Indonesian police allowed a small group of Falungong practitioners to hold a protest outside the Chinese embassy in Jakarta after banning a march by hundreds of the sect's supporters the previous day.

The Chinese embassy confirmed Monday it had approached police and government officials about Sunday's planned march by what it called an "evil cult."

On Monday 22 protesters, wearing yellow Falungong T-shirts, sat cross-legged on the sidewalk across from the embassy as about 10 police looked on. "Oppression and torture against Falungong practitioners are violations of human rights, be aware," read one poster carried by the silent protesters.

A policeman who declined to be identified said that since the protest was peaceful and did not inconvenience the public, it was allowed to continue.

On Sunday, police – without giving a reason – withdrew a permit for a march through central Jakarta by about 700 Falungong practitioners from 10 countries and ordered them to disperse.

The Jakarta Post quoted police sources as saying the permit was revoked following pressure from the Chinese embassy. Police could not immediately be reached for comment.

"We were given no explanation by the police of why they revoked our permit even though we had prepared the process a long time ago," said one protester, a woman who identified herself as Heni. "The most likely explanation is that there has been some pressure from the Chinese embassy. Who else if not them?" she said.

Heni said Chinese authorities "want to hide their cruelty" towards the sect. "We explained to police and also to some Indonesian government officials that the Falungong is an evil cult," said embassy press officer He Shiqing. He declined to say whether the embassy had formally asked for a ban on the march.

The press officer described the protest as "anti-China" activity. "Their activity is in violation of Indonesian law. No country will allow people from other countries to conduct activities against a third country. So Indonesian parties took some measures to limit their activity. We appreciate their efforts."

He said foreign followers of Falungong had used Indonesia, since little was known here about the sect, "to spread the evil cult and deceive the people." On Saturday the Falungong members had held a one-day conference in Jakarta.

China outlawed the Falungong in July 1999, saying its group exercises and mystical Buddhist and Taoist teachings were the biggest threat to one-party communist rule since the 1989 Tiananmen Square democracy protests.

Human rights groups estimate that hundreds of Falungong followers have been sentenced to jail terms and tens of thousands sent to labour camps under the ban. The movement says as many as 300 followers have died in police detention.