Gusmão, Xanana
(b. 1946), East Timorese resistance leader. As the leader of the struggle for independence, Xanana Gusmão became the most important resistance figure of East Timor. Born on 20 June 1946 in Laleia, East Timor, José Alexandre "Xanana" Gusmão was educated at a Jesuit seminary and worked in the civil service. In 1974, he joined the Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor (Fretelin) and became its leader in 1978. After years of violent struggle, he was elected commander of Fretelin armed forces (Falintil).
Believing that the fight for independence transcended political loyalties, Xanana developed a policy to unite various pro-independence groups and became the charismatic leader of the national Timorese resistance against Indonesian occupation. In 1992, he was captured by the Indonesian armed forces and imprisoned in Jakarta.
Despite imprisonment, Xanana remained the leader of Timorese resistance. A historic visit by NelsonMandela in 1997 raised international awareness of the deteriorating situation in East Timor. In 1999, Xanana was transferred from prison to house arrest but was not allowed to participate in the pro-independence campaign during the process of the U.N.-organized consultation on the future of East Timor. As the president of the National Council of Timorese Resistance (CNRT), he returned to his home country in 1999 and is seen by many observers as the person most likely to lead an independent East Timor.
Xanana Gusmão arrives at a ceremony formalizing his release on 7 September 1999. (REUTERS NEWMEDIA INC./CORBIS)Further Reading
Dunn, James S. (1996) Timor: A People Betrayed. Sydney: ABC.
Kingsbury, Damien, ed. (2000) Guns and Ballot Boxes. Clayton, Australia: Monash Asia Institute.
Niner, Sarah, ed. (2000). To Resist Is to Win: The Autobiography of Xanana Gusmão with Selected Letters and Speeches. Melbourne, Australia: Aurora/David Lovell.
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