F O R K F I L M S P R E S E N T S
I N A S S O C I A T I O N W I T H T H E
A N A G E R M E I L L I E R F I L M
ALIAS RUBY BLADE
7 8
M I N .
( U S A / A U S T R A L I A )
PRESS & SCREENING CONTACT
TANYA AGER MEILLIER, PRODUCER
AGER MEILLIER FILMS INC.
265 CANAL STREET SUITE 213
NEW YORK, NY 10013 USA
+1 212 2261603
+1 917 6783423
studio@ager-meillier.com
http://www.aliasrubyblade.com
F I L M
C O M P A N Y
Kirsty is greeted with a traditional woven tais in Maliana, Timor-Leste
in a scene from Alias Ruby Blade
“It was the courage of the Timorese that inspired me to have courage. That is what
has driven me throughout my journey and that is what continues to inspire me
today.”
– Kirsty Sword Gusmão
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CONTENTS
SECTION 1: FILM INFORMATION
SYNOPSIS
DIRECTOR & PRODUCERS STATEMENT
PRESS
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SECTION 2: SUBJECT BIOGRAPHY
KIRSTY SWORD GUSMÃO
PRESS: THE WEEKLY REVIEW
PRESS: THE AGE
PRESS: THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
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SECTION 3: PERSONNEL BIOGRAPHIES
DIRECTOR ALEX MEILLIER
PRODUCER TANYA AGER MEILLIER
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER ABIGAIL DISNEY
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER GINI RETICKER
PRODUCER RICHARD KEDDIE
COMPOSER PAUL BRILL
CINEMATOGRAPHER SHANE SIGLER
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SECTION 4: CAST BIOGRAPHIES
XANANA GUSMÃO
JOSÈ RAMOS-HORTA
CONSTANCIO PINTO
NALDO REI
GEOFFREY ROBINSON
PAT WALSH
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SECTION 1: FILM INFORMATION
SYNOPSIS
ALIAS RUBY BLADE: a story of love and revolution
One courageous woman’s journey from undercover agent to First Lady and the untold
story of the birth of a new nation.
THE STORY
Alias Ruby Blade takes a never before seen
approach to the story of the Independence
of Timor-Leste by peering through the lens
of the experiences of Kirsty Sword Gusmão a distinguished human rights activist and
former First Lady of Timor-Leste. Once an
aspiring documentary filmmaker, Kirsty
instead became a revolutionary.
Filming her journey, not knowing what, if
anything, would ever become of the footage,
Kirsty a.k.a. Ruby Blade (video still)
Kirsty recorded key events in her life which
have become watershed moments in the
Independence struggle of the Timorese. Given unprecedented access, the producers
of Alias Ruby Blade have obtained this footage along with intimate interviews with
the key players in the resistance struggle. The result is a behind-the-scenes look in to
one of the most dramatic events of the 21st Century: the birth and formation of a new
nation in Timor-Leste after nearly 30 years of struggle.
In 1991 at the age of twenty-four, Kirsty joined an English film crew that traveled to
East Timor disguised as tourists with amateur video equipment. Their goal was to
document the conditions of the Indonesian occupation and defy the media blackout
that had gripped the territory since the Indonesian invasion in 1975.
But what was supposed to be an interesting socio-political documentary portrait
turned in to a watershed moment in the independence struggle when Indonesian
troops opened fire on the crowd. Hundreds of innocent protesters were massacred many of them teenagers. The broadcast of the resulting documentary, COLD BLOOD:
THE MASSACRE OF EAST TIMOR1, caused loud cries of condemnation around the
world and set in motion events that would radically alter the destiny of the Timorese.
For Kirsty, having personally known many of the victims, there was no turning back.
Moving to Jakarta, Kirsty immersed herself in the shadowy world of Indonesian prodemocracy activists and Timorese dissidents. She was recruited by the exiled foreign
minister José Ramos-Horta (Nobel Peace Prize laureate) to become a courier and
adopted the nom de guerre Ruby Blade. Her task was to shuttle correspondence in
The filmmakers have obtained the rushes from Cold Blood containing never before seen footage of
Kirsty and the crew during the making the film.
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SECTION 1: FILM INFORMATION
SYNOPSIS
and out of the notorious Cipinang Prison in Jakarta, where the enigmatic Timorese
resistance leader, Xanana Gusmão, was serving a life sentence for his revolutionary
activities.
