Alfredo Reinado

Alfredo was a soldier in Timor-Leste. He worked for the navy and the police. He also went to school for training.

One day, Alfredo left his job. He joined a group of other soldiers. They went to live in the hills. This caused big problems in the land.

Alfredo was put in jail for a time. He escaped from the jail with many others. He then hid in the mountains.

Leaders tried to talk to him. They wanted to find a peaceful way. But the fighting did not stop.

Many sad things happened during the fights. Alfredo died in 2008. People held a funeral for him in the city.

Alfredo Reinado was a major in the military of Timor-Leste. He was a leader in the navy and the police. He went to many training schools in Australia and Brazil.

In 2006, Alfredo left his job. He joined a group of 600 former soldiers. They went to live in the hills. This caused a big crisis in the country. Alfredo said he left because of unfair actions by the government.

Later, Alfredo was put in jail. He escaped from the jail in August 2006. He broke down walls with 57 other people. He then hid in the mountains. Australian soldiers searched for him for a long time.

Leaders tried to talk to him to find peace. Some soldiers tried to make a deal. But the fighting continued. In 2008, Alfredo died during attacks on the leaders of the country. Many people went to his funeral in the city of Dili. After he died, a new leader took his place.

Alfredo Reinado was a major in the military of Timor-Leste. He was a key figure during a very difficult time in his country. His life was full of big changes and hard choices. He started his career as a young man in 1975. During an invasion, he was captured by the Indonesian military. He worked as a porter in places called Sulawesi and Kalimantan. Later, he escaped to Australia in a small, leaky boat. He was one of 18 refugees who made that journey in 1995.

After Timor-Leste became independent, Reinado returned to his home. He worked as a tugboat captain for a company called Rooney's Shipping. The government then asked him to join the new military. He became the commander of the Naval Unit. He led two patrol boats that were given to the country by Portugal. Reinado also went to many training schools to learn more. He studied in Australia, Brazil, and Portugal. He learned about things like emergency management and defense.

In May 2006, a major crisis began in Timor-Leste. Reinado left his military job to join a group of rebels. There were about 600 former soldiers in this group. They were unhappy about how people were being promoted. Reinado and 20 of his men even took two trucks of weapons. They moved into the hills to fight. Reinado said he left because of unfair actions by the government leaders. He wanted an investigation into how the police treated people in the streets of Dili.

Things became very complicated for Reinado during this conflict. He was arrested in Dili in July 2006. He was charged with having weapons without permission. On August 30, 2006, he escaped from the main jail in Dili. He was one of at least 57 people who broke through walls to get out. After his escape, he hid in the mountains near Maubisse. Australian soldiers helped search for him for many months. Leaders tried to talk with him to find a peaceful way to end the fighting.

Even though people tried to talk, the trouble did not end quickly. Reinado was often on the run from the government. In February 2008, he was involved in attacks on the country's leaders. These leaders were Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão and President Ramos-Horta. Reinado died during these attacks on February 11, 2008. Hundreds of people went to his funeral in Dili on February 14. After he was gone, a man named Gastão Salsinha became the new leader of the group.

Alfredo Reinado was a major in the Timor-Leste Defence Force (F-FDTL). He became a central figure during the 2006 East Timor crisis. This period was a time of great instability for the nation. Reinado was a high-ranking military officer who eventually became a rebel leader. His life involved many transitions between being a soldier, a refugee, and a fugitive. His actions helped shape the political landscape of Timor-Leste during a very difficult era.

Reinado's early life was defined by the conflicts in his home region. In 1975, the Indonesian National Military (TNI) invaded East Timor. During this invasion, Reinado was captured by the TNI. He served as a porter in Sulawesi and Kalimantan for the Indonesian military. In 1995, he escaped to Australia in a leaky boat. He was one of 18 Timorese refugees who made that dangerous journey. While in Australia, he was held at the Curtin Immigration Detention Centre in Western Australia. He later worked in shipyards before returning home after Timor-Leste gained independence.

Upon his return, Reinado held several important roles. He first worked as a tugboat captain for Rooney's Shipping. Later, the Timorese government asked him to join the military. He was appointed commander of the Naval Unit. This unit operated two patrol vessels donated by the Portuguese Navy. Reinado received extensive international training to prepare for his duties. He studied defense management and emergency management in Australia. He also received military training from both Portugal and Brazil.

His military career faced several setbacks before the 2006 crisis. In July 2004, he was removed from his command after a fight with the police. He was later reassigned to the military police. This was considered a downgrading of his position. He was put in charge of a platoon consisting of 33 troops. Tensions grew between Reinado and his commanding officers. These personal and professional conflicts likely contributed to his decision to desert his post.

On May 4, 2006, Reinado deserted his barracks. He took 20 members of his platoon and four riot police with him. They also took two trucks filled with weapons and ammunition. Reinado joined approximately 600 former soldiers who had been dismissed in March 2006. These soldiers were protesting regional discrimination in military promotions. Reinado stated he was also motivated by an incident on April 28. During that event, F-FDTL forces fired into a crowd of demonstrators in Dili. Reinado called for an investigation into these actions.

The rebellion led to significant violence in the capital city of Dili. Rebel groups launched major assaults that nearly cut the town in half. They seized the Telecom transmission tower near President Xanana Gusmão's house. Fighting also closed several major streets, such as Dos Direitos Humanos Avenue. Reinado was eventually arrested in Dili on July 26, 2006. He faced charges for illegal weapons possession and later for murder. On August 30, 2006, Reinado escaped from Dili's main jail. He was one of at least 57 inmates who broke through walls to flee.

Following his escape, a large manhunt began in the mountains. Reinado established a support base in Maubisse. Australian Special Forces and other international troops searched for him. There were attempts to negotiate a pardon through various meetings. However, negotiations often failed, and the government eventually ordered security forces to use force. In February 2007, a battle occurred in the town of Same. Reinado evaded capture during this assault, but five of his men were killed. He remained a fugitive and a threat to national stability for several years.

The life of Alfredo Reinado ended during a violent political event. On February 11, 2008, coordinated attacks were launched against President Ramos-Horta and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão. Reinado was killed during these attacks. An autopsy report described his death as a homicide resulting from multiple gunshot wounds. His funeral in Dili was attended by hundreds of people. After his death, Lieutenant Gastão Salsinha took over the leadership of the rebel group. His story remains a significant part of Timor-Leste's modern history.