Coronavirus: New Zealand arrests anti-vaccine convoy protesters; Philippines welcomes back foreign tourists
- Police arrested more than 50 people and removed many others who blocked streets near the parliament for three days with their trucks, cars and motorbikes
- Elsewhere, South Korea launched a self-treatment scheme for patients with mild virus symptoms as new infections hit a fresh high
Inspired by the truckers demonstrations in Canada, which is into its 13th day with protesters blocking two border crossings with the United States, several thousand people this week blocked streets near the parliament in capital Wellington with their trucks, cars and motorbikes.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Thursday told the protesters to “move on”, saying the demonstration “is not reflective of where the rest of New Zealand is out right now.”
“All of us want to actually move on. We are working very hard to put ourselves in the best possible position to do that,” Ardern told reporters after visiting a Covid-19 vaccination centre in Auckland.
As of 14.45 local time, about a thousand protesters remained at the site, defying warnings and efforts by the police to clear them.
Speaker Trevor Mallard on Thursday authorised the closure of grounds around the distinctive “Beehive” parliament building, after which demonstrators quickly confronted police officers, banging drums and screaming insults. Some were seen throwing empty plastic bottles at the police.
As the crowd pushed against barriers, police pulled them out and wrestled them to the ground, a witness said. Dozens were handcuffed and taken away amid cries of “Shame on you!” from the crowd.