Kirsty became a critical link - enabling Xanana to remain in control of the resistance.
Starting with notes smuggled out in the bottom of a shoe and then a video camera2,
a laptop computer, and finally a mobile phone, the communication between Kirsty
and Xanana became more intimate. Through correspondence, they fell in love. In
nearly eight years, they met in person only once.
When the Timorese voted overwhelmingly for
Independence in a historic referendum for
Independence, pro-Indonesian militias ran
amok throughout the entire territory burning,
looting and raping until over half of the
population became internally displaced
persons. When Kirsty and Xanana finally were
able to return to East Timor, they found a
country reduced to ashes. Kirsty herself filmed
the throngs of civilians, thousands strong,
cheering the triumphant return of their beloved
leader and yearning for a new beginning.
Alias Ruby Blade captures this incredible story
from Kirsty’s humble beginnings in Australia
through the ultimate triumph of the Timorese,
culminating with the swearing in of Xanana Gusmão as the nation’s first president.
The birth of their first son, Alexandre, in a free and independent East Timor became a
symbol of the birth of the nation.
Today, Kirsty remains a tireless advocate of the Timorese. In addition to travelling
abroad as Ambassador of Education, the head of her UNESCO chapter and to raise
funds for The Alola Foundation, which she founded to improve the health and welfare
of women and children in Timor-Leste, Kirsty is the mother of three small boys with
Xanana (now Prime Minister). Despite an assassination attempt on her husband in
2008 and ongoing threats, Kirsty continues to live in Dili and insists on driving her
boys to school herself each morning unaccompanied by security - to set an example.
A powerful testament to the human capacity for hope to overcome fear, Alias Ruby
Blade demonstrates that ordinary individuals, armed with little more than moral
courage, can solve seemingly intractable violent conflicts. They have, in fact, the
power to change the course of history.
The filmmakers have obtained footage of Xanana in prison and the intimate “video letters” between
Xanana and Kirsty.
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SECTION 1: FILM INFORMATION
SYNOPSIS
STYLE & APPROACH
Kirsty began filming the key events of her life on Hi-8 video tape from her first visit to
East Timor in 1990. Her archive also contains the video “letters” between her and
Xanana and tape from her time as an operative in Jakarta all the way up to her return
with Xanana to the country devastated by the 1999 violence. Much of this video
footage has never been seen before.
In addition to Kirsty’s hi-8 footage
composing the flashback sequences and
our HD footage of the present day, special
scenes have been shot on 16mm color
reversal film stock meant to portray the
story of Kirsty’s alter ego Ruby Blade.
These cinematic sequences are woven
seamlessly in to the arc in the story, shot
from angles designed never to reveal
Kirsty’s face, and to heighten the
suspense, all in frenetic close-ups. We see
glimpses of this footage starting from Kirsty’s first visit to East Timor in 1990 and this
film-within-a-film climaxes when Kirsty’s identity is revealed and she is forced to flee
the country for fear of the Indonesian Secret Police in 1996.
Kirsty herself is the primary narrator of Alias Ruby Blade. As her personal story
evolves throughout the film, other characters are introduced in meticulously
researched archival material and add their voices to the story, telling what they they
witnessed and experienced. Amongst a host of the key actors in the resistance
struggle both International and Timorese, the current President of Timor-Leste, Nobel
Laureate José Ramos-Horta appears in a surprisingly candid two-part interview.
Through their collective voices, we learn how the struggle for independence
transformed from an armed struggle into an international movement that used the
media, diplomacy, non-violent action and the language of human rights to fight for
Independence - a lesson that is more relevant than ever before in the world today.
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SECTION 1: FILM INFORMATION
FILMMAKER’S STATEMENT
FILMMAKERS STATEMENT
In 2005 we were stationed in TimorLeste as a documentary crew for the
United Nations and traveled widely
around the country. During that time
we interviewed former resistance
leaders, senior UN officials and scores
of ordinary Timorese. Coming back to
the United States, it was clearer to us
more than ever before how little is
understood about the birth of the
world’s newest nation in Timor-Leste.
Tanya Ager Meillier, Kirsty Sword Gusmão, Alex Meillier
We then came across the
autobiography of Kirsty Sword Gusmão, “A Woman of Independence”. Part love story,
part thriller, Kirsty’s story cuts through the heart of the events that led to the triumph
of democracy in Timor-Leste.
