We strongly condemn the baseless arrests of our colleague Jean Marie Ferraris and her fellow international anti-coal campaigners by Indonesian police in Cirebon, West Java on July 5. The apprehension of the 12 activists from the Philippines, China, Thailand and India came on the last day of peaceful training activity hosted by an anti-coal coal community in Cirebon.

Jean, and the other anti-coal activists came to Cirebon to talk about the experience of their own countries where coal projects are facing increasing resistance. Jean in particular was there to share with local communities the experience of our own community partners in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato and Maasim, Sarangani,both in the Southern Philippines who are also facing the threat of coal mining and environmental degradation from coal-fired power plants. The activists were also attending a training on campaigning for clean renewable energy alternatives.

The surprise arrests came as they were attending a press conference organized by Greenpeace and local groups in Indonesia to launch a region-wide manifesto against the expansion of coal power plants in Asia. The activists were detained and interrogated for almost 48 hours, first on the basis of “visa irregularities” and later, after this was disproved, on the nebulous charge of “causing instability”.

We believe there can be no justification for the grossly exaggerated response from the Indonesian police authorities. The deployment of over a hundred police elements to arrest a handful of activists who were already on their last day in Indonesia clearly suggests that the apprehension was really aimed at harassing the support groups and intimidating the local community which is strongly opposed to the presence of the coal plant operated by Cirebon Elektrik Power Ltd, a consortium of Japanese, Korean ad Indonesian investors.

We are outraged that Iocal authorities attempted to disrupt a legitimate, non-violent gathering of international activists and communities. We are disturbed that this was apparently done because of their firm stand against coal and it’s deadly impact on peoples health and livelihood, the environment, and the worsening climate crisis.

The misguided move by the Indonesian authorities has clearly backfired. Their heavy-handed act has only served to draw more attention to the growing opposition to deadly coal and has strengthened the solidarity between peoples of the region who want nothing to do with this dirty and deadly source of energy.

The Indonesian government should realize by now that no amount of harassment and threats can quiet enraged communities nor quell protests and struggles against the devastation of the environment, the plunder of natural resources and the destruction of life.

No to Deadly Coal!

Protect the Rights of Community Rights Defenders!

Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center-Kasama sa Kalikasan

(LRC-KsK/Friends of the Earth-Phils)

July 7, 2010 / Quezon City, Philippines