French embassy gate blocked by demonstrators

JAKARTA (JP): Approximately 20 protesters blocked French Ambassador Thierry de Beauce's way into his country's embassy yesterday, demanding that Paris cancel its plans to conduct further nuclear tests in the Pacific.

Led by activists from the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (WALHI), the demonstrators squatted in front of the embassy's gates on Jl. Thamrin during rush hour, forcing the ambassador to turned back from the entrance.

Wearing paper masks and unfurling banners, protesters from the Indonesian Anti-Nuclear Society demanded that France cancel its plan to conduct nuclear tests on Mururoa atoll in the South Pacific.

They demanded talks with the ambassador who, however, refused to discuss the matter on the street. He suggested that they talk inside his office, instead.

The ambassador left the embassy after the protesters refused to allow his car to enter the embassy complex.

"We are Indonesians, we demand to talk to the ambassador on Indonesian ground," WALHI spokesman Fernando replied when French Military Attache J. Rocher asked the group to meet the ambassador inside the embassy, saying it was "not polite" to speak outside the building.

"What is more impolite, speaking outside the embassy or conducting nuclear tests on Mururoa?" Fernando asked.

French Embassy Press Attache Alita P. Damar, speaking with reporters later in the day, said that the ambassador was willing to talk with the protesters, but not on the street.

"The Ambassador was ready for a dialogue with the protesters inside the embassy's complex but the protesters refused the suggestion," Damar said after attending the signing of an agreement between the French Ambassador and the Governor of Jakarta at city hall.

She said she regretted the demonstrator's refusal, adding that it would be better if both sides met and discussed the matter thoroughly.

Yesterday's was the second demonstration against the French testing plans organized in the past two weeks by WALHI, which says it works with Greenpeace on nuclear issues

The protesters called on the Indonesian government to condemn Paris' refusal to heed the international outcry over the proposed testing.

WALHI has also been spearheading protests against the Indonesian government's controversial plan to build nuclear power plants on Mount Muria, Central Java. (yns)