Paris Makes Dalai Lama, Chinese Dissident Honorary Citizens

[Flagg]

Source: AFP

PARIS, April 21, 2008 (AFP) - Paris city council voted on Monday to award honorary citizenship to the Dalai Lama, in a move sure to add to tensions with China as fresh anti-French rallies erupted in cities across the country.
Paris lawmakers also voted to bestow the same honor to Hu Jia, a prominent human rights activist who was jailed in China earlier this month on charges of attempted subversion.
Mayor Bertrand Delanoe, who tabled the proposal for the Dalai Lama's citizenship earlier Monday, said the French capital wished to "pay tribute to a champion of peace, a tireless advocate of dialogue between peoples."
"Paris also wants to show its support for the people of Tibet who are defending their most basic right to dignity, freedom and simply life," the Socialist mayor said.
The honours conferred upon the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader and Chinese dissident comes amid a chill in relations between France and China following the chaotic Olympic torch relay in Paris two weeks ago that was disrupted by human rights protesters.
A string of protests in several Chinese cities at the weekend targeted the French retailer Carrefour as well as the US all-news broadcaster CNN. Fresh anti-French protests erupted in nine cities on Monday.

Read more: http://www.ttc.org/200804212005.m3lk5gb09389.htm

[snot]

1. VIVE LA FRANCE!

[Happyhippychick]

2. Bien sur!

[onehandle]

3. Tres Bien!

[ChairmanAgnostic]

4. Paris Hilton has so much power?

Sorry. This is great. Of course, can anyone see our federal government doing anything like that? uh huh.

The french have professional schools, where their brightest and best learn the art and science of governing.
We have Sesame Street.
The french have philosophical discussions at the drop of a beret.
We talk baseball.
The french have GREAT WINE and FOOD
We have Bugger King.

[Happyhippychick]

5. But...but...I love Sesame Street! Can we use another show instead?

[xchrom]

6. recommend

:applause:

[cyberpj]

7. Applause... applause... applause... Bravo! nt