Climate activist Thunberg detained in Dutch protest
The Hague sees Greta Thunberg, Extinction Rebellion activists detained during march against fossil fuel subsidies
On Saturday, Dutch police detained Greta Thunberg, a globally recognized climate activist, amid a protest in The Hague against fossil fuel subsidies. Organized by the Extinction Rebellion environmental group, the demonstration involved Thunberg and several hundred participants who took a stand by blocking a main road in the city.
Dressed in a grey top, black trousers, and blue shoes, Thunberg was part of the march that commenced from the city center, proceeding towards a field adjacent to the A12 arterial highway. This highway has been a previous site for Extinction Rebellion protests, where activists had earlier shut it down, leading to police interventions including the use of water guns.
The march on Saturday faced a significant police blockade, with officers, including some on horseback, preventing access to the highway. The police issued a warning of potential violence if the protesters attempted to enter the road. Eventually, some protesters found an alternative route, managing to block a crucial road near the highway which connects The Hague to Utrecht.
The peaceful yet determined protesters, carrying XR flags and placards with messages such as “Stop fuel subsidies now!” and “The planet is dying!” engaged in a tense standoff with the law enforcement officers who formed a solid barrier.
In her conversation with an Agence France-Presse (AFP) correspondent, Thunberg underscored the urgency of the protest, stating, “It’s important to demonstrate today because we are living in a state of planetary emergency. We must do everything to avoid that crisis and to save human lives.” When asked about her anticipation of police action and possible arrest, Thunberg confidently replied, “Why should I be?”
During this demonstration, at least one protester was arrested prior to Thunberg’s detention, as witnessed by the AFP correspondent. Thunberg, alongside other protestors, was later seen seated in a waiting bus while arrests continued.
Extinction Rebellion criticized the Dutch government for its sluggish approach to reducing fossil fuel subsidies, despite having the support of the majority in the Dutch parliament and widespread public approval. The group expressed frustration over the delayed timeline for implementing these changes, suggesting they might not be realized before 2030 or even 2035.
“Meanwhile the ecological crisis continues to rage, and the country’s outgoing cabinet pretends that we have all the time in the world, while the crisis is now,” XR stated in a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter.
They stressed this protest as part of a broader strategy to exert pressure on the Dutch government before a forthcoming debate on fossil subsidies scheduled for June.
Source: Newsroom
