a group of criminals robbed Chinese guests at a wedding ceremony, forcing a Chinese to act in self-defense by using a firearm.

"Similar protests by overseas Chinese have been considerable in France in recent years, "Yao said, adding, "Meanwhile, they increasingly emphasize the timely response toward the issue involving their interests."

Another member of the Chinese community told the Global Times while asking to remain anonymous that overseas Chinese should not be as submissive as they were in the past, adding that the demonstration represented Chinese strength.