Jakarta – The leader of a youth group linked to the Indonesian military has been detained for allegedly instigating and funding an attack on a United States consulate office to protest against US involvement in Timor.

Gatot Sutantra, deputy head of the East Java branch of the Indonesian Forum for Children of Retired Soldiers, was named as a suspect with three others arrested earlier, The Jakarta Post reported yesterday.

On September 15, dozens of protesters tore down the US flag at the consulate in Surabaya, the capital of East Java province, and set it on fire.

They also pelted the compound with stones, condemning Washington for pressuring Indonesia to disarm pro-Jakarta militias, who were blamed for killing three United Nations workers in the border town of Atambua on September 6.

Police chief Sri Kersno said: "Gatot asked activists from various organisations to join in defending the country's interest and to influence public opinion with protests against what he perceived as American intervention in Atambua."

A witness told police he received 1.2 million rupiah (S$240) from Gatot to persuade people to join the rally, said the daily. The police chief said pedicab drivers were paid 10,000 rupiah each to take part in the rally.