Diplomatic Drama

Today ended up being a relatively lively day, but not for the 'normal' reasons. 

Even though sirens are a normal sound that drifts up to the windows of the court, something resembling a tsunami warning horn was screaming for attention in the late morning. 

Due to the massive demonstrations in the Xinjiang region of China, some local residents of the Hague decided to bring the protest to the steps of the Chinese embassy, which is almost directly across Johan de Wittlaan from the ICTY. Most employees were not aware what the siren signaled, and we were informed of the trouble brewing when our security force sent out a warning email, informing all U.N. staff to avoid the embassy area as the protest there was "turning violent." 

Hours later the police blockade was lifted; my first sign that things were alright was the sight of baby carriages being pushed with vigor towards the general vicinity of the embassy...