The Timor Man (90 page)

accidentally discover what it was that remained such a secret within the four walls of his private domain. Anyway, he mused, considering the non-military staff with contempt, most of them wouldn't even know the difference between their hands and what was between their legs let alone have the capacity to identify any of the items in his store! The majority of these foreign affairs types hadn't even undergone national service training, Umar thought, annoyed with the civilians, and wouldn't be able to defend themselves if called upon to do so. He knew they would be useless if the Embassy came under attack.

He strutted around playing the role of the senior security officer. In all the years he had worked for the General this was about as close as he'd ever come to really enjoying his duties. He experienced a sense of elation, knowing that he alone would be responsible for the destruction of the Australian leadership when the massive explosion took place within the confines of their Parliament.

If only they knew, he thought, if only they knew!

 

Nathan Seda enjoyed the exhilaration which resulted from the satisfaction of knowing that his dreams were almost within his grasp. This time it would be successful. He could feel it! The Ambassador had just returned from the function and met briefly with Umar before settling down to concentrate on the enormous number of unfinished tasks which need to be addressed. He had enjoyed the late luncheon.

When the approach had first been made, he was advised by the Embassy information officers that the invitation was considered to be quite prestigious, and would provide the Ambassador with an acceptable forum to raise issues not yet settled between the two countries.

Seda accepted the invitation to be the guest speaker at the Press Club luncheon. All in all, he thought, it had gone well, with the exception of the pedantic journalist who repeatedly interrupted his answers during the open question period. He had been asked if there would be any objections to an informal question opportunity for the other guests and, confident that there would be no difficulty in addressing whatever he was asked, Seda had agreed.

The man had insisted that the General be more specific in his answer.

“Why didn't the Indonesian Government provide adequate protection for the drilling crews against the attacks that had already closed down five drilling platforms in the disputed area?” he was asked. “Surely as these platforms and rigs are within what the Indonesian Government claims as their territorial waters the responsibility for the safety of the crews and multi-million dollar rigs rests with your government?” he was challenged.

“The Indonesian military does not wish to be seen by the international community as being overly aggressive in this matter. We sympathize with the families who have lost loved ones in these terrorist attacks and have asked your government to consider a joint military action to prevent any further recurrences of these disastrous assaults against not just Australian but also Indonesian workers in the Timor fields.”

“Mr Ambassador. Is it not true that your navy already has a considerable presence in the area, and is it not also true that your country has the capacity to virtually guarantee the safety of these operations due to the very number of vessels that you are able to deploy in the concession zone?”

“Although it is correct to state that we have the capacity to provide such guarantees, our country does not consider that it should shoulder the entire burden of responsibility. Again, I remind you that we have offered your own navy the opportunity to work together with us on joint exercises to avoid misunderstandings as to our good intent, when our vessels entered the disputed territorial areas. Disputed only, I might add, by your government. We, in Indonesia, do not see that there is any argument. The area has always belonged to our Republic.”

“Yes, sir, so we have observed. And what else do you want?” a voice from the back of the room had called, causing the assembly to laugh nervously while someone whistled his support for the question.

He had anticipated the response to his remark and, minutes later when he had finished replying to the faceless member, the assembly laughed politely while some even applauded his statesman-like wit and behaviour.

“Ambassador Seda. Would you tell us your own personal views as to where the United Nations will go on the latest call for the right of self-determination for
Tim-Tim
?”

He looked down from the podium to check the man who had asked the question. Seda didn't recognize the journalist but was pleased as he had hoped that someone would raise the sensitive issue. The room became quiet as he deliberately waited for the table banter among the members to discontinue to ensure their complete attention. He looked straight at the man who had raised the question.

“The people of
Tim-Tim
are Indonesian citizens by choice.”

“Yeah, we all know that, but by whose choice?” shouted the man who had interrupted earlier.

“Knock it off, please, gentlemen,” one of the committee called, embarrassed by the break in etiquette. “Let's remember who we are!”

“Thank you,” Seda said, before continuing. “If you kindly permit me to finish. I said, the people of
Tim-Tim
are Indonesian citizens by choice. The reality is, they are. The choice was theirs, it became ours, and even you in Australia supported our declaration of sovereignty over the former colony. Show me one voice on the United Nations Security Council which condemns the current status quo in the province. Show me evidence that your own people don't support my country's annexation of the troubled state. And, if you can, please before you even consider asking the question, show me proof of the ridiculous claims that our Indonesian troops took the lives of your fellow journalists more than twenty years ago!”

“You can't” he continued, “because there is no such evidence which can irrefutably demonstrate the incredible claims made over the years concerning the loss of your some of your number.”

