(Source:CGTN)
Ethnically-Chinese protesters took to the streets of Paris for a second day after police shot a Chinese man to death in his own home. French Foreign Minister Romain Nadal on Tuesday affirmed that ensuring Chinese citizens' security in France remained the country's top priority. The officer who shot the Chinese man has been detained, and French authorities urged investigators to establish the truth as soon as possible.
The streets of Paris' 19th district, or arrondissement, were calm - but still tense - on Tuesday, as ethnically-Chinese protesters took to the streets for a second day. They say they're demonstrating against the killing of 56-year old Liu Shaoyo, by French police.
The Chinese father-of-five was shot in his home on Sunday. On Monday night, the protesters clashed with police, who used batons and teargas to disperse the group, many of them ethnically-Chinese residents of the French capital. Dozens were detained, and at least 3 officers were injured.
The upheaval follows conflicting accounts of what happened to Liu. Police say they were responding to reports of a disturbance, broke down Liu's door, and then saw him, lunging towards them, holding what was described as "a bladed weapon" before he was shot.Liu's family - and a lawyer - dispute that account. They say: he was holding scissors to scale fish, and was with his children.
"How come he shot him in the heart? You know, you can fire at the legs, or at the arms to make him stop," Chinese student living in Paris Chen Xihu said.
In Beijing on Tuesday, in a rare move, Chinese officials called for an immediate investigation into the actions of French police. They also urged the protesters in Paris to show restraint.
"The relevant department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs urgently summoned an official from the French embassy in China to lodge representations and work with the Chinese embassy in France to continue to pay close attention to and monitor developments of the incident and protect the safety, legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens and organizations in France. Meanwhile, we hope Chinese people in France can express their demands in a reasonable and legal way," Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Hua Chunying said.
France is home to Europe's largest Chinese community, estimated at around 600,000. Ethnically Chinese residents of Paris say they are often targets of racist attacks, and have long-complained that the city isn't safe for them. Last year, thousands protested after a Chinese tailor - Zhang Chaolin - was attacked and beaten to death by three teenagers. Chinese officials had previously urged French authorities to do more to protect Chinese nationals - specifically tourists - in Paris from gang violence.
French police have opened an internal investigation into Liu's death. France's police watch dog group is also examining the case, interviewing friends, relatives, and witnesses to determine what happened.
