For Our Unity

Chapter III: Exploding Ground

"...Corruption? Yeah, I know it's still troublesome shit here including in the apparatus, judiciary, and the parliament, but the stamping out and prevention effort of it also much more extensive and much more successful than the past. Hell, the method even outraged some human rights defenders busybodies for example. Transparency by gun barrels, collective punishment, and whips, they say, with all credits for other work they've done."

We referred to how the president was more than popular thanks to the often decried policy of pauperization of corrupt, terror-supporting, and any other disgraced government official's family to the point that some of them were forced to live on cheap apartments, while the more unlucky ones were reduced to hand to mouth existence.

Lee Kuan Yew will surely blush on one of his emulators, while detractors had openly said that we are now under a minority tyranny.

Other punishment also involved permanent revocation of their right to work for the government including to vote and be voted to public office until fourth generation.

With those so called NGOs had lost their teeth due to civil war in their main backer, European countries, our reform was terribly effective, I dare to say.

On the other hand, the popularity itself was offset by the sometimes unpopular reformation of land tenure as well as social security that left some groups seething.

The said policy of collective punishment had also targeted extra-parliamentary activists in the left-wing side down to disgraced national athletes especially with bad attitude or other scandalous events, especially if he or she was caught using banned substances.

I remembered when Pelita Harapan U Eagles' varsity team was permanently scarred when one of it's brightest, Joseph Huangjaya, a basketball player for national team was caught using such stuff and was sent straight home from Asian Basketball Championship.

Upon arriving in Indonesia, he was quickly arraigned into custody, given notice of expulsion from our campus which permanently landed him to the black-list of athletes which came with many handicaps. For example, you and your family cannot vote and be voted to political office, and finally, he was disowned from the family and condemned to be a vagrant.

Increased suicides by the former officials, divorces, juvenile delinquency and crime including in cyberspace, drug and alcohol abuse, and many more.

"This might trigger our Muslim friend but the truth must be told, Corporal. I think this actually related to their ideology, this rottenness, and penchant for violence are embedded in their system and sorry to say, it might already beyond repair, without a wish to hate most of our countrymen..."

"Don't forget, those who commit 1998 riots were affiliated with political Islam which back in early to mid-1990s Eyang (Grandpa) Harto used them as a tool to retain his power after his relationship with the army were soured. Yes in our case those people are mostly opportunists but examining the truth to their ideology isn't an invalid option, either. On the other hand, those so called Islamists inside the Parliament did a good service by joining the nationwide condemnation of this foreign manufactured crisis."

"...Real news from Europe I have seen in the net and what the sergeant told us... The usual defense like all religions are good is no longer valid by the Europeans... terrible things..." 

"Those who thought that they have control turned out to have none in the end. The Chinese got their own crisis, but so the West..."

"Yeah, that's their own affairs, while it affected us too. private."

"Also... about the commies, I never expected that they are as fierce, Corporal. Their propaganda was strong during and after the new constitution was passed, it's clear that their outrage over the past five years was a real thing; not just hot air. In addition, they opposed the start of the transition to Federalism, something that honestly I never expected as an idea for this land, until now."

"Speaking of our New Transition Course for Federalism, private... what if I told you that some people who want to accelerate it are behind those rebels?"

"Who knows. Those want to force things like carbides used to accelerate ripening had shot themselves in the foot, I dare to say."

"Other than the accelerationists, private, it's clear that for many reason, a lot of people have ax to grind against our new course."

"And so be it, Corporal" just in time as a voice on the horizon was clearly heard by the two of us.

"Hijau!" (Green) 

We answered "Api" (Fire). The signal means that a friendly unit or individual wants to enter our camp especially for passing important intelligence to the nearest army unit. William pressed a button on his radio to summon the commander. A band of four HANRA fighters all armed with CZ-805 assault rifles head inside the camp and greeted by Major Wambe.

We cannot hear clearly what they said, because they met with him behind an armored vehicle. But it definitely a piece of important information pertaining to the enemy situation. Then an update came from the outer perimeter; a group of local militias and regular army outside the wire had captured three suspected NII spy/infiltrators. But thankfully, rest of our guard duty went without any significant event with intermittent sleep, and when time struck 4, came the Reveille.

It's time to fight again.

Notes:

(1) Satyalencana Pertempuran = fictional decoration. Equivalent with the Combat Action Medal (US Navy, US Coast Guard, US Air Force), and Combat Action/Infantryman Badge (US Army) in terms of eligibility which is "active engagement in combat with the enemy".

(2) Satyalencana Bhakti = Equivalent with the Purple Heart in the US Military "wounded or killed in action as the result of the direct enemy action". Source (note in this official government source it only mentioned wounded but I think in case of KIA this decoration will be awarded too): http://www.setneg.go.id/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5297

(3) Michibiki = Japanese satellite navigation system

Military Vehicles mentioned:

1. Black Tiger (Harimau Hitam) tank or Kaplan MMWT (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_Medium_Weight_Tank)

2. Kobra armored fighting vehicle (in this story, a license manufactured General Dynamics Pandur II)