In her book she describes in several passages filming key moments. When we
reached out to her she informed us that she aspired to be a documentary filmmaker,
though she never knew what she would do with the footage, and that it was packed
in a box somewhere in her archive… We immediately hatched a plan to develop her
story in to a documentary film and booked our flights back to Dili.
When we first met with Kirsty in her office at the Alola Foundation in Dili to discuss
making Alias Ruby Blade, Kirsty quizzed us as to our motivation for wanting to tell her
story. We replied that the film would be inspirational to people around the world that
strive for a better future for their children. She told us that when people call her a
hero it makes her uncomfortable. Because after all, wouldn’t anyone do what she did
in the same circumstances?
We decided right there that our goal would be to make our audience ask themselves
exactly that question.
By elevating the profile of Kirsty and her work, and spotlighting the unprecedented
challenges still remaining in the peace building effort, we believe we can shine a light
on the courageous story of the Timorese and support them in their new struggle
against endemic poverty.
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Alex Meillier & Tanya Ager Meillier
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SECTION 1: FILM INFORMATION
PRESS
PRESS MENTIONS – ALIAS RUBY BLADE
LIFE MAGAZINE 20th May 2011
“Independence Restoration Day in Timor-Leste is marked today by a photo
gallery in Life Magazine profiling Kirsty Sword Gusmao, the former first lady of
the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, and a woman whose involvement in
the East Timorese resistance is the subject of an upcoming documentary,
Alias Ruby Blade.“
VARIETY 14th May 2012
“IFP Lab fills in documentary lab. Ten films have been tapped for the docu
branch of the program…including “Alias Ruby Blade” Alex Meillier’s look at the
former first lady of East Timor.”
INDIEWIRE 11th June 2012
“Tribeca Film Institute Awards 2012 Gucci Tribeca Documentary Grants to
eight new projects….The Spotlighting Women Awards highlights the courage
and strength of women around the world including….the role of one woman in
establishing Timor-Leste as an independent nation.”
QI GLOBAL 5th July 2012
“Alias Ruby Blade” Here’s a story of brave adventure, a nations struggle for
independence, espionage and falling in love with a rebel leader. Her
incredible story needs no dramatization or spicing up. It is now being made
into a film by director Alex Meillier.”
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SECTION 1: FILM INFORMATION
PRESS
IDFA DAILY November 19th
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SECTION 1: FILM INFORMATION
PRESS
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SECTION 2: SUBJECT BIOGRAPHY
KIRSTY SWORD GUSMÃO
KIRSTY SWORD GUSMÃO
Former First Lady of Timor-Leste (East
Timor), Kirsty Sword Gusmão is
President of the Timor-Leste National
Education Commission, President of the
UNESCO chapter of Timor-Leste, and
Founder and President of the Alola
Foundation, dedicated to improving the
livelihoods of women and children in
Timor-Leste.
Kirsty was born in Melbourne, Australia,
in 1966. She grew up in Melbourne and Bendigo and attended Melbourne University
where she completed a Bachelor of Arts (Honours), majoring in Indonesian and
Italian, and a Diploma of Education.
In 1991, after working as an Administrative Secretary with the Overseas Service
Bureau (Australian Volunteers International), she joined the Refugee Studies
Program at Oxford University as Assistant to the Development Coordinator.
In 1991, she travelled to East Timor as the Researcher/Interpreter the
groundbreaking Yorkshire Television documentary film “Cold Blood: The massacre of
East Timor” which exposed the reality of life in Dili amongst the Timorese resistance
and captured on tape the massacre of November 12, 1991 – an event which would
radically alter the destiny of the Timorese by exposing the atrocity of the Indonesian
occupation of East Timor the world.
From 1992 to 1996, she lived and worked as a teacher and human rights
campaigner in Jakarta, Indonesia. It was during these years that her work for the East
Timorese independence cause intensified and brought her into contact with the
independence leader, Xanana Gusmão, who was serving a life sentence in a Jakarta
jail and whom she married in July, 2000.
Kirsty was appointed by the President and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dr. José
Ramos-Horta as Goodwill Ambassador for Education in October 2007. This
appointment was in recognition of Kirsty’s tireless efforts to-date and to formalize
future endeavours in addressing the educational priorities of Timor-Leste.
