The Vietnamese have a reputation of quiet, hard workers, who attain success. Now hey have made themselves heard quite clearly, though. The association of Vietnamese students and youth put together a petition against the police raid on a Vietnamese market that took place 22 November in Prague, Libuš.
They protest against the raid of customs officers and police in “Little Hanoi”. They demand that police and the Interior Ministry analyse the course of action, claiming the authorities abused their power and violated basic human rights and freedoms. Police rejects these claims.
“The Vietnamese are peaceful people, but this act provoked even us. We agree with the necessity of police controls, but to humiliate our people and make pregnant women and small children stand freezing in the street is too much,” said Nguyen Son Tung, petition initiator and a student of the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics at Charles University.
Students point out that that “the whole action seemed more like a theatrical, politically motivated act with an exaggerated use of force that applies collective guilt on the Vietnamese ethnic group”. The petition was signed by more than 160 people.
“Control officers were present at the raid and did not discover any breach of law. The police did not violate laws,” Kateřina Rendlová, foreign police spokeswoman says. “The event was planned in advance for some time and is not connected with the fire at the market or the suspension of Vietnamese visa,” Rendlová said.
Students handed over the petition to the chairwoman of the Committee on petitions at the lower house, Zuzka Bebarová-Rujbrová (KSČM). The MP criticised the police raid and wants to interpellate Interior Minister Ivan Langr (ODS).
Langr’s spokeswoman, Jana Malíková, said she will not comment on Bebarová-Rujbrová statements and will wait for the actual interpellation.
More than 800 customs officers, trade inspectors, foreign police officers and Prague police participated in the raid. Police also used three armoured vehicles and a helicopter.
The inspectorate confiscated 7,000 pieces of counterfeited goods, mainly clothing, sun glasses and watches. The originals’ sales value would reach CZK 15 million. Police arrested 44 people over discrepancies in their personal documents. A Vietnamese, three Mongolians and a Chinese did not have permit to stay in the Czech Republic. Police also found a car full of mainly hand guns and a police dog discovered drugs in the Sapa market.
