TheTibet flag case (Danish:Tibetsagen,pronounced[tsʰiˈpe̝ˀtˌsɛˀjn̩]) concerns police action taken in relation to two demonstrations inCopenhagen, Denmark, in 2012 and 2013 against formerChinese Communist Party general secretaryHu Jintao's state visit.[1][2] It is named after the confiscation or concealment ofTibetan flags that were used as part of the demonstrations.
On the 15th of June, 2012,Chinese Communist Party general secretaryHu Jintao visitedCopenhagen, eliciting demonstrations against Chinese dominion overTibet, in which theTibetan flag was displayed. In that context, several protesters were detained or had their flags confiscated.[3] Years later, in 2015, the existence of an order within theCopenhagen police to "shield the Chinese president from protesters" was brought into public light.[4]
In June 2013, when another high-ranking Chinese politicianYu Zhengsheng visited, protesters once again displayed the Tibetan flag, and were blocked from the view of Yu and his entourage.[5]
An official in theMinistry of Justice was persuaded on the 30th of July, 2013 to cease her investigation of the events of the 2013 demonstration on the grounds that it might harm theMinister of JusticeMorten Bødskov.[6][7][8]
The Danish Chairman of the Support Committee for Tibet organization, Anders Højmark, said in an article on 20 December 2014, "It is disappointing that the government will not meet with the Tibetan Buddhist leader Dalai Lama when he visits Denmark in February next year".[9]
In the autumn of 2015, Minister of JusticeSøren Pind proclaimed the formation of a commission (colloquially,Tibetkommissionen) to investigate the events of the 2012 demonstration.[10]
In 2018, it was reported that "Anders Højmark Andersen, chairman of theTibet Support Committee, is pleased to note that the Copenhagen Police believe that up to 200 people can claim compensation in the Tibetan case. (...) is stated in a document from the Minister of JusticeSøren Pape Poulsen (...) Andersen is one of the eight people who were awarded compensation ofDKK 20,000 in the case earlier in April."[11]
The police bureau in the Danish capital, Copenhagen, has asked its watchdog to investigate officers' alleged suppression of protesters holding the national flag of Tibet during former Chinese President Hu Jintao's state visit three years ago. The Copenhagen Police will face a formal inquiry by the Independent Police Complaints Authority after its explanation of the 2012 event raised doubts, Danish newspaper "The Local" reported.
The detention and removal of pro-Tibetan protestors and the confiscation of Tibetan flags was also part of the modus operandi of the Danish police when former president Hu Jintao visited Copenhagen in June 2012. While peacefully waving Tibetan flags, protestors were ordered to leave Parliament Square, and videos show Danish police officers confiscating Tibetan flags. Another incident saw an individual detained by three police officers in a public park close to a castle that was to be visited by Hu Jintao. Danish courts found that the sole reason for the detention was that the protester had been in possession of a Tibetan flag.