Beijing radio hosts handcuffed in Prague

Chongqing Times
October 13, 2008

Two Chinese tourists were seized and handcuffed by Czech police after a dispute over the exchange rate with a currency exchange store in Prague on October 8. They were later released after payment of a 1,500 Czech crown fine for the damage caused by them.

Two of the tourists Li Li and Li Yang are reportedly radio show hosts at Beijing Transportation Radio (aka Beijing Communications Radio). The article about the incident is translated in part below:

On the morning of October 8, four of them went to the exchange store to have 100 Euro changed to Czech crowns. They thought the rate was unreasonable, and demanded a refund but were ignored by the shop assistant. Insisting that they should get the money back, they began to knock at the glass counter with their hands. One of them took a PIN console and slapped it on the counter.

After a while, eight male police officers showed up asked the tourists to pay for the PIN console which was allegedly broken by them. The tourists refused to pay, show their passports or go to the police station. One of the tourists, Li Yang said: “They were very rude and we thought that the officers might be fake ones called upon by the store owner. They pressed two of us against the door and pushed us into the police car.”

Another tourist, Li Li cried for help when she was taken out of the store. A man who was a Chinese immigrant and a local Chinese community leader named Yang Zongwei happened to passed by and witnessed it. He asked the police to release the tourists and called the Chinese embassy.

During the standoff, another Chinese tourist from Shanghai, Wang Miao, shot the scene with her cellphone camera, which were later turned to the police as evidence. She told Li Li that the Chinese embassy already knew about the incident and they should not worry too much [when they were taken away by the police].

After they were taken to the station, Chinese ambassador Wu Wenjun arrived. Wu questioned the officers if there was inappropriate behavior on the police’s part. After a negotiation, the tourists were released after paying the store owner 1,500 Czech crowns to cover the damaged console. Wu Wenjun also said that Chinese who are traveling abroad must follow the laws of the countries they are traveling to, and should not overreact when protecting their rights.

On October 9, the tourists met the chief of the Czech police by chance when they were dining in a local Chinese restaurant. They told him about their ordeal and showed the pictures and videos. “We hope that the Czech police can be more friendly to the Chinese tourists under your leadership.” The chief said sorry and promised to investigate.

The story was followed by a tip for Chinese tourists who travel abroad:

When you change money in Czech, make sure that you have read the terms and conditions. The store in question marked their rates with a big sign reading — 25.1 Crown per Euro — which is the selling price, but a different sign marked two different buying prices depending on the amount of money. The difference between the two prices — above or below a sum of 15,000 crowns can as high as one quarter.

You cannot accuse them of fraud since they have marked their prices openly. Besides, do not refuse the police to check your passport without a good reason.

The story apparently was ripped off from yesterday’s Sing Tao Daily, a Hong Kong based newspaper, with certain details being left out. In the original version of the story, Li Yang was quoted as saying.

“In an European country which advocates liberty, human rights and democracy, how can they handcuff we peaceful women! This is absolutely not right.”

However, their compatriots have little sympathy to offer to the mistreated radio hosts, with some saying on the Internet that this is a lesson to teach humility to these celebrities who are always privileged and snooty in China, “but this time, they forgot that they were not in Beijing, but in Prague.”