Prodita Sabarini, Jakarta – Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Adang Firman has denied activist Sri Bintang Pamungkas was arrested Sunday for displaying banners at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle for Monday's "Lift the Mandate" rally.

"Who said we arrested him? He merely feels he was arrested. When officers were going to question another person, he tagged along," said Adang on Monday at Jakarta Police Headquarters.

Political activists Sri Bintang Pamungkas and Pandapotan Lubis were reportedly arrested Sunday by Central Jakarta Police.

The banners reading "No Trust, Down", intended for a rally protesting the policies of the Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono-Jusuf Kalla (SBY-JK) administration, were confiscated by the Central Jakarta administration.

The two were released Sunday night, after being taken to the Central Jakarta municipal hall. They had previously been questioned for six hours by Central Jakarta Police.

Sri Bintang said he had notified police of the planned rally and was setting up banners for the event. Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Ketut Untung Yoga Ana said placing banners in public places required a permit from the city administration.

"The case is now in the hands of the city administration... he has allegedly violated a 1988 city ordinance on public order."

More than 700 people turned out for the rally Monday, marching from Jl.Thamrin in Central Jakarta to the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle, before congregating at the Presidential Palace at midday.

Prominent activists such as Hariman Siregar, poet WS Rendra, as well as Pandapotan and Sri Bintang, led the march that fell on the commemoration of the Jan. 15, 1974 anti-Japan demonstration in Jakarta, known as the Malari incident.

In his oration, Sri Bintang said the SBY-JK duo had failed to improve the welfare of the people. Hariman said that he hoped the two would accept their failure and step down.

Adang said he had deployed 10,000 personnel to secure the rally.