A mathematics teacher at a junior high school in Pandeglang regency, Banten, was released Monday after an 18-hour interrogation by police for sending complaints about a power line, via short message service (SMS), to First Lady Ani Yudhoyono.
Arief Rohmana, 35, was interrogated, as he had "threatened" President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his family via text messages, police said.
One of the messages Arief sent to Ani through Presidential Office's hotline 9949 read, "You have blown the trumpet, the source of a disaster for the people of Labuan. From now, you are my main target."
The message was sent on Wednesday as Labuan coal-fired power plant (PLTU) commenced operation, powering the high voltage electricity transmission tower built near his house. Arief's house is situated beneath the power lines.
Arief said he had no intention of threatening or defaming Yudhoyono and his family by sending more than 100 messages to Ani since last year.
"I always used my real name and gave a clear address in the messages," Arief told journalists on Monday.
"I only asked and complained about the construction of the electricity transmission tower, which will likely cause harm, especially to children who live directly under the lines," he said.
Arief believed that it would do no harm to deliver complaints to Ani, who reportedly has a great interest in children's welfare.
"I asked for an apology from President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and the First Lady, should my messages have troubled them. I had no bad intentions but wanted to express my fears of the tower's impacts on my area," Arief said.
Vivanews.com reported on Monday morning that the Presidential Office had received a facsimile of Arief's letter requesting an apology from Yudhoyono.
Presidential spokesman Andi Malaranggeng said Yudhoyono had forgiven Arief, but said his actions were regrettable and that Arief should not have used threats to get attention.
"The President has also asked the State Secretary to contact the State Electricity Company (PLN) to find out their story *about the towers*," Andi said.
Anyone is allowed to criticize government policies, Andi said. But if someone threatens the President or his family, he or she would surely be interrogated by police, "like anywhere in the world."
Initially, Arief said, he had wanted to deliver his complaints to PLN officials.
Since the project had been completed, he intended to complain to Yudhoyono because the project had been approved through a presidential decree. (mrs)
