TWENTY-THREE GREENPEACE ACTIVISTS NAMED SUSPECTS

Pekanbaru, Nov 27 (ANTARA) - Riau police have named 23 Indonesian Greenpeace activists suspects in a criminal offense after they had taken part in an action to seal a pulp company's property.

Their lawyer, Jhonson Panjaitan, told ANTARA here on Friday tens of activists had also been named suspects in connection with two different protests, namely the sealing of seven heavy-duty equipment belonging to PT Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper (RAPP) in Pelalawan on November 12, 2009 and the sealing of four container cranes belonging to PT Indah Kiat Pulp and Paper (IKPP) in Siak on November 25, 2009.

"The number of activists who have been named suspects totals 23 and they are all charged with violating articles in the Criminal Code," he said.

Johnson said the police had named 18 suspects in the RAPP case, down from initially 21 after some were declared not guilty during investigation.

They are netted with Article 551 of the Criminal Code regarding unpleasant acts and Article 335 on entering a company property without permit.

The number of activists named suspects in the PY IKPP case totals five but more articles will be imposed on them because they have also charged of conducting a demonstration without a permit.

"None of the activists are detained,"Johnson said.

The Greenpeace activists from foreign countries involved in the actions have been deported, totaling 20.

Johnson said the foreign activists had been charged of violating immigration regulations. he said the immigration office had also deported five other foreigners from Riau.

Johnson complained over the legal action against the activists saying anyone fighting a right to good and healthy environment cannot be prosecuted based on criminal or civilian codes.

"This is regulated in Law Number 32 of 2006 on protection and management of living environment and Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which is already ratified by the Indonesian government to become a law," he said.

In view of that he said he would continue fighting their freedom.

Greenpeace activists have in the past two months campaigned to press the Indonesian government to safeguard the sustainability of peat land forests in Kampar Peninsula in the Riau province to prevent climate change and for preserving the life of the people living around the forests.

Their actions included establishing a Climate Protection Camp, transferring knowledge to local people, damming up peat canals to extreme actions like sealing RAPP and IKPP equipment.