The Fifth Season (31 page)

'For the assistance and support given to me during the period I have been your President, I thank you all and trust that in your hearts, you will forgive me for my shortcomings and mistakes. May the Indonesian nation remain victorious, and may you continue to adhere to the principles of the Panca Sila and the Constitution.

'I express my thanks also to members of the outgoing Cabinet. In order that a leadership vacuum does not exist, I now ask the Vice President to take his oath here, today, before members of the Supreme Court of Indonesia.'

The assembly watched in silence as L.B. Hababli stepped forward and took the oath of office, while Suhapto looked on, his hands clasped subserviently in front, Hababli's unexpected appointment proof of Indonesia's eternal, political deceptiveness. Was there a smile on the outgoing President's lips?

Mary Jo continued shooting, acknowledging that she was witnessing perhaps one of the most historic events this country would record, her lens capturing the serious expressions of those standing on the dais.

A murmur passed through the media as the handsome General Winarko then stepped forward to address the people of Indonesia.

'It is my duty, as Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Armed Forces to confirm that ABRI will continue to support the Constitution and our new President. I call upon all factions to follow, and work together to overcome the problems with which we are faced as a nation. I wish also to state here, that former President Suhapto and

his family will remain under the protection of the Armed Forces. Terima kasih.'

Having thanked those present, the four-star army general then stepped back out of the limelight before he could be quizzed by the press.

Mary Jo's Nikon F90 worked overtime, catching the historic moments as her lens moved from Suhapto to Winarko, across to the new President and those who waited in the wings. There, she spotted a familiar figure, and checked the monitor before snapping Haji Abdul Muis's profile as he turned away.

Around the world millions sat transfixed to their television sets as they witnessed what they believed would be the final chapter in the Suhapto saga, whilst those who understood the Javanese mind clicked their tongues, wondering what the former President's game plan would now be, believing that the master tactician would continue to manipulate, preserving his powerful kingdom with the aid of his former adjutant, General Winarko.

****

Exhausted, Mary Jo returned to her villa early. She was asleep when Winarko's troops stormed the Parliament and removed the students. Apart from bruised pride, the youngsters evacuated the buildings without any casualties being recorded. As the soldiers swarmed through the buildings wielding lengths of rattan cane, resistance crumbled, and the weary youngsters went peacefully, many bussed back to their universities under army supervision.

'Sorry, Mary Jo, but it was all over before I even knew.' Anne had broken the news to Mary Jo the following morning.

'It's incredible that no one was hurt,' Mary Jo commented. 'If it had been that easy, why hadn't the military removed the students before this?' Anne shrugged her shoulders.

'Perhaps they were content just to have Suhapto out,' she replied, 'don't forget that they are to face term exams in three days.' Mary Jo considered this and came to the conclusion that the students had just run out of steam. They prepared their equipment, then climbed aboard their Suzuki and headed into the city.

When the two journalists drove downtown they discovered that the military had been active through the night, preparing for the one million Mufti Muharam followers to descend upon the city. The roads leading to Merdeka Square had all been barricaded, as were other protocol streets around the capital. Armored personnel carriers and tanks stood ominously at most major intersections, while twenty-five thousand crack troops prepared for the

onslaught. Windows and doors were locked, traffic was near non-existent, hotel guests remained inside and, as Mary Jo clung to the motorbike speeding along the deserted streets, she had difficulty believing that this was a city of more than ten million inhabitants. Where had they all gone?

Anne steered the bike into the Hotel Indonesia grounds and parked in a 'keep clear' zone. Ignoring the security guard's glare, they entered the hotel and went directly to the top floor of the southern wing, the aerial view confirming their suspicions that the demonstration had been called off. Abdul Muis had let the students down and, in so doing, had squandered his own credibility. Had he done a deal with the new President?

The women returned to the villa. Mary Jo filed her story with New York highlighting the morning's surprising non-attendance by the Mufti Muharam millions. Her article provided an overview of the week's incredible events, depicting a nation slipping dangerously towards total anarchy. As families continued to search through smoldering buildings for missing relatives, others waited tearfully for their children to return, unaware that many of these had been kidnapped and murdered by the Kopassus, Special forces, their bodies buried where they would never be detected.

Her story would reveal, that in the nine days following the student shootings, more than twelve hundred people had been killed, with several thousands more seriously injured. Mary Jo expected the number to grow as reports from outlying provinces continued to flow into the capital. The damage to property had yet to be calculated, but she knew that more than a thousand shops and major centers had been destroyed, including many of the McDonald's and other high-profile food chain stores. Eight hundred movie theaters had closed, more than a quarter of these having been damaged in fires which had been lit during matinee sessions when those inside had been predominantly children. The number of churches severely damaged or destroyed reached three hundred, the minority Christian population now refusing to gather for prayers outside the relative safety of their homes.

Life, for the city's inhabitants was one of angst and fear, with most of the expatriate population having already fled, or camped at the airport, waiting, hopefully, to be repatriated. The airport remained impossibly crowded as ethnic Chinese fought for seats, fearful of the continuing racial violence which had already accounted for many of their number. Commerce had ground to a halt; banks remained closed as the Rupiah danced through previously considered impossible levels, and government utilities failed, sending the cities sliding further into darkness.

Hababli's fledgling government appeared not to have the people's confidence, and the list of major international firms announcing their withdrawal from Indonesia, grew by the hour. Calm had not been restored to many provincial capitals as separatists took advantage of the country's politically confused state, pushing the archipelago dangerously close to full civil war. Food prices spiraled, placing basic commodities out of reach for millions living in rural areas, further exacerbating the volatile conditions.

