Pathetic.
So it’s a situation in which an area in Helsinki was sealed off for the motorcade of the visiting Chinese president and his wife. Ethnic Chinese supporters broke away from a predesignated area for supporters and demonstrators alike, and filed into motorcade area with the only person being removed being one lone man, a Finn, holding the flag of Tibet.
This is typical in how Finland behaved during the Cold War, old habits die hard, if at all.
Red flags and banners rushed to Esplanade street surprised Helsinki police – Tibetan flag carrier was invited to move to his own ranks
The police had directed demonstrators to two places in connection with Chinese President’s visit, neither of which were on Esplanade (park) street. When China’s red flags unexpectedly filled Esplanade, the police had to give them permission to stay.
It required quick solutions.
Police had received advance announcements of two demonstrations and reserved it for those places at Katajanokka’s ferris wheel, and the Old Market Hall in nearby Eteläranta (South Bank).
Surprisingly, the protests appeared in the protected Esplanadi street a wealth of China’s red flags and banners that greeted the president.
Poliisi: "meidät on ohjeistettu poistamaan tälläiset liput Espalta, vain punaiset liput sallittuja" #tibet pic.twitter.com/wof3a05FCe
— Aleksi Pahkala (@aleksipahkala) April 5, 2017