ID :
89357
Fri, 11/13/2009 - 09:50
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/89357
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POLICE DETAIN GREENPEACE ACTIVISTS
Pelalawan, Nov 12 (ANTARA) - Police in Pelalawan in the Sumatran province of Riau have detained 21 activists from environmental group Greenpeace after the activists sealed heavy equipment in a peatland forest area in Kampar Peninsula.
Eleven of the activists are citizens of Germany, Brazil, Spain, Thailand and the Philippines, an ANTARA reporter reported from the location here on Thursday.
Company security guards had tried to bar journalists from taking pictures of the environmental activists.
Tens of Greenpeace activists from several countries had set up a camp in an effort to save peatland forests in Kampar Peninsula since October.
They took the action after PT Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper (RAPP) tried to clear the deep peatland area to plant industrial forests.
Greenpeace spokesman Zulfahmi said they did not know why the police had detained them although they had already broken up after sealing the heavy equipment at around 5.30pm.
"After conducting the action we were taken to the resort police headquarters in Pangkalan Kerinci. The Indonesian activists were taken by a small boat and the foreign activists by a tugboat belonging to the company," said Zulfahmi who was among them.
He said the foreign activists had received unpleasant treatment while on the boat from the officers who kept shouting and calling names at them who did not know the Indonesian language.
The situation however was improved after an Indonesian activist joined them and acted as interpreter.
The police had yet to make a formal statement with regard to their action. ***3***
Eleven of the activists are citizens of Germany, Brazil, Spain, Thailand and the Philippines, an ANTARA reporter reported from the location here on Thursday.
Company security guards had tried to bar journalists from taking pictures of the environmental activists.
Tens of Greenpeace activists from several countries had set up a camp in an effort to save peatland forests in Kampar Peninsula since October.
They took the action after PT Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper (RAPP) tried to clear the deep peatland area to plant industrial forests.
Greenpeace spokesman Zulfahmi said they did not know why the police had detained them although they had already broken up after sealing the heavy equipment at around 5.30pm.
"After conducting the action we were taken to the resort police headquarters in Pangkalan Kerinci. The Indonesian activists were taken by a small boat and the foreign activists by a tugboat belonging to the company," said Zulfahmi who was among them.
He said the foreign activists had received unpleasant treatment while on the boat from the officers who kept shouting and calling names at them who did not know the Indonesian language.
The situation however was improved after an Indonesian activist joined them and acted as interpreter.
The police had yet to make a formal statement with regard to their action. ***3***
