Protest over France's nuclear test

Protest over France's nuclear test

JAKARTA (JP): More than 40 environmental activists staged a
protest outside the French embassy yesterday, calling on the
government to break off diplomatic ties with Paris and for a
boycott of French products if France goes ahead with its plan to
conduct nuclear tests in the South Pacific.

"We condemn the French government and implore them to cancel
their plan to hold nuclear tests at the Mururoa Atol in the
Pacific," read a written statement presented to a French embassy
official.

The protest was the first in Indonesia and followed French
President Jacques Chirac's announcement this month that Paris was
resuming underground nuclear testing.

The protest was led by the Indonesian Forum for the
Environment (Walhi), which is also spearheading the campaign to
oppose the Indonesian government's plan to build the country's
first nuclear power plant.

The statement said that they would boycott French products if
Paris did not heed the call and urged the Indonesian government
to take a tougher line against Paris. "The Indonesian government
should break off diplomatic relations immediately if the Mururoa
Atol test proceeds."

After a few minutes of singing and yelling slogans outside the
embassy on Jl. M.H. Thamrin, three protesters were allowed into
the embassy compound and hand over their statement to a French
embassy official.

Some wore paper masks depicting skulls, while others wrapped
white bandages around their heads

"We will not give up. We will come again with costumes and
masks and go on protesting the nuclear bomb test," said Nia
Syafrudin, one of the protesters.

The demonstrators dispersed peacefully an hour later.(32)