Jakarta – Fifteen activists from Asian countries were arrested by police in Jakarta yesterday after attending a demonstration at the Agricultural Department. They were still being examined until 10.30pm last night by the Directorate General for Immigration of the Justice and Human Rights Department.

The activists are from Malaysia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Korea, Thailand, Philippine, Vietnam, India, and Cambodia. They're here for the international rice commemoration.

According to Sarojeni Rangam, an activist from the Pesticide Action Network from Malaysia, the arrest was due to the demonstration they attended along with other 300 activists about the food endurance issue at the State Palace at 9.00am, organized by People's Coalition for Food sovereignty.

"The demonstration will last for one hour," said Wiroto, the coalition's coordinator. It was then continued to the Agricultural Department at Jalan Jagakarsa, Ragunan, South Jakarta. According to Sarojeni, they were not part of the demonstration any more. "We were only observing," he said to Tempo.

Wiroto said, they told it to the police. However, he admitted that the 15 activists were carrying a banner entitled 'No to Genetic Engineering Rice'.

After the demonstration at the Agricultural Department, they were on the way to the ASEAN representative office at Jalan Sisingamangaraja South Jakarta, to have a dialog. Approaching the office, their bus suddenly changed direction to the Metro Jaya Regional Police Office. "Our driver was forced to follow the police car," said Yulita, part of the activists group.

At the police office, they were examined by the Intelligence and Security division for one hour. At 4.00pm they were taken to the Immigration Office. "There is no investigative report but a list of names," said an immigration officer to Tempo.

It is reported to Tempo, that the activists entered Indonesia with Tourist visas. Head of Metro Jaya Police Office, General Inspector Adang Firman, said that he has not had an explanation about this case. "But if they come here with a Tourist visa, they should only engage in tourism activities," he said.

[Ibnu Rusydi, Reza Maulana, Maria Hasugian.]