Her husband, Xanana Gusmão has recently been re-elected Prime Minister. They
have three sons, Alexandre (11 years), Kay Olok (9 years) and Daniel (6 years).
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SECTION 2: SUBJECT BIOGRAPHY
KIRSTY SWORD GUSMÃO
ABOUT THE ALOLA FOUNDATION
Alola’s Programs have expanded rapidly
since it’s founding.
▪ The Education Program has been able
to provide scholarships for young people
of needy families, encouraging their
continuance of schooling. The
Friendships Schools Project links primary
and secondary schools in Australia with
schools in East Timor.
▪ The Maternal and Child Health program works to help contribute to a reduction in
the maternal and child mortality rates by promoting good health for women
and their communities. Throughout the crisis the MCH team has been very
active giving help to new mothers through the distribution of Maternity Packs
and through breast feeding promotion and education activities.
▪ The Women’s Resource Centre staff provides resources, information and referral
services to women and their families, particularly in the areas of domestic
violence, maternal and child health and accessing humanitarian assistance.
▪ The Economic Empowerment program has been fostering the handcrafts industry
and international marketing of traditional tais (weaving) and tais products.
Website: alolafoundation.org
A NOTE ABOUT OUTREACH
It is often difficult to measure the social impact of a documentary film. But in our
case, by shining a light on the remarkable journey of Kirsty Sword Gusmão, we can
elevate her profile as a distinguished humanitarian which will in turn aid her in her
important work boosting education and maternal health in Timor-Leste. This film will
also highlight the ongoing need for international support for the courageous people
of Timor-Leste in their new struggle to eradicate extreme poverty and to continue to
inspire the world as a beacon of hope for people everywhere struggling for freedom.
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SECTION 2: SUBJECT BIOGRAPHY
PRESS
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SECTION 2: SUBJECT BIOGRAPHY
PRESS
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SECTION 2: SUBJECT BIOGRAPHY
PRESS
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SECTION 3: PERSONNEL BIOGRAPHY
DIRECTOR ALEX MEILLIER
Director Alex Meillier
Alex Meillier's diverse range of crew credits
and experiences make him uniquely
positioned to realise the potential of Alias
Ruby Blade, which will become his feature
film directorial debut.
Along with his wife and artistic collaborator,
Tanya Ager Meillier, Alex was Producer and
Director of Photography for the film Obscene which premiered at the 2007 Toronto
International Film Festival. As a film editor his work can be seen in Michael Moore's
Capitalism: A Love Story and the ultra-indie documentary Beijing Punk, currently
making the festival rounds. Alex has directed numerous short films including the
acclaimed poetry-on-film project Whatever I Was Thinking Of, a collaboration with the
renowned spoken word poet Bob Holman.
In his work as a documentary filmmaker Alex has traveled extensively around
Southeast Asia. Working for the United Nations, Alex first came to East Timor in 2005
to shoot and report stories from the field for UNTV. Based in Banda Aceh, Indonesia
in 2006, Alex traveled throughout Sumatra for the United Nations Development
Programme chronicling the unprecedented international response to the Boxing Day
Tsunami, which devastated the region.
Alex's production company has taken on a diverse range of projects including
producing over fifty unique short films from around the world for The Action Center to
End World Hunger, an interactive exhibition in Lower Manhattan sponsored by Mercy
Corps and American Express, and producing and directing the video content for the
award winning website JFK50, dedicated to the legacy of U.S. President John F.
Kennedy and sponsored by the JFK Library and Foundation.
Alex is a graduate with honors of New York University Tisch School of the Arts.
Originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota he now resides in the historic Brooklyn, New
York neighborhood of Fort Greene where he enjoys reading Walt Whitman and
growing tomatoes on the terrace.
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SECTION 3: PERSONNEL BIOGRAPHY
PRODUCER TANYA AGER MEILLIER
Producer Tanya Ager Meillier
Tanya Ager Meillier was born in Manchester
U.K. of mixed Chinese and English descent.
Often in tow of her mum, she spent much of
her childhood traveling the world and
developed a lifelong passion for immersing
herself in foreign cultures. This curiosity
about the world grew organically into a
career as a documentary filmmaker.
