sat thoughtfully before responding. ‘She’s been a good friend. To all of us.’ Bennie’s daughter Alice immediately came to mind.
* * * *
Although Bennie’s concerns for his daughter and only child, Alice, had been alleviated by taking the necessary steps to disguise their relationship very early in life, her safety remained paramount in his mind. As Natan Tabuni and his wife had fostered Bennie, he had assumed their surname prior to leaving for Jayapura to commence schooling. Upon graduation he married Natan’s niece, and was gifted a daughter from that union.
About that time, although a peripheral participant, Bennie had already been identified, along with Natan’s son Markus, for this political activism, their names listed in the Indonesian State’s BIN secret dossiers as agitators, and placed under constant surveillance. During a flag-raising rally which Bennie had been unable to attend, both Natan and Bennie’s wife were amongst the many killed, when BRIMOB elements opened fire on the crowd.
Marcus had been arrested, charged and incarcerated at the infamous Wamena Prison under the provision that outlawed “makar”, or rebellion. Markus challenged the charge, one often used against persons arrested for their alleged participation in, or support for, separatism. His lawyer explained that the crime of makar was listed in Indonesia’s criminal code in a section entitled “Crimes Against the Security of the State” (Kejahatan Terhadap Keamanan Negara) which should not have been applied, particularly as the articles authorise prison terms up to twenty years for the such offences.
The appeal failed.
Sentenced to fifteen years and after serving five of these, Marcus’ assisted escape by boat to Darwin placed him out of Indonesian reach. However, his status in Australia continued to be precarious having not been granted asylum out of political concerns, that such acceptance would jeopardise Canberra-Jakarta relationships.
An accumulation of these events had become the catalyst for Bennie’s commitment to actively support the independence movement, then joining a group involved in armed insurgency, bringing his life and those associated, into extreme danger.
Jules’ wife was incapable of bearing children and, as Alice was but an infant, Jules and Bennie decided to conceal her true parentage. She was given Jules’ family name, Heynneman and Bennie then deliberately distanced himself as her father, passing the role to Jules and his wife, to raise Alice as their own daughter.
Bennie accepted this was but one of the many sacrifices required to ensure her safety. Though saddened that Alice had been deprived of a natural, father-daughter relationship he was relieved that she had not expressed any sense of abandonment as he had sometimes experienced, when the revelation of heritage had finally been explained. The decision to unveil their secret when Alice reached maturity had carried deep reservations. Bennie had prayed that in doing so she would understand the dangerous impediment her father’s name could bring. Bennie’s fears assuaged when Alice had tearfully accepted the rationale and undertaken to maintain the status quo.
The frequency of their contact remained constrained. However, Bennie had never failed to ensure his daughter’s future would not be disadvantaged by the distant relationship. Through Jules he had orchestrated for Alice’s education overseas, grateful for the role that Anne Whitehead had played in achieving this outcome.
Anne had been instrumental in having Alice employed when she graduated from the University of Sydney under the reinstituted Colombo Plan. Graduates who had enjoyed full funding under this programme were obliged to return to their country of origin, and work for a minimum of three years. Encouraged to seek a position with the Akumuga Mine, Alice was now engaged as an on-site systems engineer on the West Papuan site.
Bennie stood and stretched. ‘Anything else we need to discuss as I could really do with a few hours’ sleep?’
Jules rose, slowly rotated his head, until a distinctive “crack” emanated from his neck. ‘Only what the final figure will be to satisfy those usurious customs officials in Belgium.’
Bennie opened his briefcase and locked the documents inside. ‘Guess we’ll find out soon enough.’
* * * *
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