Taur Matan Ruak
|
His Excellency Taur Matan Ruak |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| 3rd President of East Timor | |
|
Assumed office 20 May 2012 |
|
| Prime Minister |
Xanana Gusmão Rui Maria de Araújo |
| Preceded by | José Ramos-Horta |
| Succeeded by | Francisco Guterres (Elect) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
10 October 1956 Baguia, Portuguese Timor (now East Timor) |
| Political party | Independent |
| Spouse(s) | Isabel da Costa Ferreira |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |
 East Timor
|
| Years of service | 1975–2011 |
| Rank | Major General |
| Commands | Ponta Leste Sector Falintil Timor Leste Defence Force |
| Battles/wars | Indonesian occupation of East Timor |
José Maria Vasconcelos, popularly known by his nom de guerre Taur Matan Ruak (Tetum for "Two Sharp Eyes") (born 10 October 1956) is an East Timorese politician who has been President of East Timor since 20 May 2012. Before entering politics, he was the Commander of the FALINTIL-Forças de Defesa de Timor-Leste (F-FDTL), the military of East Timor, from 2002 until 6 October 2011. Prior to serving in the F-FDTL, he was the last commander of the Armed Forces of National Liberation of East Timor or FALINTIL (Forças Armadas para a Liberação Nacional de Timor Leste), the insurgent army which resisted the Indonesian occupation of the territory from 1975 to 1999.
Leaving the military in 2011, he stood as an independent candidate in the 2012 presidential election and prevailed in the second round of the vote, held in April 2012.
On 7 December 1975, when Indonesia invaded and occupied East Timor, Taur Matan Ruak took to the hills with the recently formed FRETILIN Army, FALINTIL. As a combatant, he participated in battles against the Indonesian military in Dili, Aileu, Maubisse, Ossu, Venilale, Uatulari and finally in Laga on the northeastern coast, where he eventually stayed. Major-General Ruak’s first official FALINTIL appointment was at the end of 1976. From 1976 to 1979, he rose through the FALINTIL ranks in the two eastern military sectors, the Central East Sector and the Eastern Point, or the Ponta Leste Sector. Then he became a company commander.
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