Nivell Rayda, Jakarta – Three people were detained by the police for throwing human feces into the Malaysian Embassy on Monday.

They were part of a rally held by about 50 members of the People's Democratic Defense group, also known as Bendera, to protest about the arrests of three Indonesian maritime patrolmen by Malaysian authorities last week.

The rally, guarded by 300 policemen armed with two water canons, started with public oration but tempers erupted when a demonstrator threw a bag of human feces at the embassy's gate. Police detained the person who threw the bag and two other people who were also carrying bags of feces. The rally is still ongoing.

Bendera was formed in 2009 when the tensions between the neighboring countries reached a fever pitch due to unresolved sovereignty claims in the Ambalat waters.

There were also accusations that Malaysia had claimed Indonesian cultural heritage as its own, including the Balinese pendet dance, various culinary dishes and batik.

This was followed by a more recent parody of Indonesia's national anthem which was perceived in some quarters as offensive.

There have also been diplomatic issues between the two countries regarding the treatment of Indonesian migrant workers in Malaysia.

Last year, Bendera attracted public attention with its protests calling on Indonesians to "kill Malaysians." The group set up roadblocks in Menteng, Central Jakarta, in an attempt to detain Malaysian citizens.