Protest over France's nuclear test<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): More than 40 environmental activists staged a
\nprotest outside the French embassy yesterday, calling on the
\ngovernment to break off diplomatic ties with Paris and for a
\nboycott of French products if France goes ahead with its plan to
\nconduct nuclear tests in the South Pacific.<\/p>\n
\"We condemn the French government and implore them to cancel
\ntheir plan to hold nuclear tests at the Mururoa Atol in the
\nPacific,\" read a written statement presented to a French embassy
\nofficial.<\/p>\n
The protest was the first in Indonesia and followed French
\nPresident Jacques Chirac's announcement this month that Paris was
\nresuming underground nuclear testing.<\/p>\n
The protest was led by the Indonesian Forum for the
\nEnvironment (Walhi), which is also spearheading the campaign to
\noppose the Indonesian government's plan to build the country's
\nfirst nuclear power plant.<\/p>\n
The statement said that they would boycott French products if
\nParis did not heed the call and urged the Indonesian government
\nto take a tougher line against Paris. \"The Indonesian government
\nshould break off diplomatic relations immediately if the Mururoa
\nAtol test proceeds.\"<\/p>\n
After a few minutes of singing and yelling slogans outside the
\nembassy on Jl. M.H. Thamrin, three protesters were allowed into
\nthe embassy compound and hand over their statement to a French
\nembassy official.<\/p>\n
Some wore paper masks depicting skulls, while others wrapped
\nwhite bandages around their heads<\/p>\n
\"We will not give up. We will come again with costumes and
\nmasks and go on protesting the nuclear bomb test,\" said Nia
\nSyafrudin, one of the protesters.<\/p>\n
The demonstrators dispersed peacefully an hour later.(32)<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/protest-over-frances-nuclear-test-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }