By Tenzin Sangpo
Florence, Italy – Tibetans in Italy staged several protests against visiting Chinese president Hu Jintao during his short stopover in the country. A group of Tibetans led by Dr Thupten Tenzin, president of the Italian Tibetan community, unfurled a banner that read, “Hu Jintao Killer, Free Tibet” right in front of the Chinese president’s motorcade before being stopped by the police. The Chinese president was being hosted a dinner reception by Italian Cultural Minister Sandro Bondi at Provincial seat of Florence City.
A group of Tibetan monks and laypeople assembled outside the entrance of the provincial seat of Florence. Claudio Cardelli, the president of Italy Tibet Association, was also present. The Tibetans were taken to the police station and a case of unauthorized public demonstration was filed against them.
Another group of Tibetans and Italian supporters staged a protest at AUCSANO leather factory during the Chinese president’s visit to Santa Croce sull’Arno.
The protesters were arrested and taken to the nearest police station but were released soon after. Following the protests Hu Jintao’s visit to the famous galleria Uffizzi of Florence was cancelled for fear of more protests by Tibetans.
According to the Italian newspaper La Repubblica the mayor of the city of Florence cancelled his meeting with Hu Jintao in protest against the killings of more than 156 people in Eastern Turkistan.
Two council members of PDL party of the municipality of Florence attached a banner on the walls of the municipality reading, “Free Tibet, Remember Tiananmen”.
report submitted by Tibetan community of Italy
