French embassy gate blocked by demonstrators
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)