Jakarta – Human rights group Asia Watch called for the immediate release of noted dissident Sri Bintang Pamungkas, who was being arrested on charges of subversion.

The New York-based group described the detention of Pamungkas, a former outspoken legislator, as further evidence of President Suharto's increasingly harsh response to his critics.

'Sri Bintang has clearly enjoyed his role as a political gadfly, but he's also played an extremely important role to encouraging open debate on the fundamentals of Indonesia's political system,' said Sydney Jones, executive director of the New York-based Asia Watch.

Pamungkas, 50, was taken Wednesday to the attorney general's office for questioning and later arrested on charges of subversion, which is punishable to death.

'There is no possible justification for his arrest,' added Jones in a statement faxed to the Associated Press.

The authorities said Pamungkas and his unrecognized Indonesian Democratic Union Party have called for a boycott of May general elections.

Attorney General Singgih said the subversion charge was lodged not only for calling for boycotting the general elections but also several other activities under the party.