Customer Reviews

The Asian Trilogy: Freedom Square, The Timor Man, Jakarta

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

An exciting, obviously thoroughly researched trilogy of books which not only carry the reader through the exciting periods commencing with the Years of Living Dangerously to the present but also provide a clever insight into the dangerous machinations of our own political leadership with respect to how we have treated emerging Asian powers. A great read!

In this trilogy, Kerry Collison captures 3 decades of Indonesian political upheaval from the standpoint of someone who has actually lived through most of what he writes about. When I first picked up Freedom Square I felt it must be strongly based on fact - after reading recently declassified State Department documents on the US role in Indonesia at that time, I find that the books are even more fact-based than I had thought. Before reading them, I knew almost nothing about Indonesia except that it sounded exotic. After reading them, I can't understand how I could have been satisfied with that level of ignorance for so many years.

Collison writes with authority about a subject he knows as well as anyone else in the world. The books are hard to put down, and I lost a LOT of sleep because I couldn't stop turning the pages. If you are interested in exotic locations in general or Indonesia in particular, you must read these books.

What an amazing collection of Asian-based stories, so real one would have to believe that there is more truth and fact in these books, than fiction. Kerry Collison provides us with a delightful insight into Asian protocols, and the murky depths of the shadowy world of spies and intrigue. I have learned a great deal from these three titles and look forward to reading the author's "The Fifth Season". Stephen Coleman

What a great way to learn about the Asian cutltures and business practices yet be entertained whilst doing so. I was captured from the outset, the author's style and obvious in depth knowledge of the people and the shadowy world of politics and spies. Kerry B. Collison rates up there with Michener, Forsythe and Wilbur Smith.

If you were posted or interested in Indonesia during this time the book in this part of Indonesia's history its worth the read. The characters are close to reality.

then purchase this book. Yes, he knows Indonesian politics from within, but he is now a mouthpiece for those who have murdered hundreds of thousands of East Timorese, Indonesians, and Acehnese civilians, namely the Indonesian Military, otherwise known as the TNI.
According to his publisher, Collison "spent almost three years in the (Australian) Embassy before resigning from the Airforce and then establishing his own business in Indonesia. This soon became successful due to his access to the Indonesian Military and his former association with the Australian Government. Kerry was sought after as a commercial representative and was appointed by more than twenty major international groups to oversee their interests in Indonesia. He became involved in such ventures as the supply of helicopters (Hughes) to the Indonesian government."

So he was a supplier of arms to a dictatorship whose murderous tendencies rivaled those of the Khmer Rouge! Should this author possibly be investigated for crimes against humanity? He wasn't simply on the sidelines, he also, according to his publisher, "was founding member of the Young President's (read "dictator's")organisation in Jakarta. Over a period of 18 years Kerry founded and co-founded more than twenty companies and joint ventures in Indonesia." Suharto has now been indicted for corruption having to do with the hundred's of millions of dollars he stole from the Indonesian government. Although he should be indicted by the Human Rights Court, this is indicative of the friends Mr Collison admires...
I would recommend Pramoedya Ananta Toer's Buru Quartet if you are interested in reading about Indonesian reality. Toer spent 14 years improsened by Mr Collison's buddies simply for writing novels! Then he won the Nobel prize for literature, something Mr Collison will never ever be able to accomplish, thank the good Lord!