With her husband Alex Meillier, Tanya produced and edited the film Obscene which
premiered at the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival where it was praised for its
vibrant editorial style in the publication “Variety” and elsewhere.
Also as an editor, her work can be seen recently on the Sundance Channel in
seasons 1 & 2 of the short film series Beginnings as well as in Michael Moore's latest
magnum opus Capitalism: A Love Story.
In addition to Obscene, Tanya produced over fifty unique short films for the Action
Center to End World Hunger - a unique interactive exhibit space in Lower Manhattan
commissioned by Mercy Corps and American Express. She was also post-production
supervisor for the films Which Way Home and Beijing Punk.
In 2005 Tanya traveled to East Timor to produce and edit the film Kbiit (Timorese for
"Courage") which chronicled the evolution of the UN Mission in East Timor and the
effort to build a democracy from the rubble that remained after the 1999 violence.
This experience left an indelible mark on Tanya and she has sought ever since to
advance the cause of the Timorese to the forefront of public discourse and to aid
them in their new struggle against endemic poverty.
She currently resides with her husband in Brooklyn, New York.
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SECTION 3: PERSONNEL BIOGRAPHY
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS
Executive Producer Abigail E. Disney
Abigail E. Disney is a filmmaker and
philanthropist. Her longtime passion for
women’s issues and peacebuilding
culminated in her first film, the acclaimed
Pray the Devil Back to Hell, about the
Liberian women who peacefully ended their
country’s fourteen-year civil war. She is
currently Executive Producer of the
groundbreaking PBS mini-series Women,
War & Peace, the most comprehensive global media initiative ever mounted on the
role of women in peace and conflict. Along with her husband, Pierre Hauser, Abigail co-founded the Daphne Foundation,
which works with low-income communities in the five boroughs of New York City. Her
work in philanthropy, women’s engagement and leadership, and conflict resolution
has been recognized through the Epic Award from the White House Project, the
Changing the Landscape for Women Award from the Center for the Advancement of
Women, and the prestigious International Advocate for Peace (IAP) Award from the
Cardozo Law School’s Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution. In addition, Abigail
holds degrees from Yale, Stanford, and Columbia. She lives in New York City with her
husband and four children. Executive Producer Gini Reticker
Gini Reticker is one of the world's leading documentary
filmmakers whose films explore untold and vital stories
about women’s issues, social justice and human rights.
Ms. Reticker was co-creator and executive producer of
the groundbreaking five-part special series for PBS,
Women, War & Peace (2011). Ms. Reticker also
directed the renowned documentary Pray the Devil Back
to Hell (2008), which told the story of 2011 Nobel
Peace Prize laureate Leymah Gbowee.
Ms. Reticker received a 2004 Academy Award® nomination for the short Asylum, and
also produced and directed the 2005 Emmy Award-winning Ladies First for the PBS
series Wide Angle.
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SECTION 4: PERSONNEL BIOGRAPHY
CREW BIOS
Producer Richard Keddie, The Film Company
(Melbourne, Australia)
Currently, Richard is in production on the musical
comedy GODDESS, staring Laura-Michelle Kelly,
Ronan Keating and Magda Szubanski to be
distributed by Village Roadshow and sold
internationally through Ealing Studios mid 2012.
Prior to this he has produced a string of successful
dramas and features including the telemovie
HAWKE (2010 featuring Richard Roxburgh – winner
3 AFI’s including Best Telemovie/Mini-Series) which
critics described as “the best Australian drama in a
decade”. LITTLE FISH (with Cate Blanchett, Sam
Neill & Hugo Weaving, winner 5 AFI’s & the IF Award for Highest Box Office 2005).
CURTIN (William McInnes and Noni Hazlehurst), which won the 2008 Logie for Best
Television Drama, and was nominated for the prestigious Rockie Award, at the Banff
TV Festival. MY BROTHER JACK (Jack Thompson & William McInnes), winner of an
Australian Film Institute (AFI) Award for Best TV Mini-Series. AFTER THE DELUGE
(Rachel Griffiths, Hugo Weaving and David Wenham) - winner of the AFI Award and
TV Week Logie for Best TV Mini-Series. And WAITING AT THE ROYAL - which won the
Rockie Award at Banff TV Festival for Best Telemovie. Richard also produced the
feature MATCHING JACK (directed by Nadia Tass, with James Nesbitt, Jacinda Barrett
and Richard Roxburgh), which won Best Film at the 2011 Milan Film Festival.
