FRANCE: DEMONSTRATION AGAINST CHINESE PREMIER LI PENG'S VISIT скачать в хорошем качестве

FRANCE: DEMONSTRATION AGAINST CHINESE PREMIER LI PENG'S VISIT

(10 Apr 1996) French/Nat Amnesty International demonstrators have taken to the streets of Paris to protest over Chinese Premier Li Peng's visit to France. Police quickly broke up the demonstration detaining about 50 whistling activists. It was the first of several protests planned during Li's four-day stay, during which the French government hopes to finalise (b) billions of dollars in contracts. Human rights activists unfurled a banner across the Champs-Elysees on Wednesday to protest over a visit by Chinese Premier Li Peng. Protesters stood in the avenue and tried to stop traffic, but riot police prevented them from doing so. This was just the first of several protests planned by human rights during Li's four-day visit to France. Li was to sign economic accords Wednesday evening with Prime Minister Alain Juppe, who is hosting a dinner for the Chinese leader. About a kilometre (half-mile) down the river Seine, about 40 activist groups are planning a rally near the Eiffel Tower. Wednesday's demonstrators want political prisoners in China released and an end to what they called the Chinese oppression of Tibet. SOUNDBITE: (French) "I think that France is not strong enough in the issue of human rights and I think the French authorities talk about the question of human rights but do not use any force because China will bring in thousands of contracts and lots of money is at stake. In view of so many working hours for the French workers, of course the government will shy away and we want to force the French government to be more firm in this issue." SUPER CAPTION: Michel Frost, President of Amnesty International French authorities aimed to keep protests at a minimum, after Li was hounded when he visited Germany in 1994 and several European countries in 1992. Upon arrival Tuesday evening, Li noted "encouraging progress" in Sino-French relations in the past two years after France pledged no new arms sales to Taiwan, which bought 60 Mirage fighters in 1992. Competing with other Western industrial powers, France aims to sell airliners, power plants, locomotives and grain to China. Li was to visit the Airbus assembly plant in the southern city of Toulouse on Saturday before leaving for Beijing. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...