More than 2,000 Vietnamese people in the Czech Republic gathered in front of the Chinese Embassy in Prague on May 11 to protest China’s illegal placement of the drilling rig Haiyang Shiyou – 981 in Viet Nam’s waters.

The protesters shouted slogans and raised banners calling on China to remove the rig out of the waters belonging to Viet Nam ’s sovereignty.

Vietnamese people in the Czech Republic gather in front of the Chinese Embassy in Prague

Vuong Quoc Vien, who led a group of war veterans at the demonstration and was one of the organisers of the event, said Vietnamese people in other localities about 400 kilometers away from Prague, such as Ostava, Cheb and Brno, were also present here to show their anger at China’s provocative act.

Chairman of the Czech-Viet Nam Friendship Association Marsel Winter said he was attending the protest as a citizen of the Czech Republic and leader of the association.

“I feel very angry at China ’s violation of international law,” he said.

The peaceful protest lasted for more than two hours, ending with demonstrators singing out loud the Vietnamese victory song “Nhu co bac Ho trong ngay vui dai thang” (Uncle Ho is with us as we triumph”).

Meanwhile, in Italy, Vietnamese people living and studying in the country also expressed their deep irritation at China ’s act of defying international law.

The Association of Vietnamese students in Italy plans to hold a rally at the Chinese embassy on May 17, in addition to a seminar to voice their stance on the perverse move of China.

The same day, the Melbourne Overseas Vietnamese Student Association in Australia also issued a statement strongly condemning China ’s unilateral move of violating Viet Nam’s sovereignty.

The statement calls for China’s withdrawal of the drilling rig and all escort vessels out of Viet Nam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, stopping infringements of Viet Nam’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The association also requests China to compensate for all the damage it has caused. It also called on peace-loving people around the world to join hands with Viet Nam to voice objections against China ’s provocative actions in the East Sea.

(Source: VNA)