Nana Rukmana, Cirebon – Fifteen Greenpeace members were detained for questioning after police dispersed their campaign in Cirebon, West Java, on the grounds that the event had been held without a permit.

Of the 15, 13 were foreigners, coming from China, the Philippines, Thailand and India. "We've been questioned for five hours now," Greenpeace Southeast Asia climate and energy campaigner Arif Fiyanto said Monday.

Greenpeace's Cirebon campaign ran from July 3-5, and was among efforts to set up an anti-coal network and a clean energy campaign in cooperation with Cirebon's Kanoman Palace and local environment group Rapel. The anti-coal network involves six countries – China, Indonesia, India, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand.

On Saturday night, the group hosted the screening of a World Cup soccer match using a solar-powered screen at an event organized for fishermen and residents. On Sunday, it hosted a seminar at Kanoman Palace.

On Monday the group were in the middle of a campaign in Waruduwur fishing village when police had approached them, Arif said.

Police had dispersed the group when they were about to announce the formation of a network of Asian communities against coal, he said. An estimated 500 fishermen attempted to stop the police from arresting the activists.

Arif said his colleagues were treated kindly during the questioning, but had thought police were overacting.

"The police were not making sense because we're supporting the community and the fishermen who felt disadvantaged by the construction of PLTU Kanci [coal] power plant. We're not committing a crime," he said.

Cirebon Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Edi Mardianto confirmed the arrest but declined to comment. "We're still asking for testimonies," he said.

The 1998 Law on Public Expression does put certain limits on street rallies as a means of expression by making them subject to a number of requirements.

Some articles in the law require organizers of street demonstrations to notify the authorities, at least three days in advance, of the predicted number of protesters and of the routes of the rally. But one thing for sure is that no official permits are required anymore.

Rapel coordinator Aan Anwarudi said the Greenpeace were welcomed by the fishermen who had been fighting for their rights since the power plant was built in 2007.

"Greenpeace's presence is a show of support for the fishermen," said Aan, who has also been assisting the fishermen since the power plant was built.