Jakarta – Around 5,000 of people gathered outside the East Java legislative council in Surabaya on Thursday in a show of support for President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Boediono.

But some of them say they joined the rally for money. "I've been told that I would get Rp 30,000 (US$3.2)," Mujianto of the neighboring town of Mojokerto told tempointeraktif.com news portal.

He added he received a piece of flag and a T-shirt bearing the pictures of the two leaders prior to his departure from his hometown on a truck along with a group of people earlier in the day.

Another rally participant, Suwarsono of Surabaya, said a rally coordinator had promised him Rp 20,000. "I will get the money after the rally."

The peaceful rally lasted two hours.