Harrison Ford angers ministers in Indonesia with interview on the environment

One minister said Ford's 'emotions were running very high'

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono with Harrison Ford (Getty Images)

Harrison Ford has displeased the Indonesian government with his aggressive questioning while interviewing a minister about deforestation.

An aide has even threatened deportation.

The Star Wars and Indiana Jones star is is the country filming for a series on climate change called for a US television network.

He met President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Tuesday, but a forestry minister who he interviewed later was displeased by the actor's interrogation style.

According to the state-run Antara news agency, Zulkifli Hasan said: “His (Ford's) emotions were running very high.

“I understand the American man just came here to see Tesso Nilo [a national park on Sumatra island] and wanted violators to be caught the same day.

“I was only given the opportunity to say one or two sentences during the interview."

The country - the world's fourth most populous, comprising 17,000 islands - has come under fire from environmental campaigners over forest fires, peatland conservation and palm oil plantations.

Presidential adviser Andi Arief said the minister thought there would have been some time to discuss the interview before it began, but he was “shocked that as soon as his [Ford's] crew came in, they started filming and interviewing him… and attacking him with questions.”

“There’s no privilege for him although he is a great a actor. His crew and those who were helping him in Indonesia must be questioned to find out their motives for harassing a state institution.”

“If necessary, we will deport him,” he added.