I wayan Juniartha, Jakarta – Dozens of students and environmental and human rights activists from the People's Alliance for Democracy and Human Rights staged a protest Monday demanding the US and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono administrations be held responsible for the country's environmental damage.

The alliance is the umbrella group for nine organizations, including the local chapters of Indonesia Legal Aid Association (PBHI), HIV/AIDS rights group Ikon Bali, Islamic Students Association (HMI) and Catholic Students Association (PMKRI).

In its statement, the alliance claimed that US imperialism was the main trigger for a range of environmental and human rights problems Indonesia currently faces.

"The issues (on environment) are part of the imperialist's strategy to secure its interests and maintain its iron grip of oppression over our people," head of PBHI, Gendo Suardhana said, adding that the US carried out that strategy with the full cooperation of its partner", the Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono administration.

"The administration of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono-Jusuf Kalla is the puppet regime of the US' imperialism."

The rally took place at the Balinese People's Monument of Struggle, Bajra Sandhi in Renon, Denpasar. Security was heavy during the protest with the number of plainclothed police officers in the area far outnumbering the protesters.

The protesters read an 18-point demand covering a wide spectrum of issues, ranging from the protection of the country's cultural heritage, the immediate prosecution of illegal loggers, to protection for drugs addicts and HIV/AIDS patients from discrimination. The rally ended peacefully after a heavy shower of rain hit the area. Braving the rain, the protesters then marched along Renon's wet roads to the PBHI's office nearby.