China's nuclear test protested<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Some 30 students wearing masks and goggles
\nstaged a demonstration outside the Chinese embassy yesterday,
\ncalling on Beijing to halt nuclear testing and abandon attempts
\nof regional domination.<\/p>\n
\"We strongly protest against the nuclear weapons test at Lop
\nNor and anywhere else in the world,\" Nia Sjarifudin, coordinator
\nof the Indonesian Anti-Nuclear Society, said during the protest.<\/p>\n
In the face of strong international protests, China held its
\nsecond nuclear test this year at Lop Nor, southwest China, last
\nThursday. The first test was held at the same site on May 15.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian government has said it deplores China's
\ndecision to hold the test.<\/p>\n
\"We criticize this initiative, which is heating up the nuclear
\narms race, which has been started by China and France,\"
\nSjarifudin said.<\/p>\n
France has sparked widespread condemnation in Asia with a plan
\nfor up to eight nuclear tests in the South Pacific between
\nSeptember and May.<\/p>\n
\"We urge China not to develop its regional hegemony through
\nterritorial provocations, either in the Spratly Islands, or
\nNatuna Islands, or by developing nuclear weapons which can
\nsupport it,\" Sjarifudin said.<\/p>\n
\"We urge the government of China to stop its nuclear weapons
\nprogram,\" she added.<\/p>\n
The protesters also called on the Indonesian government to
\ntake a tougher stance over the nuclear testing by China, and to
\ndrop its own plan to establish a nuclear power plant on Mount
\nMuria, Central Java.<\/p>\n
The students unfurled banners which read, \"China, no more
\nnuclear test\" and \"War is over, give peace a chance\".<\/p>\n
After some delay, a delegation of three protesters, including
\nSjarifudin, was allowed to meet with the embassy's first
\nsecretary, Song Dehen, inside the building. They had refused
\nearlier an offer to meet a diplomat at the front of the embassy
\ncompound, shouting that the offer reflected Chinese' arrogance.<\/p>\n
China has taken an active part in the negotiations of a
\ncomprehensive nuclear test ban treaty, hoping to see this treaty
\nconcluded no later than 1996. Once the treaty is in force, China
\nwill stop nuclear tests, a source at the embassy told The Jakarta
\nPost. (swe\/01)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/chinas-nuclear-test-protested-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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