LITMIR.BIZ

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rights this is the moment to stand with West Papua. We seek to make up for the mistake in allowing Indonesia to take control almost fifty years ago. We ask that you join us now to support our quest for the United Nations to pass a resolution sponsoring an internationally-supervised vote, to return West Papua to the rightful owners and grant their claim for independence.’

      Bennie turned and pointed to the Free Papua Organisation flag, The Morning Star with its white five-pointed star at its centre, spread against the backdrop. ‘The Indonesians imprison West Papuans who fly this flag of defiance. But, proudly, we still do!’

      Many amongst the audience had risen to their feet and applauded loudly. Enjoying the response Bennie nodded in appreciation then closed his address. Stepping down from the dais he was engulfed by eager supporters, many already pledging their financial support for his cause.

      Anne tugged at Jules’ sleeve. ‘I have to leave for a meeting. I’ll call you at the hotel later to fix a time to catch up in the morning. There’s much we need to discuss before Bennie returns to Amsterdam.’

      * * * *

      Anne Whitehead gathered her coat, stepped into the cold English night, and hailed a taxi instructing the driver to take her to a Hampstead address. Rain fell heavily and blurred street lighting and buildings in a mesmerising fashion. Anne consciously ignored their passage, concentrating on how she would frame her recommendations to her superior, now awaiting her arrival.

      The taxi slowed and came to rest and with each movement of the windshield wipers she caught a glimpse of flashing red lights ahead. When the driver slowly shook his head in exasperation, Anne resigned herself to the delay and called her destination. Settling back into her seat she permitted her mind to take her back in time, reflecting on the origins of her relationship with Bennie and Jules.

      Often captivated by her father’s many anecdotes relating to the time he had served with Her Majesty’s Embassy in Jakarta, Anne had developed an early interest in Asia, with a special interest in SE Asia’s archipelagic regions. Armed with graduate degrees in South Asian Studies and Anthropology from the University of Edinburgh, Anne had entered the workforce, engaged by the multi-international behemoth, Anglo American Aerospace Defence Technologies Inc. When an opportunity arose to fill a position with a subsidiary unit in Singapore, Anne had applied and was accepted for the post. During her three-year posting with the company which specialised in the engineering of mining operations, and studying part-time, Anne earned an MBA at the Nanyang Business School in Singapore. It was there she had met and entered into a relationship with the brash, young Julius Heynneman whose trading network across the Indonesian archipelago had earned him the agency rights, for Anglo American Aerospace Defence Technologies Inc. products and services. Their affair was casual, one more of convenience than commitment, and had, over time, developed into a mature relationship that surpassed their sexual liaisons.

      Acting on Jules’s invitation to visit the sites across Indonesia where engineering systems designed and installed by the Defence Technologies Group were operating, Anne spent two weeks criss-crossing the vast archipelago, completing the tour by visiting the Akumuga Mine. She recalled how during the West Papua journey Jules had become withdrawn and introspective, and even with her cajoling he had remained reserved and distant. It was not until they had returned to Singapore that Jules revealed the story of his early life, and relationship to the man he accepted as a brother, Bennie Tabuni.

      Anne learned of the hardships and opportunities the boys of mixed blood had experienced, appreciating how their fair features had set them apart from the other children. Jules recounted how they had been raised initially in a remote highland village then sent to school in Jayapura, and educated under the patronage of the Council of Churches, the path providing access to university studies. During this period, Jules had explained, both were cognizant that if they were to succeed outside their environment, they would need to become fluent in English. This, they achieved, albeit with noticeable accents, a product of their non-native-speaking English teachers.

      As her company’s commercial activities blossomed across the Indonesian mining sector due to Jules’ association, so too had her fondness for both men.

       At the outset, Bennie had remained an enigmatic, shadowy figure to Anne. It was not until the following year when Jules arranged a discreet gathering across the Causeway, in Johore Baru, that she had any real one-on-one direct communication with Bennie. It was then that she became aware of the significance of Bennie’s role in Indonesian politics, specifically those relating to West Papua.

      Anne recalled her surprise with Bennie’s knowledge of the parent company that indirectly employed her, the Anglo American Aerospace Defence Technologies Inc’s (AAADT). It became evident that his interest lay with the arms and weapons division.

      The British-American multi-national had long been a major global arms supplier and via its predominant client, Saudi Arabia, the group had successfully penetrated the Indonesian military market. Due to AAADT’s sensitive operations, both the British and United States’ governments enjoyed oversight positions within the company’s structure. The weapons division operated as a semi-autonomous business unit within AAADT, under the watchful eyes of MI6 who were obliged, but did not always adhere to, sharing operational information with their counterpart, the CIA.

      Anne had signed the mandatory Official Secrets Act during the embryonic stages of her career. She discovered how the British conglomerate successfully avoided compliance with mandated sanctions against potential client states or organizations. To circumvent such rulings AAADT often dealt through so-called arms-length operatives such as mercenaries.

      Anne understood that the British Government was not alone in its concerns how destabilised Indonesia had become since East Timor won its independence from Indonesia. With an international groundswell supporting a United Nations review on the question growing beyond expectations, AAADT commenced supplying arms to the rebels. The British had commenced the covert weapons delivery via Belgium conduits with an expectation that, eventually, West Papuan independence would become a reality. The AAADT senior executives believed that such an outcome could also improve its current military sales to Indonesia. Looking ahead, AAADT’s projections were that any future, independent West Papua with such natural resource wealth would naturally wish to build a defence force to defend its borders. As AAADT’s weapons manufacturing arm produced an array of armoury along with combat vehicles, missile launchers, artillery systems and munitions, the long-term potential for military sales was substantial.

      Anne felt the taxi move forward. She checked the Tag quartz watch on her wrist, frowned, and chewed on the inside of her lower lip, annoyed that she would have to cancel her scheduled hiking event, yet again.

      Calling ahead to alert her party that she was on the move again, Anne dismissed the temptation to resurrect further memories of those past, special moments with Jules. Instead, she mentally prepared for her arrival to discuss how her masters, Anglo American Aerospace Defence Technologies together with the British Government, could exploit the relationship she had developed, over some twenty years.

      * * * *

      Jules remained behind at the event until he was comfortable that Bennie had been surreptitiously escorted by his own security team, to the private address in West Brompton. Satisfied that the Indonesian security agents had been unable to follow, he departed to the discreet accommodations to prepare with Bennie, for their crucial meeting with Anne Whitehead’s masters and their clandestine British Government associates.

      Jules was ushered into the two-storey dwelling set in the leafy and tranquil environment where Bennie waited impatiently. He gestured for Jules to approach, handing a stapled document for him to review.

      ‘The updated version,’ he offered.

      Jules moved to a contemporary, living-room chair and commenced reading. Less than a minute passed when he raised an eyebrow and waved the document in Bennie’s direction. ‘We’re moving the timing back again?’

      ‘Yes,’ Bennie confirmed. ‘Another six months. There’s a problem with double-handling the final shipments from Port Villa.’

      ‘Will Coleman have the capacity to handle such transhipments?’

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