Mary Jo had mentioned Haji Abdul Muis in her submission, attaching the photograph she had taken during Suhapto's hand-over ceremony. She inferred that the Moslem leader's failure to support the students suggested a changing agenda, and perhaps even a developing alliance between those who perceived themselves heirs to the nation's leadership. Mary Jo implied also that now the way had been paved for new elections to be held, elections which would provide the opportunity for previously prohibited parties to re-emerge, the world could expect to see Indonesia's Moslem parties consolidate their positions in any future government.

Having filed her story and received acknowledgment from New York, Mary Jo discovered that her larder was empty, concerned that there would not be any food left on supermarket shelves for them to buy, she phoned around, but most of her acquaintances had deserted the capital and, as news was breaking elsewhere, it appeared that many of her media friends had taken to the road in search of new material. Deeply disappointed that she still had not heard anything from Hamish McLoughlin, she asked Anne to take her down to the Sahid Jaya Hotel where they ate in silence, together.

That night, as she lay awake alone with her thoughts, Mary Jo experienced a wave of loneliness she had not felt since her affair with Eric Fieldmann had ended. She accepted that her professional choices had often prevented her casual relationships from developing into anything really meaningful, but she admitted that Hamish's sudden, and unexplained departure had, in fact, cut her to the core.

* * * *

Lieutenant General Praboyo

A short distance from where his President cum father-in-law had stunned the nation with his resignation less than thirty-six hours before, General Praboyo stood arrogantly in front of the television sneering as the Armed Forces Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Winarko, again warned the

nation that the military had assumed the role of guardian to the outgoing President and his family. Praboyo, Commander of the Strategic Army Forces, realized that this would not apply to him, and that he had but hours to consolidate his precarious position. Changing into battle-dress, he checked his sidearm and hastened outside to where his Kostrad troops waited in silence.

Launching himself cockily into the armored Jeep, Praboyo crossed his arms and nodded at the driver to proceed to the Palace, where he would demand that L.B. Hababli place him at the head of the country's armed forces, a promotion he believed he not only deserved, but one which had been guaranteed by the former President. Convinced, that with the backing of Kopassus and his Kostrad infantry divisions and airborne brigade, the thirty-thousand-strong force could easily assume control over the capital, and would do so should the new President renege on his appointment. He was deeply troubled that the Mufti Muharam might now reconsider their agreement and distance themselves from him. His intelligence had informed Praboyo that Abdul Muis had been observed in discussions with both Winarko and the new President. He knew he had to move quickly and shore up his power-base before this happened.

Driven by his deep resentment towards Winarko, Praboyo's hand remained close to the weapon at his side as he ordered his troops to follow, determined to use whatever force was necessary to reclaim what he believed to be his rightful place.

****

The New President

President L.B. Hababli's head was still swimming at the speed of events which had placed him at the helm of the strife-torn republic. The transition from scorned Cabinet minister to Vice President, and then to the exalted position he now enjoyed, had transpired in less than ten weeks.

Never in his wildest dreams had the former engineer ever imagined that he would be elevated to this position, recognizing that he was greatly indebted to the Bapak, and General Winarko, for their faith, and trust. Being of non Javanese extraction, and having no military background whatsoever, he had beaten the pundits; he would be the third of five kings, fulfilling the twelfth-century prophecies of Joyoboyo.

Hababli realized that his tenure might be brief if he failed to win the immediate support of students, ABRI, and the international monetary

authorities. Should he succeed, he could claim the Presidency in his own right, and retain the leadership well into the new millennium. The conundrum was how to strike a balance between the vested interest groups he now represented, and those which waited impatiently for their share of the spoils.

He would need to display leadership skills expected of a President, while accommodating those responsible for keeping him in power. Contemplating his dilemma, Hababli removed the black, over-sized pici from his head and nervously scratched the balding scalp underneath, wishing he could phone his mentor, the Bapak, and seek his advice. But he knew this would be dangerous, and must endeavor to be seen as his own man.

The ugly mood which had brought him to power continued to threaten national security and he was painfully aware that his real relationship with the former President must remain concealed, or become subject to the peoples' wrath. He must appear to distance himself from Suhapto and his avaricious children, and accept that his own house required attention as well if he was to succeed.

His own family controlled close to one hundred companies. He thought he'd been clever in the past, disguising ownership of the shipping yards, hotels, factories and other investments through nominees. Yes, he had acquired considerable wealth, but believed his significant contribution to the economy over the past twenty years justified this accumulation of assets. Hababli estimated that the value of his extensive holdings was in excess of two hundred million dollars, and expected this to grow rapidly once the Indonesian economy recovered.

His thoughts turned to the more serious of his immediate problems, and how he might convince Abdul Muis to mobilize his followers in support of his Presidency.The chilling prospect of more than a million Mufti Muharam Moslems turning against him was of grave concern. Hababli feared any such demonstration would provide the catalyst his opponents desired, that the military would be capable of controlling such large numbers.

He had been disappointed with the students' reaction to his appointment. Subsequent to their initial jubilation upon hearing of Suhapto's resignation, the youngsters had turned their attention towards him. Placards and effigies depicting him as the former leader's stooge appeared, and he was livid that these had been screened on national television.

Deep in thought, the newly appointed President did not hear the heated exchange taking place outside, and was startled when an aide burst into his office, dragging him back from his deliberations.

'What is it?' he asked, his concern rising when he noticed the flurry of activity through the open doorway. Soldiers were running across the highly-polished, white marble floors with their weapons raised.

'It's General Praboyo!' the white-faced colonel answered, his voice reflecting his own surprise.

'Praboyo? Here?' Hababli's concern turning to fear. Had he already heard?

'Yes, sir. He insists on meeting you.' The colonel waited for a response, but Hababli appeared deathly still, his mind racing as he worried what the unpredictable Praboyo might do. The President knew that the general would be furious with him, his eyes darted around the room wondering if he could escape.