Rizal Harahap, Pekanbaru – Citing visa violations, authorities will deport 11 foreign Greenpeace activists who were involved in the sealing off of heavy machinery owned by PT Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper (RAPP).

Pelalawan Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Ari Rahman said police were working with the immigration office to immediately deport the foreign activists to their countries of origin.

He identified the activists as Agnaldo (Brazil), Petteri (Finland), Laura (Germany), Jesus and Pablo (Spain), Roda (Philippines), and Pong Saponrt, Nopporn, Uum, Passatorn and Somruee (Thailand).

"They hold visitor visas, so they should not have demonstrated or carried out other activities that threaten public order," Ari told The Jakarta Post on Friday.

"We will hand them over to the immigration office after we've finished questioning them. The immigration office will decide on further measures after inspecting their travel documents," Ari said.

Pelalawan Police arrested 21 local Greenpeace activists Wednesday along with the foreign activists who are now undergoing questioning at the police station. Ari denied reports the 21 local activists had been named as suspects.

Ari said their legal status would be determined by 5:30 p.m. local time.

Ari added the activists were detained in Teluk Binjai village, Teluk Meranti district, 120 kilometers east of the Pelalawan regency capital Pangkalan Kerinci, based on a charge filed by RAPP.

He said RAPP, the biggest paper and pulp producer in Southeast Asia, objected to the presence of the activists who had trespassed on its concession area, seized heavy machinery and prevented workers from doing their jobs.

He added the police had also taken the activists into custody to pre-empt potential conflict with an anti-Greenpeace group in Teluk Meranti.

During the Greenpeace protest, he said, police received information that some RAPP employees and local residents were mobilizing to expel the activists.

"We negotiated with them, but they refused to stop the protest, so we arrested them in order to question them and also prevent the possibility of a clash," Ari said.

Greenpeace Southeast Asia campaigner Zulfahmi, who was also questioned by Pelalawan Police, called the arrests baseless and said the police were biased.

Zulfahmi denied accusations the protest was illegal and claimed Greenpeace had obtained the requisite permits from the National Police for the environmental campaign involving local and foreign activists.

"Our fellow activists had obtained official permits from the Indonesian embassies in their respective countries. They hold visitor and business visas, and all their activities here were continuously monitored by the police," he said.

"They were arrested because RAPP felt bothered by our presence. The RAPP management should have been arrested for damaging the forest, while we are campaigning to save the forest," said Zulfahmi by phone.