Mari Alkatiri

Mari bim Amude Alkatiri (26 November 1949) was the first Prime Minister of East Timor since its independence from Indonesia in 2002 until 2006 and again from 2017 to 2018.

It was part of the Government of Timor Leste since before its unilateral declaration of independence in 1975.

On December 7, 1975, he was flying, together with the majority of the government, towards Lisbon, when the Indonesian army invaded Timor Leste with blood and fire. They landed without knowing the news, nor the situation. He was informed by the RTVE journalist, Alfonso Diez, who was waiting for him at the foot of the stairs to receive him. Mari Alkatiri had to be the one to deliver the first terrible news of the invasion to his fellow government officials.

Before entering politics, he was a surveyor.

He lived in exile in Angola and Mozambique during the Indonesian occupation of the country. Shortly after, he decided to clandestinely return to his land and lead the resistance against the army of the Indonesian dictator, Suharto.

He remained in office until his resignation, on June 26, 2006, as a result of the crisis established in the country with frequent episodes of street violence, before which a delegation of the Australian army had to intervene.