Ansyor Idrus, Palembang – Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) South Sumatra director Anwar Sadat is suing South Sumatra Police chief Insp. Gen Iskandar Hasan for a single rupiah for detaining him through a procedure he considered unlawful.

"We are suing the South Sumatra Police chief for Rp 1 and intend to examine whether the arrest and detention conducted by the South Sumatra Police office were legal," said Anwar's lawyer, Muhnur Satyahaprabu, in Palembang on Monday.

Anwar and his two colleague activists were arrested with tens of Ogan Ilir farmers after they staged a demonstration on Jan. 29 that centered on a land conflict against the state-owned plantation company PT Perkebunan Nusantara VII.

The peaceful protest turned violent, causing the fences of the South Sumatra Police office building to collapse. The police have yet to determine the status of the three activists, however, despite the fact that they have been detained for 20 days.

Police said that Anwar was arrested and detained because he violated Article 17 of the Criminal Code (KUHP) on damaging public facilities.

Muhnur said his client was suing the South Sumatra Police chief for Rp 1 as they presumed that investigators from South Sumatra Police office had violated several articles of the KUHP including Article 17, Article 18 (2) and Article 75.

"We will donate the results of the legal claim to the South Sumatra Police office so they can use them to improve the performance of their police officers," said Muhnur.

Meanwhile, South Sumatra Police spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. Djarot Padakova said he accepted the legal claim but would discuss it with the South Sumatra Police chief. (ebf)