The Asian community of Lyon deplores the growing insecurity in La Guillotière which affects their families and their commercial activity.
Founders of the second Chinatown in France after Paris, they denounce the inaction of the public authorities against incessant thefts, assaults and burglaries.
Local residents and traders demand from the town hall surveillance cameras, a greater police presence and better lighting at night.
Within the Guillotière, plagued by increasing delinquency, a previously discreet community in turn lets its anger burst.
Asians who have been living in Lyon's Chinatown for more than 30 years denounce the degradation of their once peaceful neighborhood and join the collectives to call on elected officials to react quickly and strongly.
Truong Thai is the owner of a Vietnamese restaurant in the rue de Marseille: every weekend, stabbings take place in front of his window.
During the week, its employees and customers are assaulted, robbed, insulted.
“Imagine the image we give!
», He laments.
"Why would customers come back?
We have lost 30% of turnover in the last two years.
Two ladies have been beaten up recently, and burglaries have been going on for a month and a half.
"
A historic district threatened with extinction
David Le, manager of an Asian supermarket, nods: “How many times have I had a customer checkout, look for their wallet and no longer find it… I know that in 90% of cases, they have it stolen. at the exit of the metro.
So the customer no longer comes, everyone is angry, and nothing changes.
Ah, yes: it gets worse.
How can it exist, a district like that, located in the center of Lyon, two minutes from Bellecour?
It's incomprehensible.
"
This fed up with traders joined the one that led those from Cours Gambetta to demonstrate on October 21.
However, an entire Asian community suffers from the poor image of a neighborhood that it has worked for so long to make pleasant and welcoming.
Kear Kun Lo, president of the Association of Chinese of Lyon, specifies that “after Paris, Lyon is the only French city to have a Chinatown.
This district was founded about thirty years ago, it is of great economic and cultural wealth.
And if it continues like this, it will disappear.
"
Truong Thai and David Le belong to the second generation: fathers of families, they worry about the next one: “We who grew up here don't even let our children go out alone or go to the park anymore because there is dealers, syringes ... "
The town hall summoned to react in the short term
By dint of asking for help that cannot be seen, the anger spreads to the town halls: “We, traders, are not going to fight with delinquents;
we could, but who will win?
Asks Truong Thai.
“Today, in La Guillotière, they are organized gangs.
If we defend against one person, ten more arrive and destroy your store.
And a store doesn't move.
I went to demonstrate, I went to meet elected officials, but they only offer long-term solutions.
When there is a demonstration of "yellow vests" in Bellecour, the police are all there, so why not here?
"
The Lyon Asian community, which describes itself as discreet and hardworking, has no intention of giving up.
Their demands support those of the collectives and traders of La Guillotière: "We are asking the town hall for more surveillance cameras, more police officers and better lighting, because this district is very poorly lit at night," notes David Le.
“It's easy to set up, and it could make things better already.
If nothing is done quickly, they could attack elected officials for inaction.
"We are calm, but we will not let it go, we want to fight," says Truong Thai.
“Because no one will leave the ship.
"
Society
Lyon: At the demonstration of the traders of the Guillotière, "it is the beginning of a revolt which really wants acts"
Society
Lyon: At La Guillotière, "it's always the same mess, it's even getting worse and worse"
Lyon
China
Police
District
Insecurity
Society
Delinquency
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