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France and Carrefour targeted by Chinese protest campaigns

Monday, 21 April 2008

France and Carrefour targeted by Chinese protest campaigns

Chinese protesters have gathered in several cities in China demanding a boycott of French products and denouncing the campaign for Tibetan independence.

In Beijing, Wuhan, Hefei, Kunming, and Qingdao demonstrations were staged, usually outside branches of the French chain store Carrefour, but police monitored and controlled the hundreds of Chinese protesters taking part.

The demonstrations are a backlash reaction to the protests that disrupted the Olympic torch relay in Paris, and the protesters have also denounced French President Nicolas Sarkozy because he has not confirmed if he is attending the opening ceremony of the Olympics.

Carrefour has claimed it does support Beijing being chosen as host for the Olympic Games this August, however, this is not good enough for some protesters who accuse the company of backing the campaign for Tibetan independence.

Placards and banners carried by the demonstrators spelled out: "Oppose Tibet independence, support the Olympics," and "Say no to French goods."

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