Xanana Gusmão

José Alexandre Gusmão was born on the 20th of June, 1946 in the town of Manatuto on the island of Timor. Four years of his life were spent at the Jesuit seminary in Dare, in the hills overlooking Dili (now the capital of East Timor). He also attended Dili High School. As Portugal were still the colonial rulers of Timor, Gusmão served for three years in the colonial Portuguese forces. He also worked in colonial administration. In 1975 Portugal relinquished control of Timor, and the Timorese people declared their independence. Soon after the Indonesian military invaded the tiny island, ultimately killing more than 200,000 Timorese. After initially fleeing the invasion, Gusmão took up the leadership of the East Timorese resistance (Fretilin) in 1979. He soon gained a legendary reputation as a soldier and commander. In the years that followed he became highly respected by his people and international observers, as well as feared and despised by the Indonesians. In 1992 Gusmão was arreste