PRD suspected of selling Ecstasy

PALU, Central Sulawesi: The military suspects the besieged Democratic People's Party (PRD) of trafficking Ecstasy here and elsewhere in Indonesia.

PRD, a hitherto little-known leftist "party", has been blamed by the military for masterminding the massive rioting on July 27 and July 28 in Jakarta in which at least three people died.

"There is a suspicion that the PRD sells Ecstasy to finance its underground activities," the local military commandant Col. Bambang A.S. was quoted by Antara as saying.

Bambang called on the public to be wary of the PRD and other anti-establishmentarian organizations which mean to disrupt national unity.

An Ecstasy pill can cost between Rp 60,000 (US$25) and Rp 100,000 in Palu. "Selling the damned pills is an easy way to mobilize funds," he said.

Using drugs to undermine the unity of a country was done by Britain to China in 1911, Bambang said. (pan)