Jakarta Police detained 18 students from Mercu Buana University who took over a fuel truck during a rally in West Jakarta on Tuesday.

The students used the country's 100th National Awakening Day to stage a protest against the government's recent decision to increase fuel prices.

The students were taken to Jakarta Police headquarters for questioning after they attempted to take over a truck containing 8,000 liters of fuel belonging to state-owned oil and gas company PT Pertamina.

The students were accused of violating articles of the Criminal Code concerning unacceptable behavior and impinging on other people's freedom.

A student activist, Januar, said his friends planned to direct the truck to the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle where more students were waiting. "We wanted to take the truck to the State Palace as part of our rally," he said, although the truck was not initially part of the plan.

The 18 students questioned by police were Syiful Malik, Ricky Sylvester, Feri Andrianto, Feri Fahrian, Dirgantara, Ervan Jatmiko, Arif Setiandi, Ichsan S., Arief Adrianto, Fauzi Umar, Dame Kurnia, Ari Afrizal, Merdi Ardiansyah, Afendi, Devi Solina, Khaerodin, Damai Kurnia and Andi.

The students' lawyer, JJ Amstrong, said the students did not deserve to be arrested for what they did. "If we look at the case thoroughly, the laws used to detain them do not warrant arrests," he said.

He said the students did not try to take over the truck. They only stopped it and ordered the driver to go with them to the State Palace. "That was when police officers came and took the 18 students to their headquarters for questioning," he said.

Amstrong also said the interrogation should have been conducted at the police station in West Jakarta instead of the police headquarters. (lva)