STATE prosecutors said yesterday they will charge a labour leader accused of inciting last weekend's riots with subversion - a crime punishable by death.
A lawyer for Mr Muchtar Pakpahan, the head of Indonesia's biggest independent union; denied allegations he conspired with leftists to topple the government.
The violence that erupted after police raided an opposition party headquarters last Saturday left at least three people dead, injured more than 90 and left 22 buildings burned.
Mr Muchtar (43), was arrested on Tuesday night. His lawyers said he refused to sign a form acknowledging he was being detained and questioned, arguing the charges against him were not clear.
"He is innocent. And for this case, if he is charged with subversion, we would like them to clarify it", said lawyer, Mr Inanto Subiakto. "He was branded a communist before this incident and that has been denied."
The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, based in Brussels, has complained about the "harassment and intimidation" of Mr Muchtar, who was jailed in 1994 on charges related to union activities.
Australia's trade union council is demanding the country cut off joint military training with Indonesia.
The Jakarta government of President Suharto has rounded on opponents, accusing them of anti government conspiracy. More than 200 people were detained after the raid broke up a sit in by supporters of Ms Megawati Sukarnoputri, who is fighting official efforts to remove her as head of the opposition Indonesian Democratic Party.
Ms Megawati, daughter of Indonesia's founding President Sukarno, has not been charged with any crime, but security officials contend her party has been infiltrated by leftist agitators.
President Suharto has given police permission to question Ms Megawati, but the government didn't say when that would take place. The president's approval is required because Ms Megawati is a member of parliament.
. The British Foreign Office yesterday denied allegations by Labour's Ms Ann Clwyd that British made defence equipment is being used to suppress pro democracy demonstrators in Indonesia.
A spokesman said there was no evidence that equipment sold by Britain to the Indonesian government was being used for internal repression.
But Ms Clwyd, MP for Cynon Valley, claimed to have "firm evidence" that the Indonesian authorities had broken their assurances that the items would not be used against civilians.
The Foreign Office has expressed its concern to the Indonesian charge d'affaires in London about recent events and urged all sides to exercise restraint.
Meanwhile, the Foreign Office said travellers to Indonesia should stay away from the area in east central Jakarta where the violence has been concentrated.