Kompas Cyber Media/Fitri & GB, Jakarta – Few people were surprised when Chairman of the Golkar Party Akbar Tandjung and Head of the party's Central Leaders' Council Mahadi Sinambela accused the People's Democratic Party (PRD) of being behind the anarchy which erupted during a massive demonstration of pro-President Abdurrahman Wahid supporters in East Java on Wednesday.

Now, they have been joined by no other than the controversial Minister of Defense Mahfud MD who has taken their accusations to the next level: that the group plans to cause the disintegration of Indonesia.

As reported previously, hundreds of thousands of pro-Wahid demonstrators rallied Wednesday at the East Java Provincial Legislative Council. They were unhappy the House last week accepted a report compiled by the House special committee on the Buloggate-Bruneigate financial scandals which implicate the President. In the demonstration, orators demanded Golkar be disbursed. The party dominated Indonesian politics under the authoritarian regime of Suharto.

Thousands later moved from the Council to the Golkar provincial headquarters and set it alight. Other party headquarters have also been attacked this week across the province.

Tanjung, who is also Speaker of the House of Representatives, met with Golkar Party leaders on Wednesday night to discuss the situation. They apparently decided to accuse the PRD and other "pro-reformasi" student groups of being communist and the PRD in particular of provoking the attack on the Golkar Party offices.

While the Golkar leaders did not cite any evidence to back up their claims, the Minister said he had obtained information from leaders of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) – the 30 million strong Muslim organisation headed by Wahid before becoming President.

"I met several leaders of the Nahdlatul Ulama branch offices in East Java last night. They explained the demonstration had been infiltrated by PRD so that what started as a peaceful action suddenly turned into anarchy," said Mahfud at the Wolter Monginsidi airport, Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi, Friday as quoted by Kompas Cyber Media.

Leaders of NU branch offices in East Java, said Mahfud, had repeatedly warned demonstrators to contain themselves in an orderly manner and without anarchy. "When I spoke to them [NU leaders] why they were destroying, rather embarrassed, they explained that each NU branch had warned their members not to destroy. And, that indeed occurred before finally they [the demonstrators] were infiltrated," said Mahfud.

But Mahfud went even further in his claims. He said the group had infiltrated both pro- and anti-Wahid demonstrations in Jakarta and that they had also provoked reformist groups in order to divide the nation. "I have always said, 'watch out for the passenger' in pro- and anti-Gus Dur demonstrations. Both have massive numbers of members. The 'passenger' tried to turn reformist groups against each other, but they are waiting for the results, that is, the disintegration of this nation," said Mahfud referring to the President by his nickname.

'The 'passenger' according to Mahfud has received funds from NGOs in 14 countries. Each person was assigned to mobilise as many people as possible to demonstrate in Jakarta. Mahfud said each person was paid Rp 10 million for the job. "The payment was paid on 13 January 2001," Mahfud claimed.

He said he had already approached Akbar Tanjung with a list of the people involved complete with the date of payment and the account number.

"I went to Akbar on 16 January. I gave him intelligence data on these people. And indeed most people know, people who I have mentioned have been involved in demonstrations that lead to anarchy," said Mahfud.

Despite the strength of their allegation that some PRD members were involved in anarchic action in East Java, Mahfud stressed that the government would not take action against the party led by young activist Budiman Sudjatmiko.

However, the government would take legal action against members. "As long as they implement democracy according to our rule, we will not reprimand them. We will only bring the people to legal process. Not because they are PRD but because of their actions. Even if they are NU or from the Association of Islamic Students (HMI), we will do the same, we will reprimand them," added Mahfud.

The government may not take action against the PRD, but the PRD may take action against Mahfud. Earlier today, Budiman Sudjatmiko and PRD legal representatives went to the national police headquarters to file a complaint against the Golkar Party's slanderous allegations. Budiman said the party was trapped in the old paradigms where the "communists" were always the easy scapegoats. How does one then explain the actions of Mahfud, considered to be close to the President, when the PRD have throughout recent weeks appeared to support the President provided he take decisive action against the remnant of the old regime.