Xanana Gusmão

Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, born José Alexandre Gusmão (June 20, 1946) is a Timorese politician. He was President of the Southeast Asian country of East Timor from its independence in 2002 until 2007. On August 8, 2007, President José Ramos-Horta appointed him Prime Minister, a position he held until February 16, 2015.

Biography

Early years and career

Gusmão was born in Manatuto, when the country was under Portuguese rule, to parents of mixed Portuguese-Timorian descent, who were both schoolteachers. He studied at a Jesuit college on the outskirts of Dili. After leaving school at the age of sixteen (for financial reasons), he held a variety of unskilled jobs, until he continued his education at university. In 1965, at the age of 19, he met Emilia Batista, who would later become his wife.

In 1966 Gusmão obtained a position as a public employee that allowed him to continue his education. He resigned in 1968 when he was conscripted into the Portuguese Army for national service. He served for three years, rising to the rank of corporal. During that period he married Emilia Batista, with whom he had a son and a daughter, Eugenio and Zenilda. He later divorced her, who currently lives in Australia.

His nickname, "Xanana," was taken from the name of the American rock and roll band Sha Na Na, which in turn was named after a lyric in a 1957 doo-wop song by The Silhouettes.

In 1971, he had a radical change; Completing his military service, his son was born and he became involved with the nationalist organization headed by José Ramos-Horta. For the next three years he was involved in peaceful protests against the colonial system.

It was in 1974, that the Carnation Revolution in Portugal resulted in the decolonization of Portuguese Timor and then Governor Mário Lemos Pires announced plans to guarantee the Colony's independence. The plans contemplated holding general elections in view of independence in 1978.

Throughout most of 1975, bitter infighting raged between two rival factions in Portuguese Timor. Gusmão became deeply involved with the FRETILIN (Revolutionary Front of Independent Timor-Leste) faction, and was subsequently arrested and imprisoned by the rival UDT (Timorese Democratic Union) faction in mid-1975.

Taking advantage of the internal disorder, and aiming to absorb the colony, Indonesia immediately began a destabilization campaign, and frequent raids were organized into Portuguese Timor from Indonesian West Timor.

By the end of 1975, FRETILIN had gained control of Portuguese Timor and Gusmão was liberated. He obtained the position of Press Secretary of FRETILIN. On November 28, 1975, FRETILIN declared the independence of Portuguese Timor as the "Democratic Republic of East Timor" and Gusmão was responsible for filming the ceremony.

Nine days later Indonesia invaded East Timor. Gusmão was visiting friends on the outskirts of Dili at the time and watched the invasion from the hills. Over the next few days he searched for his family.

Indonesian occupation

After the formation of the "Interim Government of East Timor" by Indonesia, Gusmão became fully involved in resistance activities. Gusmão was responsible for the level of organization that the resistance took on and, therefore, took command of it. During the days that followed, Gusmão walked from town to town to gather support and recruits. In the mid-1980s he was a great leader.

During the early 1990s, Gusmão ventured into diplomacy and management of the media, and was instrumental in alerting the world to the massacre that occurred in Santa Cruz on November 12, 1991. Gusmão was interviewed by international media and caught the attention of the entire world.

With his high profile, Gusmão became a prime target of the Indonesian government. In 1992, there is a campaign to capture him. In May 1993, he was tried, jailed, and sentenced to life by the Indonesian government. He was denied the right to defend himself. It wasn't until late 1999 that he was released from prison. During this time he was visited by representatives of the United Nations and dignitaries such as Nelson Mandela.

Transition to independence

On August 30, 1999, a referendum was held in East Timor where a large majority voted for the region's independence. The Indonesian military began a campaign of terror that brought dire consequences. Despite the fact that the Indonesian government denied the order for this offensive, they were strongly condemned for failing to prevent action. As a result of international diplomatic pressure from the United Nations, and particularly from the United States and Australia, a largely Australian UN peacekeeping force entered East Timor and Gusmão was released. Since his return to Dili, he began a campaign of reconciliation and reconstruction.

Gusmão was appointed to rule alongside the UN administration until 2002. During this time he was continuing campaigns for unity and peace within East Timor, and was generally associated as a de facto leader. > in the new nation. The presidential elections at the end of 2001 elected him overwhelmingly as the country's leader. He thus became the first President of East Timor when it formally became independent on May 20, 2002.

Gusmão has published an autobiography with selected texts called To resist is to win. He is currently married to Kirsty Sword, an Australian he met in jail in Jakarta with whom he had a son, Alexandre.

In 1999, he was awarded the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, awarded by the European Parliament, and in 2000 the Sydney Peace Prize for his "Courage and Leadership for the Independence of the people from East Timor".

Predecessor: creation of the post (Nicolau dos Reis Lobato, government in exile) (Occupation of East Timor by Indonesia)	President of the Democratic Republic of East Timor 2002 - 2007	Successor: José Ramos-Horta
Predecessor: Estanislau da Silva	Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of East Timor 2007 - 2015	Successor: Rui Maria de Araújo