Indonesian Gold (55 page)

‘
The discovery has only accelerated the inevitable.
Don't forget that the outsiders are determined to destroy our forests, as well.
'

‘But it was gold that brought them to our
doorstep.'

‘
Yes, that's true. But we are also reminded that gold
has also been an integral part of our own culture. For centuries our people have panned for
nuggets in the rivers, we have worn it around our wrists, ankles and even attached it to our
ears.'

‘Why is it that this one metal can create such
greed
?'

‘
Gold is not the problem, Angela. It's what the yellow
metal represents. It's value is in the power it generates for those who possess
it.
'

‘What can we do?'
There
was desperation in her voice.
‘We don't have sophisticated weapons to fight the
military.'

‘We'll avoid direct conflict with the TNI. Instead,we'll
wage a war of terror against the trans-migrants. Without labor, their timber and mining camps
will grind to a halt. Eventually, they will have no choice but to sit down and negotiate with
us.'

‘No choice?'
Angela
rejoined, alarmed.
‘Papa, they could send their troops into our villages and kill us
all!'

‘
Not if we could bring the Dayak tribes together,
united against our common enemies. A general uprising would see the end of Javanese domination.
As you have suggested, world opinion would then force Jakarta to the negotiating table. The
Mahakam River Dayaks have all agreed to support a world heritage listing of our forests and, with
international support, this could be achieved. We would regain control over our destinies, and
our lands and forests. Without access to these resources, the Javanese would
withdraw.'

‘How can we bring the Dayaks together?'

‘That process has already commenced. Over the past months
we have been in discussion with the others. There is strong support for this concept. We have
received commitments from Dayak communities as far south as Banjarmasin, and from Sampit across
to Amuntai. We plan to coordinate simultaneous attacks along the Kehayan River to Palangkaraya,
which will draw the Javanese troops to the south, leaving the Mahakam communities a clear
opportunity to rid the land of Madurese settlers. Make no mistake, my child, we are already at
war, fighting for the survival of not just Dayak traditions and land, but our very
existence.'

‘But, Papa, Jakarta will surely send
reinforcements?
'

‘When they do, we will retreat into the mountains.
Remember, 'Gela, the Javanese fear the Dayak in battle, and we will strike terror into their
hearts.'
A sinister grin lined his face.
‘They have no stomach
for fighting in the jungle, you'll see!'

‘Surely there must be another way?'
this, with a withering look.

‘No, Angela,'
he held
her to console.
‘We've exhausted all other avenues. Dayak representation in the Indonesian
Parliament is virtually non-existent. The fundamental issue of Dayak community rights continues
to be ignored,as have our appeals for logging and mining moratoriums to be imposed. Jakarta's
elite send their scavengers across our lands stripping the forests, building wood processing and
paper pulp factories, most of which thrive from illegal logging operations.You've seen the
devastation visited upon other Dayak communities, further downstream? Close to three-quarters of
our forests have been destroyed in one generation by logging operations and conversion for oil
palm plantations. We have submitted evidence directly to the United Nations, requesting their
intervention, but the influence of powerful Jakarta lobbyists whose very empires were built from
profits generated at our expense, apparently extends even to the General Assembly.
Unfortunately,‘Gela, because of the enormity of the wealth being stripped from mining and logging
operations, Jakarta's rich and powerful will continue to act with impunity, as they have the
President's blessing.We have been left with no alternative but to fight and, considering the
forces we are up against, we have no choice but to strike them where they are weakest. If this
requires that we attack and destroy Madurese migrant camps, then we must do so, and drive those
who survive back across the Java Sea.'

‘Our people are going to slaughter unarmed
Madurese?'
Angela asked, with incredulous stare.

‘The Madurese have been arming in preparation for their
own agenda.'

‘Are you sure, Papa?'
It was not her intention to challenge.
‘How can you be certain?'

‘Reports of Javanese troops training militia groups have
been filtering in for some months. We sent some of our young men downriver to the Madurese
settlements. They confirmed the reports. We estimate that more than a thousand have been armed,
and that clearly shows Jakarta's hand. We don't have a great deal of time to make our move. The
longer we wait, the greater our casualties will be.'

‘When?'
Angela's mouth
went dry, and she clenched her father's hand.

‘With the next full moon,'
Jonathan answered, solemnly.
‘And, at that time, I want you here – away from the
mining camp and by my side.'

‘The camp will be attacked?'
she asked, with growing surprise.

‘Yes.They have desecrated our most sacred site.We owe it
to our ancestors.'

‘There are foreigners at the camp,'
she reminded.

‘They will not be targeted. It's the Madurese we are
after.'

‘How can you ensure their safety?'

‘The foreigners will come to no harm providing they don't
interfere.'

‘And if they do?'

Jonathan Dau's face became stern.
‘Then they will die
with the others.'

‘That would guarantee reprisals,'
Angela warned.

‘
The Penehing will be ready.'

‘If Jakarta sends troops, our losses could be high,
Papa.
'

‘We are fighting for our very survival,‘Gela, and, for
this, we should all be willing to die.'

