Rudyard Kipling"
“When you're left wounded on Afganistan's plains and
the women come out to cut up what remains, Just roll to your rifle
and blow out your brains,
And go to your God like a soldier”
General Douglas MacArthur"
“We are not retreating. We are advancing in another direction.”
“It is fatal to enter any war without the will to win it.” “Old soldiers never die; they just fade away.
“The soldier, above all other people, prays for peace, for he must suffer and be the deepest wounds and scars of war.”
“May God have mercy upon my enemies, because I won't .” “The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his.
“Nobody ever defended, there is only attack and attack and attack some more.
“It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.
The Soldier stood and faced God
Which must always come to pass
He hoped his shoes were shining
Just as bright as his brass
"Step forward you Soldier,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To My Church have you been true?"
"No, Lord, I guess I ain't
Because those of us who carry guns
Can't always be a saint."
I've had to work on Sundays
And at times my talk was tough,
And sometimes I've been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.
But, I never took a penny
That wasn't mine to keep.
Though I worked a lot of overtime
When the bills got just too steep,
The Soldier squared his shoulders and said
And I never passed a cry for help
Though at times I shook with fear,
And sometimes, God forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.
I know I don't deserve a place
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around
Except to calm their fears.
If you've a place for me here,
Lord, It needn't be so grand,
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't, I'll understand."
There was silence all around the throne
Where the saints had often trod
As the Soldier waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.
"Step forward now, you Soldier,
You've borne your burden well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in Hell."
Surrender of Terrorist Commander Ubong By James Ritchie
Tuesday, January 03, 2023
We have all heard of the unrepentant Skrang rebel Rentap, but few know the story of Sarawak’s Ubong anak Nuing.
Like Rentap, Ubong relied on ancestral talisman and “Pengaroh” charms to survive the 27-year long Sarawak insurgency.
His story is about two childhood friends--one a Chinese policeman and the other an Iban rebel because their ideologies differed.
Ubong’s counterpart was Sarawak’s top Special Branch (SB) officer Dato Lawrence Lim Eng Liong of Kanowit.
In 1957 Lawrence who went to an English school, joined the Constabulary while Ubong and his family had their education in a Chinese school.
Lawrence received his training in counter-insurgency warfare with the MI5 and MI6 in London while his counterpart, the communists from the North Kalimantan Communist Party (NKCP) which was formed in 1965.
In 1977 Ubong was appointed leader of the newly-formed “Party Rentap”, named after his legendary 19th century mentor.
In the midst of one battle, Ubong’s wife Burai anak Gambai and one of his daughters who took up arms, were killed.
By the early 1980s, Ubong was the sole Iban terrorist as with a band of 77 young and idealistic Chinese communist continued with their struggle in Kapit jungle.
After years of living in the jungle, out-numbered by the government forces and constantly on the run, Ubong agreed to surrender.
On December 24, 1985, Lawrence’s group of five SB officers including Supt Frederick Rengga and three hand-picked corporals Eugene Jampi, Wilson Mergie and Ngindang prepared for the very important mission.
Lawrence in his memoir said it was a mission cloaked in secrecy and fraught with danger because the five policemen to travel into remote jungle location for a rendezvous with the Ubong’s group of 30 armed terrorists.
