The Timor Man. Kerry B Collison

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СКАЧАТЬ him. The adjutant rose to his feet to escort him into the general’s presence. The large double doors opened into an enormous room. It stretched across ten metres and was at least seven metres deep.

      Seda was surprised. He had no idea that such offices were available in the cramped HANKAM complex. He had, in the course of his duties, visited many of the other senior ranking officers’ rooms throughout the command but never had he seen an office with such expensive decor. The walls were covered from the floor halfway to the ceilings with polished teak timber panels. The skirting boards were all hand carved as were the joining sections between each panel. The ceiling followed the line of the roof, making the chamber large and impressive, and priceless Dutch colonial lamps were hung in each of the corners. One wall was covered with plaques, pennants and photographs from the general’s past military service.

      On the opposing wall, a huge Garuda highlighted with gold leaf was positioned overlooking the director’s magnificent desk. Directly between its talons, creating an appropriate backdrop to the throne-shaped director’s chair, were the words Bhineka Tunggal Ika . Unity in Diversity. The Red and White hung on its stand, moving gently to the wisps of artificial breeze blowing from the three, two-horsepower Carrier air-conditioners installed inconspicuously where former windows had been removed.

      The imported guest chairs with tanned matching leather seats and chrome tubular steel supports were positioned so that the visitor was obliged to view the general’s military memorabilia and photographic record of his achievements. He could feel the authority emanating from the room and its tenant. Seda came to attention directly in front of his superior, saluted smartly, then waited for a response. The door closed softly behind him as the adjutant slipped quietly away.

      General Sudomo sat erect in his oversized chair which had been carved to match the front and side panels of the three-metre desk. The impression created was that the man was considerably smaller than normal, perhaps even a dwarf, but Seda knew this not to be the case. He was very aware that it would be dangerous to underestimate the Director, as his reputation for toughness was well known in military circles.

      “Ah Seda,” Sudomo spoke softly, indicating with a gesture for Seda to be seated. He obeyed. An opened cigarette packet had been carefully positioned in the centre of the glass coffee table. He noticed that the General’s ribbon collection, displayed prominently on the left side of his chest, had grown since his last intelligence briefing. Seda made it a practice to notice such things. These small yet colourful bands provided considerable information as to the bearer’s past and even current movements and activities. In a world of intrigue and power plays it was imperative to have up-to-date knowledge.

      For high-ranking officers like the General, the ribbons were literally decorations. At the last count there were just over four hundred generals in the combined army, navy, air and police forces. Both the new decorations were the elite ‘ Konfrontasi ’ ribbons and Seda again felt uneasy at any prospect of his possible posting to an active unit which specialised in border crossings into Malaysia and New Guinea.

      Seda had seen intelligence reports before they had been revised for general dissemination. They had indicated that the highly skilled British and Australian troops assisting Malaysia were reducing Indonesia’s ‘hero squads’ to scattered rabble. He had no desire to be a recipient of these distinguished ‘ Konfrontasi ’ ribbons for the majority were awarded posthumously.

      “Kolonel, I have called you here to discuss a most sensitive intelligence matter,” the General firmly announced, then dropping his voice to an almost inaudible level, continued. “However, there are some grey areas which must be disposed of before your security grading can be upgraded.” He paused to light a cigarette.

      Seda’s palms were now very moist. He was staggered. It was what he had dreaded — a posting to a ‘ Konfrontasi ’ unit! He desperately wanted to take one of the cigarettes from the table but knew to do so without one being offered was unthinkable. Instead, he clenched his fists tightly until he could feel the palms aching and then relaxed his grip, permitting the blood to flow freely again.

      General Sudomo sat comfortably behind the ornately carved desk observing and enjoying the obvious agitation the Timorese was experiencing. The clinging aroma of the kretek cigarette permeated the stuffy atmosphere within this enormous Javanese sanctum. The general relished the power of his position and had orchestrated the demise of many of his peers from this very office. Now he was one of the few trusted officers close to the President.

      He himself claimed to have no political ambitions. He had always believed that the military were the real power and that the day would come when even the over zealous politicians would need the total support of the army to survive their fool-hardy and unworkable efforts to change the inherent character of the peasant class.

      Born in the heart of Central Java in a small village not far from the historic Borobudur temple, this son of a peasant farmer had once idolised the man who had become the nation’s leader. Politically naive, Sudomo had followed Soekarno’s leadership without question, as so many others had over the past twenty years.

      He had learned to read at the village Sekolah Dasar. He could speak a little of the difficult Dutch language, but preferred communicating in his native dialect, Javanese. Even the national language, Bahasa Indonesia , did not flow fluently from his lips.

      Although poorly educated, his rapid rise in rank was directly related to his ability to understand and overcome opposition. Prior to receiving his first star he had, in fact, met the President only twice. The first meeting was in Semarang when the Bapak , as he was often referred to, visited the local military command to introduce Dr Subandrio’s latest innovation, a cadre force of women soldiers. These turned out to be a supply of Sundanese prostitutes for the Bapak’s private use. These women would follow their leader from town to town ready at all times to provide the President with the creature comforts he so obviously enjoyed when away from the Palace.

      At that time there were already rumblings of discontent regarding the President’s support for increased Communist activity within the military. The Javanese Generals were secretly concerned that the communists were covertly stripping power from the army as they had succeeded in doing so with the AURI and ALRI leadership.

      General Sudomo’s second meeting had been in the company of General Nasution who had visited the Bapak at his weekend palace in Bogor. Soekarno had remembered his name and from that time Sudomo’s star commenced its ascent. Now he headed the army’s most secret intelligence bureau, reporting directly to the Chief- of- army- Staff.

      His reaction to the young Seda was typically Javanese. Inwardly he despised the minority tribes, while in public he maintained an air of friendliness to all, regardless of their ethnic origins. He had kept Seda on his staff as the man was intelligent and loyal.

      General Sudomo leaned back casually, preparing his next words for their greatest impact. The Javanese enjoyed drama. It was an integral part of their cultural make-up. The Ramayana saga. The discomfort he was causing the Timorese was most gratifying.

      “How long is it since you have seen your brother Albert? ” The General asked. The words hung in the air before Seda realised they were discussing his estranged step-brother in Australia.

      Seda knew that he should show no signs of nervousness with this man and that his questions should be answered quickly and precisely. A small knot began to form in his stomach as he recalled omitting all reference to his brother in the detailed security information sheet prior to being selected for the Intelligence Corp. Abrother, albeit only a stepbrother, who had acquired a criminal record for subversive activities, was not exactly ideal reference material for security clearances, especially in this Corp.

      General СКАЧАТЬ