Jakarta – A group of some 20 Indonesian activists Tuesday picketted the Myanmar embassy here to demand the release of 18 activists, including three Indonesians, arrested by the military junta in Yangon.

Two of the arrested Indonesian activists were from the Pijar pro-democracy group. The activists condemned the arrests and shouted demands for Yangon to release the detainees, arrested in Yangon Monday, and respect freedom of expression. They also waved banners reading "Release all political detainees," and "Halt the demilitarizatrion of Burma," before dispersing peacefully.

The Myanmar junta Monday arrested the 18 foreign activists for distributing pro-opposition leaflets ahead of the anniversary of the 1988 pro-democracy uprising in the country. On Monday, the junta said in a statement in Yangon that the 18 would face trial for allegedly seeking to incite unrest.

The detainees were six US nationals, three Thais, three Malaysians, three Indonesians, two Filipinos, and one Australian, the junta said. Ten of them were men and eight were women. The three Indonesians were identified as Pijar activists Suleiman Heikal and Christian Evert, and Fajri, of Indonesia's Alliance of Independent Journalists, the Republika daily said.

[On August 14 the Jakarta Post as reporting the three Indonesian activist would not be charged quoting Indonesia's Ambassador in Rangoon, Poerwanto Lenggono, who told the Post "I guarantee they will not be charged". According to the state news agency Antara, they are to be released soon - James Balowski.]