In his documentary work, as a writer-director, Richard was shortlisted as the IBM
Australian conservationist of the Year for the 8-part series ON BORROWED TIME for
which he was awarded the Landcare Media Award; and a Penguin (Aust TV Award) for
Best Documentary. Richard also directed FARMING A SUNBURNT COUNTRY, for the
National Climate Centre – which pioneered scientific discussion about climate and
our Australian environment, and he followed this up with the SBS TV documentary
CHINCHILLA DRY – a social commentary on farmers living in drought. His
documentary work has been nominated for Logies and AFI’s and he was awarded the
UN Media Peace Prize for his film RITE OF PASSAGE about young unemployed
people. His subjects have covered a broad range of material including John Brumby
(recent Victorian Premier); a family living with adult disability; women’s netball with
Magda Szubanski; and MUSIC SURFICA with Richard Tognetti from the Australian
Chamber Orchestra, which has won numerous awards around the world.
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SECTION 4: PERSONNEL BIOGRAPHY
CREW BIOS
Composer Paul Brill
Paul Brill's compositions for numerous award-winning films,
TV series, NPR program themes, and several acclaimed CDs
of original and innovative songwriting show that youthful
adventures as an herbal smokes salesman, street performer,
valet, corporate errand boy, and a marine biology instructor
can serve the creative spirit well.
Paul has received 3 Emmy Award nominations for his original
scores for the films, "The Devil Came on Horseback" (Break
Thru Films), "Full Battle Rattle" (National Geographic) and
"The Trials of Darryl Hunt" (HBO). Young American
Recordings recently released the Hunt soundtrack, curated by Brill, featuring
selections from his score and contributions by Andrew Bird, M. Ward, Dead Prez,
Califone, and Mark Kozelek among many others. Paul recently won the 2011
Best Music Award from the International Documentary Association for his score
for the film, "Better this World."
Brill recently scored the HBO film, "Burma Soldier," on which he collaborated with
Rock legends U2 - composing a new string arrangement for an acoustic version
of their classic hit, "Walk On." He scored the hit documentary, "Joan Rivers: A
Piece of Work" (IFC), as well as Christy Turlington Burns' directorial debut, "No
Woman, No Cry," on which he collaborated with songwriter Martha Wainwright,
and the film adaptation of the best-selling book, "Freakonomics" (Magnolia
Pictures).
Cinematographer Shane Sigler
Shane Sigler is an accomplished cinematographer
working in documentaries, feature films,
commercials, and music videos. In addition to
Alias Ruby Blade, his feature credits include
Michael Moore’s Capitalism: A Love Story, Bruce
Weber’s A Letter to True, Paul Morrissey’s News
From Nowhere, and HBO’s Lady Gaga film.
Commercial clients include Chanel, Ralph Lauren,
Christian Dior, Levi’s, UPS, IBM, Pringle of
Scotland, Johnson and Johnson, Abercrombie and Fitch, Tommy Hilfiger, Coach,
Calvin Klein, Bloomingdales, Planned Parenthood, and the New York Times. Shane’s
music video credits include Lady Gaga, Eliza Doolittle, and Lissy Trullie.
Alex Meillier (left) and Shane Sigler in Jakarta
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SECTION 5:
CAST BIOGRAPHIES
OTHER CAST
Xanana Gusmão
Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão was born on June 20, 1946 in Manatuto, East Timor. He
was raised in the country, with a brother and five sisters. His father was a
schoolteacher.
It was in 1974 that a coup in Portugal resulted in the decolonization for Portuguese
Timor. Gusmão became deeply involved with the political group FRETILIN. On 28
November 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. At the time Gusmão was
visiting friends outside of Dili and he witnessed the invasion from the hills.
Gusmão became heavily involved in resistance activities. He was largely responsible
for the level of organization that evolved in the resistance, which ultimately led to its
success. By the mid-1980s, he was a major leader. As a result of his high profile,
Gusmão became a prime target of the Indonesian government. A campaign for his
capture was finally successful in November 1992. In May 1993, Gusmão was tried,
convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment by the Indonesian government.
