T

he rivalry between supporters of current Democratic Party chairman President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and loyalists of ousted party chairman Anas Urbaningrum is intensifying, with Yudhoyono allegedly ordering his men to counter attacks by Anas'€™ camp.

Online media outlets on Wednesday reported that a text message allegedly sent by Yudhoyono to the party'€™s top brass had urged them to respond to the activities of Anas'€™ organization, the Indonesian Movement Association (PPI), which he deemed overly critical of the ruling party.

'€œ[It is] evil. Unbelievable. I would prefer not to look back, but Anas'€™ side constantly attacks me and the Democratic Party. After almost three years of deferring and remaining silent, it is now time for me to act against the outrageous actions,'€ the message reads.

'€œThe Democratic Party has just started to rise again thanks to our hard work. Our party had been tarnished by the behavior of some key members, including Anas. If they keep attacking the Democratic Party and SBY [Yudhoyono], all party members throughout the country will be disadvantaged,'€ it went on. '€œAs leaders of the party, we must save our party, including the future of millions of party members.'€

Several issues were purportedly mentioned in the message, including the President'€™s instructions to key party members to brace for the elections.

Democratic Party officials doubted the authenticity of the broadcast text message. The party'€™s deputy chairman, Johnny Allen Marbun, confirmed that Yudhoyono had texted, but said the message only contained the latter'€™s directives to consolidate the party ahead of the legislative election.

'€œI don'€™t think the PPI is harming the party,'€ Johnny said on Wednesday.

Another party official, Agus Hermanto, dismissed the authenticity of the text message. '€œThere was no such message. As a party executive, I certainly received no such message. No executives received one,'€ Agus said.

He admitted, however, that Yudhoyono did give direction regarding Anas'€™ organization.

The tension between Yudhoyono and Anas intensified after Yudhoyono took over the party'€™s leadership from Anas after the latter was named a graft suspect in February. Yudhoyono, in an overhaul of the party, removed Anas'€™ supporters from top positions.

The tension between them escalated recently after the PPI insinuated that the President had ordered the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) to prevent former party chairman Subur Budhisantoso from attending a PPI meeting.

The PPI spokesman, who was once a religious affairs department secretary on the party'€™s central board, Ma'€™mun Murod, has told Yudhoyono and his party not to feel threatened by the PPI. '€œIt'€™s not true that the PPI was established to discredit the Democratic Party,'€ Ma'€™mun said. '€œHow could this small mass organization confront a big party like the Democratic Party? How could such a young mass organization go head-to-head with the ruling party?'€