With that one, all-embracing statement an uncontrollable
shiver ran along Angela's spine and she was suddenly beset with dread and she asked,
‘What if
you were to be killed?'

The chief responded with accustomed calm.
‘If it is
ordained by the spirits then that will be so.'

Jonathan and Angela returned to their village built on
stilts, their journey back down the mountain trail and through the forest conducted in unbroken
silence, their thoughts burdened with what lay ahead.

****

Jakarta
– The Palace

General Sukirno returned the guards' salutes then followed
a waiting aide into the residence under the Presidential Guard's suspicious eyes. Although
evidence of the fifty-man team was not apparent, he knew that they were there – observing his
every move, trained to shoot even high-ranking officers should their President, or his family
come under threat. Charged with the task of safeguarding the Presidential household as well as
state visitors, the Guard consisted of two, eight-hundred man forces, stationed in Central
Jakarta's Tanah Abang district, within minutes by helicopter, should the need arise.

As Sukirno made his way through the formal setting,
bodyguards dressed in civilian attire reminded the army General of the turbulent times that
propelled the incumbent to power, when the country's military leadership was all but annihilated
during an early morning communist sweep through this suburb. The former President, Soekarno, had
survived six assassination attempts; the number that had failed during the current leader's
tenure, one of the nation's best-kept secrets. And, a clear reflection of how loyal the sixteen
hundred- strong, Presidential Guard remained had been clearly demonstrated in recent weeks,
following the death of the First Lady. General Sukirno was aware of the claims that the
President's neighbors reported having heard shots, following a heated exchange, the night the
First Lady passed away. The Home Affairs Minister had moved quickly to squash the rumor; the
Indonesian Press finding no substance to the suggestion that one of the sons had accidentally
shot his ailing mother – the Presidential Guards on duty at the time adamant that the accusation
was groundless.

Sukirno was escorted to a room towards the rear of the
main house, where works by Indonesian masters, Affandi and Basoeki Abdullah hung, unappreciated,
on the walls, the air of informality immediately placing the senior officer at ease.

‘Thank you for coming, Pak ‘Kirno,'
the handsome Javanese youth greeted, waving the older man to a bright,
batik
-cushioned, rattan settee.

‘Have you read the report?'
the General asked, their relationship such, he knew that they could get straight down to
the business at hand.

‘
Yes. Your people still agree with the
data?
'

‘Well, copies filed with Mines and Energy support our
own intelligence.'
He lifted a glass of lukewarm herbal tea to
his mouth, and sipped, then sampled the colorful, seaweed, jelly cakes placed at his disposal.
‘It would seem that the Longdamai Sial project's current resource estimates, based on drilling
results to date and future drilling targets, stands at twenty million ounces of gold. The reports
clearly state that drilling has produced average grades of more than five grams per
ton.'

‘
Why didn't they establish a mine at the first
site?
'

‘It would seem that the company has been collecting
information for some years,'
Sukirno revealed.
‘You might
recall how many of the oil companies cap the wells they have drilled once there is a discovery,
and continue on until the entire field has been proven. The P.T. Kalimantan Gold team, which is
now part of BGC, has followed a similar routine by the looks of things.This suggests that they
have been quite clever, as their exploration license would collapse into an exploitation
agreement under normal circumstances, the moment they commenced extraction. I believe that the
first concession may be as rich in gold as the latest discovery, and that the foreigners are
trying to outsmart the government by not disclosing all their findings.'

‘
What have they had to gain by waiting?
'

‘We're not sure. The consensus is, the Canadian company
did not have enough capital to see its programs through, at the time their application was
approved.'

‘Then they misrepresented their capacity to develop the
deposit's potential?'

‘Many of the smaller foreign mining companies don't have
the funds to complete their contracts. They do the initial work then broker off the projects to
larger companies. It's common practice in the mining industry.'

‘How can they do that without our approval?'

‘
Approval is normally given. Mines and Energy don't
want to have projects stagnate over capital. It makes no difference which foreign group owns the
rights once these are approved.'

‘Then Dominion Mining and BGC are brokers?'
the youth asked, surprised.

‘Most mining companies tend to share projects to reduce
their risk or to raise capital,'
Sukirno explained.

‘
Why don't we just have someone buy the foreign
company?
'

‘It would be far too complicated. That would involve
purchasing shares from tens of thousands of investors and there would be no value in doing
so.'
Sukirno believed he understood what prompted the question as
the other man's brother had recently acquired outright ownership of one of Europe's most
prestigious sports' car companies, Lamborghini, in this manner.

‘
Have someone make an offer for their Indonesian
operations!
'

‘They would most likely ask for an impossible
sum.'

‘
But, isn't it true that they have yet to be granted an
exploitation or development license?
'

‘That is correct,'
General Sukirno agreed.

‘
I don't understand why there is a problem. Why not
permit the contract to expire and have the Ministry reassume rights over the
area?
'

‘It is possible,'
Sukirno hesitated,
‘but this would raise considerable concern amongst the other
foreign companies.'

‘Pak ‘Kirno,'
the
President's son became impatient,
‘does BGC have a final contract to develop a gold mine at
Longdamai or not?'