Although not released until late 1999, Gusmão successfully led the resistance from
within prison. On 30 August 1999, a referendum was held in East Timor and an
overwhelming majority voted for independence. Elections were held in late 2001 and
Gusmão and was elected leader. As a result he became the first President of East
Timor when it became formally independent on 20 May 2002.
Gusmão has been the recipient of many awards and prizes including:
1995: Honorary Citizen of Brasília, Brazil
1998: Order of Freedom, Portugal
1998: Honorary Citizen of São Paulo, Brazil
1999: European Parliament Sakharov Prize
2000: Order of Merit, New Zealand
2000: Honorary Citizen of Lisbon, Portugal (awarded the Gold Key of Lisbon City)
2000: Kwangju (South Korea) Peace Prize
2000: Sydney Peace Prize
2000: Medal of the Vice-Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil
2000: Honorary Doctorate, University of Oporto, Portugal
2002: Grande Colar da Ordem do Cruzeiro do Sul, Brazil
2002: UNESCO Félix Houphouët-Boigny Peace Prize
2003: International Herald Tribune “Leadership with Integrity” Award
2003: BusinessWeek "Stars of Asia" Award
2003: 2003 Path to Peace Award, Path to Peace Foundation
2003: Honorary Knighthood of the Grand Cross of the Order of St. Michael & St. George
2004: Honorary Law Doctorate Degree, Suncheon National University, Korea
2006: Grande Colar da Ordem de Dom Infante, Portugal
2006: Honorary Philosophy Doctorate Degree, University of Takushoku, Japan
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SECTION 5:
CAST BIOGRAPHIES
OTHER CAST
Josè Ramos-Horta
Josè was born in East Timor to a Timorese mother and Portuguese Father. He was a
founder and member of the Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor. In
1975 he was on his way to the United Nations in New York when Indonesia invaded
East Timor. From that time until the referendum he served as the exiled foreign
minister, roaming the world advocating support for the East Timorese quest for
independence. In 1996 he was the co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize for his
efforts to bring a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
Awards
2001 - Hollywood Film Festival Humanitarian Award
2000 - Gold Medal of the President of Italy
1999 - First Hague Peace Appeal Award
1998 - Gold Medal of the University of Coimbra
1998 -The Gran Cross of the Order of Freedom, President of Portugal
1997 - Medal of the University of San Francisco
1996 - Nobel Peace Prize, Oslo
1996 - First UNPO Freedom Prize, The Hague
1995 - International Peace Activist Award, Gleitsman Foundation, CA
1993 - Professor Thorof Rafto Human Rights Award, Bergen.
Constancio Pinto
Pinto was 8 years old when the Indonesians invaded. By the age of 11 he was hiding
in the mountains as a resistance fighter. He eventually relocated into Dili, the capital
and became a leader of the clandestine movement. As a result he became the
second most wanted man after Xanana by the Indonesian army. He was forced to
flee soon after the Santa Cruz massacre and came to the United States to continue
the struggle through diplomacy. He has served as the Ambassador to the United
States of America and is now Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. He was the author
of the book “East Timor’s Unfinished Struggle”.
Naldo Rei
At the age of 9 Naldo was captured and tortured by the Indonesian army and so
began his life as a resistance fighter. After fleeing for Jakarta, Naldo worked closely
with Kirsty before eventually seeking refuge in Australia. He is the author of the book
“Resistance: A Childhood fighting for East Timor”.
Geoffrey Robinson
Geoffrey is a historian and human rights activists currently serving as the head of the
history department at UCLA. He is the author of many books and monographs
covering conflicts in South East Asia. After serving as a political advisor to the United
Nations during the referendum he wrote a personal account of his experiences in the
book “If You Leave Us Here, We Will Die: How Genocide was Stopped in East Timor”.
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SECTION 5:
CAST BIOGRAPHIES
OTHER CAST
Pat Walsh
Pat was deeply involved in the efforts of the Timorese struggle and was editor of the
magazine “Inside Indonesia” which was highly critical of the Indonesian dictatorship
at the time. After the historic referendum and the ensuing chaos, Pat became the
senior advisor to CAVR and was instrumental in the publication of CHEGA!, the truth
seeking report of over 2500 pages which chronicles the human rights violations
committed during the occupation of Timor-Leste.
Awards
2009: The Insignia of the Order of Timor-Leste.
2011: The Order OF Australia for service to the International community.
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