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The Indonesian capital Jakarta has seen allot of mass demonstrations of late.

Recently hundreds of thousands took to the streets to mark President Suslio Bambang Yudhoyono’s 100th day in office.

Residents of the mega-city often joke that a demonstration takes place everyday in Jakarta.

While many are sincerely using their democratic right others are paid to take the street.

Reporter Mustakim joined a group of protestors at a rally against state corruption to get the inside story.

A last check of the protest equipment. Then it’s on the bus. The destination is the Vice Presidents Palace.

Noone from the group ‘People's Anti-Corruption Network’ has given a briefing about what today’s demonstration goals are or even announced where we are going.

But for Budi- who doesn’t want to use his real name- the issue is not important.

“Somebody offered me money to come along today. I didn’t ask questions. I don’t know what we are protesting about. My friend that i brought along don’t have a clue either.They just came along for the money—it’s just like that.”

40 year old Budi normally works as a motorcycle taxi driver in Central Jakarta. He has brought 15 friends along with him to today’s demonstration.

They might not know about the issue but they are good at playing the part.

‘If the president can not solve corruption then stand down’ he cries outside the Vice Presdients Palace.

‘Fight them, fight them- down with this regime that oppresses the people!’ the group cries.

Budi has had allot of practice at this.

I started getting paid to demonstrations in 1986 after I finished high school he says. On average he earns two and a half US dollars and lunch.

The protest moves to the National Monument in Central Jakarta where Budi is given a poster.

On it is a picture of the Finance Minister Sri Mulyani with red dracula style fags drawn on her teeth.

The field cordinator leads the group in a song called ‘the Fighting Spirit’ or Darah Juang’.

They cry Vice President Boediono and Sri Mulyani are theifs.

Rudi one of Budi’s friends is joining in with great passionate.

But when I ask him if he knows who Boediono and Sri Mulyani are he says No. He dropped out high school and does this cause he needs the money.

The demonstration comes to an end. Budi turns to the organiser Gunawan to collect his groups pay.

He gives him a piece of paper with the names and addresses of the 15 people that came with him.

“They don’t pay us straight away. They come to house and they don’t always give it to me. Sometimes they give it to kids hanging around my house and tell them to give it to me. It’s all part of the game.”

This is the office of the protest for hire group where Budi met Gunawan.

For the last three years Gunawan has been hiring people to attend rallies at different groups request.

“There are some busines people who have a certain agenda they want to push. We also deal with high ranking government and political party officals. But I can't tell you which politcal parties because they don’t come to me directly they go through local NGOS. NGOs also hire us.”   

He offers them a demonstration package that range from 100 USD dollars to 50 thousand dollars.

He says part of the deal is that he doesn’t ask questions.

“We just make the deal discreetly and I pretend I don't know who they really are. I undestand how it works and how to play the game. We usually know what’s going on- particularly after they get us to do a few demos for them on the same issue.”

But he doesn’t feel guilty.

He argues that it’s all part of a healthy democracy.

“I don’t like being called a hired protestor. Because I feel like i am providing a political education to my friends. Also it’s hard work we have to stand-up for hours and usually the rallies go over lunch time and we have to eat!”

After the demonstrations against corruption in the government die down in the capital Jakarta.

Gunawan has another job already lined up.

This time the targets are officers accused of Corruption on the island of Sumatra.