The government of President Suharto faced a volley of criticism Monday, accused of orchestrating a bombing plot to silence dissent and blamed for the economic crisis gripping Indonesia.

Opposition leaders said the failure of Suharto, 76, over the last 30 years to accept criticism was a direct cause of the crisis. The govt had fostered a culture of "corruption, collusion and nepotism", said Amien Rais, head of the 28-million strong Muhamadiyah Islamic movement, adding that there was a crisis of confidence both hear and abroad, in Suharto's rule.

And leading human rights official Hendardi accused the govt and military of orchestrating a bombing plot in a bid to cow the public amid the country's crisis.

"I think it's just an arrangement by the govt, an arrangement by the military," the Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association executive director told AFP. "The people will think its just an arrangement."

Hendardi and three other prominent Indonesians who have been critical of the govt or military, were allegedly named in an e-mail message found by investigators at the scene of the bomb blast here on 18 January.

"The military published the e-mail to make people afraid. The old strategy like before cannot make people afraid anymore," Hendardi added, saying their tolerance of such tactics had been whittled away by the crisis.

"This strategy will boomerang on the govt. The people have a crisis of confidence not just in the economy but in the government."

Referring to a number of opposition figures offering themselves as candidates in the March presidential selection, he said people were now challenging Suharto's rule. "Before you didn't see people challenge Suharto," he said.