Marianne Kearney, Banyuwangi – Leaders of Indonesia's largest Muslim group are distancing themselves from a suicide squad heading for Jakarta – but it has become apparent that their own militia outfit has been training the 50,000-strong outfit.
Proving the group's strength, religious Syamsuddin demonstrates how magical powers can protect a new volunteer of the Truth Defenders Front. The group has pledged to die for Gus Dur.
The militia wing of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), which President Abdurrahman Wahid once headed – has been making sure that it is adept in martial arts and guerilla manoeuvres.
The squad, known here as the Truth Defenders Front, has pledged to flood Jakarta in the days leading up to the April 30 meeting of Parliament, which could see impeachment proceedings against Mr Abdurrahman for alleged corruption set in motion.
Mr Wiro Sugiman, the man behind the Front and a regional Banser chief, maintains that his group grew out of a desire by ordinary Indonesians to "protect the nation, the Constitution and the president chosen by the people".
And even as he sat down with The Straits Times with Banser commanders, he claimed that it has no connection to Banser or NU.
Modelled on on a military outfit, Banser claims to have members in almost every village in East Java, and a total of 400,000 members across Java. But it is thought that its real numbers may only be around 50,000.
While numbers may be exaggerated, the organisation is impressive. Officially, its role is to provide security for NU events and leaders. But it also guards businesses, assists in community events, and even provides security for weddings to fund itself.
Increasingly, Banser has taken over security-related activities earlier undertaken by the military. Breaking up labour strikes, protecting big business and factories. Leave that to Banser. Observers say that in East Java, it has come to fill the role that Pemuda Pancasila, the Golkar youth movement, occupied when Mr Suharto was in power.
As Mr Abdurrahman rose to power, so too has the reach and influence of Banser. And commentators say that his ousting could significantly reduce "earnings".
"No doubt, there are financial benefits. Many of their leaders are like the classic preman or thugs, and are probably into racketeering"' said one source.
The source added that Banser, like other civilian militia outfits such as Pemuda Pancasila, was probably using its position and links with the government to tax businesses. Analysts warn that once mobilised and brought to the capital, it cannot entirely be controlled by the NU leadership.
And the existence of a separate suicide squad has now stoked fears that more violence could rack the already-bloodied country, terrifying both Mr Abdurrahman's political foes and the financial markets.
Commentators are also reading in the mixed signals from NU leaders about halting its march to the capital a sign that some sections of the NU and Banser have too much to lose if Mr Abdurrahman is ousted.
Fears of instability have sent the main share index to its lowest point in 29 months, while the rupiah is nearing 11,000 to the US dollar for the first time in a month.
[On the same day Associated Press quoted Wahid as warning that a "nationwide rebellion" could erupt if the parliament attempts to impeach him for corruption. Wahid said 400,000 people from across the main island of Java and the southern end of Sumatra were ready to come into the capital to protest against moves to oust him - James Balowski.]