The Czech government has long been wishing for their country to become an economic gateway for China into the European Union.

The recent visit to Prague by the Chinese president showed how important the economic friendship of the two countries is to the Czech government.

The welcoming event for the visit, which occurred at the end of March, was unusually large for the Czech Republic and brought a flood of red flags into the streets. It also brought physical attacks on protesters who, unlike the Chinese groups, welcomed the president with flags of Tibet, pointing out the dismal state of human rights in the country.

Remove the Tibetan flag

People who were carrying the Tibetan flag were subjected to unfounded police checks and threatened that if the flag is not put away, they will consider their attitude of refusal as a criminal offense. According to lawyers, no legal grounds existed for such police action. Two dozen people have already filed a complaint against the police and many others are preparing to.

Film students from the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (FAMU) hung two Tibetan flags on a school building on the day the Chinese president was at nearby Žofín.

Shortly afterwards, two undercover policemen came to ask the faculty dean whether it is a school-approved decoration, and warned that "those flags are not appreciated by the Chinese."

The school has not removed the flag, but the police visit has been vigorously discussed among students by the Academic Senate, and FAMU concluded that the police committed "an unprecedented violation of the right to freedom of expression."

FAMU now calls for "proper investigation of police proceedings by the Head of Police and the Ministry of Interior," and for a public explanation of the incident.

Silencing the critics

Police also closed the Hradčany Square on fabricated reasons, where an announced demonstration to support Tibet and against the Chinese president was to take place.

Dozens of police officers were present in the park, where the friends of Tibet were to meet. The aim was obviously to get them out of sight of the Chinese president and his delegation, along with anything that might look like a protest against the Chinese totalitarian ideology. Protesters wanted to gather against the widespread abuse of human rights, against the occupation of Tibet, and the repression against Uyghurs.