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Beijing radio hosts handcuffed in Prague

Posted by Eric Mu, October 13, 2008 11:36 AM

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."

Links and Sources

Chongqing Times via QQ.com (Chinese): Beijing hostesses arrested in Czech
Chongqing Times via Sina (Chinese): Were the hostesses overbearing? Were the Czech police rude?
Sing Tao Daily (Chinese): Beijing hostesses were rudely treated in Czech

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There are currently 17 Comments for Beijing radio hosts handcuffed in Prague.

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Comments on Beijing radio hosts handcuffed in Prague

LOL OWNED.

and the fact they think liberty and human rights mean unrestricted action, is abso-fucking-lutely ridiculous.

I hope they lose their job over this.

Posted by: Peteryang | October 13, 2008 4:59 PM

Ah, the ugly Chinese tourist rears its ugly head.

Posted by: derringer | October 13, 2008 5:34 PM

liberty, human rights and democracy = the freedom to behave badly without justification.

now i know.

i should listen to Beijing Radio more often.

Posted by: slowboat | October 13, 2008 6:18 PM

The Feelings of the Chinese People are hurt both by the Czech money changer charlatans and the radio hosts who make us all look like beasts that only know how to confront problems by yelling, kicking and causing a scene...

Posted by: LoveChinaLongTime | October 13, 2008 7:13 PM

Prague is a trap for unwary visitors, notorious for unscrupulous merchants and taxi drivers ripping off tourists. Thank goodness China doesn't have places like that.

Posted by: me | October 13, 2008 7:23 PM

This goes great with the CZECH premiere of WASTED ORIENT this week 10.16-10.20 at MOFFOM (Music on Film Film on Music) film festival in Prague.
See the website: http://www.moffom.org/
Li Li and Li Yang are just drumming up support with their marketing skills.

Posted by: SGT. SLAUGHTER | October 13, 2008 8:04 PM

I was in Prague 3 weeks ago, I would say most of the money changing places are just traps, one should always look at the lowest rate among what they offer. And for anyone who need useful information, here is I believe the best place for changing money: http://tinyurl.com/3lwe9m [google maps]

Posted by: Peng | October 13, 2008 9:48 PM

China's image still carries a "demanding feeling" specially for foreingners and this kind of behave just make it worst.

Of course they can complain but not on that way.

Posted by: Elder J. | October 14, 2008 12:57 AM

How is this even newsworthy? I'd think China jails many foreigners for whatever crimes they committed, so does every other country. What makes these two shamao's differernt from say two laowai's getting handcuffed in Beijing?

Posted by: Pffefer | October 14, 2008 5:43 AM

I really feel the pain. Spending everytime 40 minutes at a bank in China trying to exchange money, having my passport copied, checked, filling-out three forms, signing four, seeing seven workers in the bank, two of them working at the counters, one supervising, twenty people waiting in line... Yeah, really, really feel the pain...

Posted by: Me | October 14, 2008 8:46 AM

actually the authorities here usually turn a blind eye to foreigner's misbehaviour whenever possible. it's locals who fear cops the most

Posted by: tom | October 14, 2008 9:37 AM

WTF? The Chinese tourists were in the right. They were scammed and got pissed off, just like any red-blooded tourist should. I was in Prague 18 months ago and I found the locals to be very rude and sneaky towards tourists (otherwise a very beautiful city).

I don't see anything improper in the way they behaved.

Posted by: Buhaoyise | October 14, 2008 8:47 PM

we all know how people act like that in china when things dont go their way, which is to cry like babies and make a scene. looks like the tried to do that in another country and got their asses kicked. its a good lesson for them. you can take take these losers out of china but u can't take china out of the losers.

Posted by: jojo | October 15, 2008 2:04 AM

It seems like these people were acting like spoiled children, but in my opinion China does not have a monopoly on bad behaviour. Just because my family members wouldn't act like this, and a couple of Chinese radio hosts did; to make the comparison Chinese people are much ruder than Americans would be ridiculous. I think celebrities, and people who see themselves as celebrities often act like this no matter their nationality.

Posted by: Will | October 15, 2008 10:16 PM

Wow, my ambassador wouldn't show up if I threw a xiaohuangdi temper tantrum over an issue that was my own fault.

Tourists have been getting fleeced by money changers for thousands of years. "Buhaoyise" doesn't see anything wrong with breaking expensive things when you have been fleeced wholly through your own negligence? Back to kindergarten, "buhaoyise." Son, everywhere there are tourists, there are people rude and sneaky towards tourists. They call them tourist traps for a reason.

Posted by: gomer pyle | October 16, 2008 11:01 PM

Buhaoyise

How were they scammed? The article says quite clearly that there were signs indicating how much they would get depending on the amount exchanged.

What happened was that they walked in and asked money to be changed without even asking what rate they would get first. The first rule of getting money changed is to ask the rate of exchange for the sum you wish to change!

Only thugs use violence to resolve a problem, so if you think banging on service counter windows and smashing card readers is normal then that says something about yourself.

Posted by: Raj | October 17, 2008 9:21 PM

How to: Exchange money when you don't know the language.

Step 1: Take a piece of paper
Step 2: Write the amount and sign of currency
Step 3: Pass it to them with a sign of currency you want to change into
Step 4: they will write how much you get
Step 5: Exchange your money or not

Easy... or not?

Posted by: Elen Prague | October 21, 2008 4:38 PM