The Timor Man Read Online Free PDF Page A

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.
    â€œ 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 Sudomo’s pleasure increased as he identified the uneasiness evident in the Colonel’s posture.
    â€œ Well, Kolonel? ” he asked.
    â€œ Pak ‘Domo ,” Seda commenced using the polite and abbreviated form of the General’s name hoping it would ease some of the tension between them. “ It has been many years since he was deported and we were not really brothers .”
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