- Title: VIETNAM: Police disperse anti-China rally particpants in Hanoi
- Date: 18th May 2014
- Summary: HANOI,VIETNAM (MAY 18, 2014) (REUTERS) A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE GATHERING VARIOUS OF POLICE USING LOUDSPEAKERS TO DISPERSE THE CROWD POLICEMEN POLICE MOVING THE CROWD AWAY. TWO POLICE WOMEN TELLING A FOREIGNER TO LEAVE POLICE SIGNALING TRAFFIC TO MOVE ON MORE OF POLICE MOVING THE CROWD AWAY. (SOUNDBITE) (Vietnamese) VAN CUNG, COMPOSER, SAYING: "The intention today was to
- Embargoed: 2nd June 2014 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Vietnam
- Country: Vietnam
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA4TB2U186X70MER4P3D5EI4GZP
- Story Text: Police in Hanoi broke up an anti-China rally in Hanoi on Sunday(May 18), urging participants who had gathered near the Chinese embassy to go home, telling them that the government would take all necessary measures to protect Vietnam's sovereignty.
Rallies were planned in the capital and also Ho Chi Minh City to protest the Haiyang 981 oil rig which Beijing moved to an area in the South China Sea
which Vietnam claims as part of its exclusive economic zone.
But Vietnamese authorities were at the rally site early to disperse the crowds in case they turned violent.
Earlier in the week, rioters attacked Chinese-owned factories and others they believed had Chinese ties in reaction to the deployment of the oil rig.
The government said one person was killed in the rioting on Tuesday (May 13) but a doctor at a hospital near one area of clashes said he had seen 21 dead bodies and that at least 100 people were wounded.
"The intention today was to protest to support the government to chase the oil rig HD 981 away from Vietnam's waters, but whoever disregards our patriotism, he is a reactionary," said Van Cung, a composer.
Any sign of popular anger in tightly controlled Vietnam causes unease among the leadership, and anti-Chinese sentiment is especially sensitive. The country has long-standing ideological and economic ties with its giant neighbour, but tensions often arise over rival claims to the oil and gas-rich South China Sea.
"We(have) already signed a letter to request the government to bring China to international courts. We will join the rally of the people. We will tell clearly to our government that we behind the government to protest the action of China 's aggressive policy and the government can rely on us," said Dao Minh Chau, 44.
Vietnam and China have long sparred over territorial waters in the South China Sea, an area in which which the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan are also claimants. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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