1.
MV DEMONSTRATORS WITH BANNER.
0.03

2.
TV DEMONSTRATORS PAN ACROSS
0.11

3.
GIRL ON SHOULDERS HOLDING BANNER.
0.14

4.
MV BANNER AND CROWDS (2 SHOTS).
0.22

5.
TV DEMONSTRATION.
0.24

6.
MV PAN ACROSS CROWDS.
0.29

7.
MV POLICE, PROCESSION IN B/G.
0.32

8.
MV CROWDS WITH WHITE FLAGS CARRYING RED AND BLACK EMBLEM.
0.33

9.
MV MASS OF FLAGS.
0.27

10.
TV DEMONSTRATORS WITH FLAGS.
0.31

11.
MV CROWDS PASS WITH BANNERS AND TV DITTO (2 SHOTS).
0.49

12.
TV DEMONSTRATION.
0.54



Initials JH/V/CB/GJB



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: WALLOONS, FLEMISH-SPEAKING BELGIANS, DEMONSTRATED IN CHARLEROI YESTERDAY (FRIDAY) TO EXPRESS WALLOON SOLIDARITY AND TO OBTAIN GREATER ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES IN THE AREA. MANY STUDENTS FROM A LOCAL UNIVERSITY PARTICIPATED IN THE MASS DEMONSTRATION.

THE ORGANISERS OF THE DEMONSTRATION WERE DEMANDING THE CREATION OF NEW INDUSTRIES IN THE REGION IN ORDER TO PROVIDE WORK FOR AN ESTIMATED 25,000 PEOPLE. LEADERS OF THE DEMONSTRATION EARLIER SAID THAT NEW JOBS WERE VITAL TO THE AREA AND THE FUTURE ECONOMIC SUCCESS OF CHARLEROI DEPENDED TO A GREAT EXTENT UPON BRIGHT ECONOMIC PROSPECTS FOR WALLOONS.

THE DEMONSTRATORS WERE ALSO EXPRESSING THEIR DESIRE FOR A GREATER SAY IN THE POLITICAL DIRECTION OF THE REGION.

THE WALLOONS HAVE MAINTAINED THAT FLEMISH SHOULD BE OF EQUAL STATUS IN BELGIUM WITH THE OTHER OFFICIAL LANGUAGE, FRENCH. THE FLEMISH-SPEAKERS HAVE DEMANDED A GREATER DEGREE OF LOCAL AUTONOMY IN THE AREAS WHICH FLEMISH IS WIDELY-SPOKEN.