“The Republic of Indonesia has demonstrated that it is a nation intent on peaceful co-existence with its neighbours. The Timor question remains no more as such because it has been answered by our country's actions, actions taken in the interests of all, including your own.”

The questions had become heated. Seda had continued responding in the same vein and, at the close of the luncheon, he was confident that he had caused more questions to be asked than he had answered. But, more importantly, he had them all thinking seriously again concerning their own country's role in the sad demise of the East Timorese people. He was pleased with the day's events.

The Ambassador turned his thoughts to his discussion with Umar. The man was a genius with no sense of morality, he thought. It was a good thing he continued to command the man's loyalty, as the former Major had become totally indispensable in every respect, as there was just nobody else he trusted whom he could call upon with this man's skills.

The attacks would take place within the following week. Everything was now ready. The aircraft and vessels would take their positions within days and the combat teams had already been mobilized ready to move when Umar sent the command. The trucks and other support equipment had been ready for almost two weeks, the men standing by impatiently waiting for their next instructions. Umar had flown across and then driven out to speak to them. They had understood the necessity to be patient. He had told them, it wouldn't be too much longer, just wait!

Seda smiled again as he read his secretary's note confirming the number of invitations that had been acknowledged and accepted to attend the formal celebrations. Almost one thousand guests! This would be a function to remember, he thought, knowing that the whispers had already spread throughout the diplomatic community of his possible appointment as the next Vice President. All appeared to be on track and running according to plan, he thought.

Only the devastating consignment below remained as unfinished business, and this would be moved at the appropriate time. Umar had assured him that the final checks and paintwork could be completed in just hours once the van had been positioned at his residence's garage.

Seda had asked for it to be moved immediately but Umar had argued that it would not be safe out of his sight.

“What if there was a fire at the premises?” he'd asked, “or what if one of those bungling idiot servants from Semarang became a little too inquisitive while their masters were out and decided to fool around with the volatile cargo?”

In the end Seda had just walked away from the man. If it was safe enough for Umar, he decided, it was also safe enough for him!

Umar enjoyed the exchange. Even if he had moved the van to the residence there was just no way that the servants could even get a smell at the inside of the garage as he had always double locked everything. Umar expected the area would be safe. He had left small booby traps that were relatively harmless but enough, he knew, to scare the shit out of the domestic staff if they wandered off limits! He hoped that they feared him and wouldn't dare consider venturing into his domain without specific instructions to do so.

From time to time he had wandered through the kitchens as they were preparing meals. He could smell their fear as he stopped and looked casually around, picking up utensils and then replacing them without comment. Sometimes he would hold one of the carving knives up to the light as if he was inspecting the blade for cleanliness, but the staff understood the not-so-subtle message.

Even so, he preferred to keep his hands on the vehicle containing the explosives. It was just more convenient to keep the van where it was until the time came to move it out. He could see no problem. It was totally safe, although he knew that the General wouldn't understand this point. Like so many other intelligent people Seda had no idea how explosives were triggered. This one had not been activated. All of the components were in place but Umar had not connected the PETN charge directly to its detonation device. He would move that from the armoury and complete the complicated trigger only when he knew the exact timing for detonation.

Seda didn't understand the intricate workings of the bomb designated for the destruction of Parliament House and wasn't entirely comfortable knowing that the van was still sitting alongside the embassy building. Even if he had it moved to the residence's garage it would still be dangerously close to his person.

 

The newspapers had reported his statements in the following day's papers. Seda was not entirely displeased with the biased reporting, having become familiar with the so-called objective media very early in his career.

He sat drinking his coffee while skimming through the pages, stopping to read only those articles which referred to the luncheon and reported on his comments. Some of the stories were inaccurate and slightly derogatory. Several also exaggerated the answers given in response to the question of Timor, even suggesting that the Ambassador had responded with an air of arrogance. Seda thought about this comment and was not irritated by the remark, as he had deliberately answered in an almost provocative fashion, hoping to ruffle the member's feathers. As it turned out, the result was positive and in no way did he consider any of the articles to be detrimental to his real cause.

The majority of the stories, including two editorials, came out strongly in support of a United Nations resolution to provide the people of
Tim-Tim
with the opportunity to vote on the question of Indonesia's annexation and their right to self-determination, and challenged the Australian people to push their elected leaders into action over the ongoing abuse of these simple people's humanitarian rights. They also demanded a further government inquiry into the deaths of the journalists years before in Timor. They expressed disappointment that the questions relating to these murders have never been properly addressed.

This is the result he had really wanted. It was time to prime the Australian public and prepare them mentally for the next frightening events so that their response would lead to more than just feelings of indignation towards the Indonesian people.

Seda's plan called for a much stronger response. One which would drag both countries to the brink of an outright war.

Independence Day — Canberra