Protesters in New Zealand have set fire to Parliament Ground which cost $more than $500,000 to build by using various tents and other items.
The demonstrators have been protesting against the country's vaccination programs at Wellington. The situation came as law enforcement personnel began to move in on the protesters on Wednesday. The people on Parliament's lawn have been camping and staying there for 23 days.
Setting Fire to Parliament Ground
Violent clashes erupted after New Zealand police officers equipped with riot shields marched towards the protesters to clear the grounds. They immediately pulled down tents and deployed a large forklift to remove cars and campervans to vehicle transporters.
Multiple loud sirens could be heard in the area as cops fired rubber bullets at demonstrators after using fire hoses to water them down. Firefighters cooperating with police quickly moved in and cleared parts of tents, gazebos, and other items from the ground.
Authorities have ordered the suspension of trains and the closure of Wellington station to ensure the safety of passengers amid the violent protests. Hundreds of protesters have been inspired by the Canadian truckers' convoy and have blocked the streets near Parliament using trucks, cars, and motorcycles for nearly a month, as per NDTV.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said that in planning the operation, police expected protesters to become hostile, resist, and become violent. However, she noted that watching the chaos happen was an entirely different thing.
In a statement, Ardern said that she was both angry and deeply saddened by the incident of seeing Parliament desecrated in such a way that left a children's playground in ruins. However, she said that the actions of the small group of illegal protesters did not define New Zealand's response to the coronavirus pandemic.
According to the Associated Press, police equipped with riot gear initially used pepper spray and their morning operations focused on the periphery of the protest before moving into the main camp. The operation was the most significant use of force that authorities have opted to do against protesters who oppose coronavirus vaccine mandates.
Anti-Vaccine Protest
During a news conference held after the police operation, Ardern said that the demonstrators attacked frontline police, Parliament, and the country's values. She noted that authorities gave protesters sufficient time and opportunity to leave and argued that the demonstrations were fueled by misinformation and conspiracy theories.
Police said that they arrested 60 people in connection to the protests and that they had gained significant ground in their initial operations against the demonstrators. However, officials announced that three officers were injured in the violence.
Before moving in, authorities used loudspeakers to warn demonstrators that they faced potential arrest for trespassing on parliament grounds. One witness watched as a man, who was in his underwear, poured milk over himself to mitigate the effects of pepper spray.
One of the demonstrators, Kate Siegert, who was unvaccinated against the coronavirus infection, said protesters were fighting for their standard of life. She said that they only wanted their sovereign rights to their own bodies, Reuters reported.
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