Protestors breach hotel security, confront Indonesian Pres. Widodo

By Janene Pieters on April 22, 2016 - 14:41
Presiden_Jokowi
Joko Widodo (Photo: Yanuar / Wikimedia Commons). (Joko Widodo (Photo: Yanuar / Wikimedia Commons))

Indonesian President Joko Widodo was greeted by angry protesters as he arrived at the Kurhaus in Scheveningen for a meeting on Friday. Three protesters were arrested after they managed to sneak into the hotel and hung the flag of the Moluccan government in exile from the window.

According to the police, the three protesters are suspected of trespassing.

Numerous police and riot police officers are present to keep the several dozen other protesters at a distance. They are demonstrating in Scheveningen to gain attention for human rights issues in Indonesia, according to ANP.

A rally is also scheduled at the Noordeinde palace in The Hague, where Widodo will meet King Willem-Alexander later on Friday.

The Indonesian is meeting with Dutch entrepreneurs and Minister Lilianne Ploumen of Foreign Trade at the Kurhaus hotel, according to broadcaster NOS. They are discussing opportunities for trade, investment and knowledge exchange with Indonesia.

On Friday morning Widodo also met with Prime Minister Mark Rutte in The Hague.

The visit already yielded a collaboration between the Netherlands and Indonesia in the field of harbor development, shipbuilding and fishing, according to ANP. Minister Melanie Schultz van Haegen and Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi signed an agreement on maritime cooperation.

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