After hours of questioning, green activists deported

CIREBON, West Java: After being questioned for 12 hours at the local immigration office, 12 Greenpeace activists from Thailand, the Philippines, China, India and Hong Kong were sent home Tuesday night.

Ekjon Warman Lingga, an immigration officer, said Wednesday the activists were deported because they had been "misusing their visas".

The 12, along with two Indonesian environmental activists, were arrested while attending a forum Monday.

Jointly held by local NGO Rapel and Kanaoman Palace, the forum declared the formation of the Anti-Coal Asian Network.

The network sought to provide legal aid for local residents whose lifestyles have been damaged by coal-powered electricity plants built near their homes. - JP