In East Timor, Australias top soldier General Peter Cosgrove is a hero. So much so, hes been awarded a traditional title of the highest honour Magic Python.The ABCs Mark Bowling watches as Cosgrove receives his award, and travels with Australian troops on one of their last peacekeeping patrols in the country. The villagers tell Bowling theyre scared that Indonesian backed militia will return, once their foreign protectors leave. But the greatest threat to East Timors security could come from within. Its had little media attention, but the power struggle between former allies the men who spent more than two decades fighting together for independence has the potential to be just as damaging as the fight with Australia over oil and gas reserves.
One of East Timors most charismatic jungle fighters was Cornelio Gama always referred to by his resistance code name, L7. With his red beret and flowing locks, L7 typifies the romantic vision of a guerrilla leader. Hes a war hero, revered by many Timorese for his seemingly magical powers.Foreign Minister Ramos Horta is an old friend of L7s from childhood days.The fact that he has survived so many fights with the Indonesians over the years reinforces peoples perception of him as someone who cannot be killed by a bullet.Ramos Horta tells Bowling. L7s quasi-religious sect, the Sagrada Familia, is a fusion of animist and Catholic practices, and has many followers among the superstitious Timorese.
Now, angry that he and 30,000 former fighters have been denied pensions, and many have no employment or a role in the countrys new security forces, L7 is threatening to leading a rebellion and to form his own forces, to fight for the right of veterans. It hasnt gone down too well with Prime Minister Alkitiri, who lived in Mozambique for much of the twenty years of Indonesia occupation, while L7 and others were on the run in East Timors mountains. But the former guerrilla leader is unrepentant: We led the country to liberation, and now there is no place for us in this new nation. I am angry. Alkitiri says L7 will be arrested if he builds his own army, but Ramos Horta is confident that his old friend will not go against the wishes of President Gusmao. Meanwhile, across the border in Indonesia, the man accused by the UN of war crimes in East Timor, General Wiranto, has just been selected as Golkars candidate in the forthcoming Presidential election. No wonder the East Timorese are worried.
Music
BOWLING:
Soldiers from the 6th battalion Royal Australian regiment in the highlands of East Timor.
1:00
Acting on reports of armed militia, these Australian troops are conducting one of their last patrols. In just weeks theyll complete their tour of duty theyll be gone from East Timor and peacekeeping patrols will cease.
00:15
SOLDIER:
A lot of the women are scared the militia will come back, and theyll go and rape and everything. I have concerns that we will,
but when we leave well be called back in a year or so if the militia come back into the area and we have to come back into Timor.
00:43
BOWLING:
The fear of militia returning haunts many villagers. But all the more pressing for East Timor, the threat of national upheaval.Its a tense time in the capital Dili - protestors are out in force.After 400 years of Portuguese colonial rule and more than 20 years of Indonesian occupation, the people of East Timor are demanding a better life.
00:55
This in fact is a mock demonstration a test for East Timors new riot squad.The United Nations
has trained the fledgling security forces - police and military and come May the 20th it will hand over responsibility.
01:43
SANDI PEISLEY, UN POLICE COMMISSIONER:
I think there will be demonstrations.. now whether those demonstrations are students or whether they
are groups related to, whether its politics, or whether its related to unemployment or poverty or anything else. I think, yes we will see demonstrations.
01:58
You have done a very good job and I am very proud of you.I would like to hear your song again.
02:06
BOWLING: It might look like a tropical paradise but here near the small town of Laga times are tough.
02:25
Like most of East Timor its dirt poor two out of every five people live on less than a dollar a day.Half are without safe drinking water and three quarters dont have electricity.
02:39
In these parts Cornelio Gama is a legend a famed Falintil guerilla commander better known by his resistance code name L7.But in the new East Timor hes on the outer a forgotten hero one of the poor.L7: This is my home town, Laga. I was born here, my mother is buried here, and all my siblings died and buried here also. This is my country this is my home.
03:03
BOWLING:
And its here Australia and East Timor first forged a friendship through mutual sacrifice and support.L7: During the war, when the Japanese came into Timor my father collaborated with Australians to fight against the Japanese until the end of the war
03:35
BOWLING: Australia didnt return the favour when Indonesia invaded L7s country in 1975. These days the man who devoted 24 years to liberate his country is fighting a losing battle.Despite his heroic war deeds theres been little recognition and even less compensation.
03:58
L7: We asked the government to assist us, since there are no jobs but it seems as if we are worthless because they haven't even recognised our plight.
04:22
BOWLING: The corn L7 planted last year has been ravaged by drought. Theres no money to feed his extended family including the widows and children of his fallen comrades. L7 is one of 30 thousand East Timorese whove applied for war time pensions.
L7:
The Government is lacking vision, because those who struggled for independence continue to struggle
04:34
yet there are those who committed crimes who today are in a better position. I dont understand where the loyalty of this government lies.
05:03
BOWLING:
The Governments under pressure the war veterans are frustrated and now to add to the tension the peacekeepers are leaving.
05:14
Maliana, close to the Indonesian border was one of the towns ravaged by the Jakarta backed militia. Here safety and security are paramount.Maliana is slowly being rebuilt people are returning to the market and the peacekeeping presence has created a sense of calm.
PRIVATE PATRICK BRENNAN:
They like us because we're protecting the border and stuff like that, just looking after them I guess. They've kind of
05:33
relied on us for a little bit and just protection, I guess. Everyone likes to be covered in that warm blanket.
06:01
BOWLING:
The East Timorese will tell you their greatest fear is the return of the Indonesian military. Thats because Indonesian soldiers carried out a scorched earth policy. They wanted to try and destroy everything that their country had built here. They warned the East Timorese not to try and rebuild or occupy buildings because otherwise theyd come back and murder them. As a result buildings like this one, right across the country, have been left to rot.
06:37
LOCAL WOMAN:
I think when the peacekeeping force is here, no problem but after this well have a problem.
06:44
because if they come back.. maybe the Indonesians will come back.
06:54
JOSE RAMOS HORTA:
The people as a whole place enormous trust on the peacekeeping troops
07:01
Australians and others. All of them have performed with enormous integrity, professionalism and gained the respect, the friendship of the people.
BOWLING:
East Timors Foreign Minister Jose Ramos Horta
07:12
readily understands the commonly held fears.. but according to the latest strategic assessment, the militia no longer rank as the major threat.
JOSE RAMOS HORTA:
Militia threat has receded significantly, but
07:26
I also have to say that the peace is still fragile. Fragile at our institutions our police other law and order agencies like the courts are still fragile.
07:41
Since independence Australia has become a key ally. General Peter Cosgrove and his troops have played a vital role in securing the country.General Cosgrove has come to know the country intimately having led the first Australian contingent into East Timor almost five years ago.
GENERAL PETER COSGROVE:
Australias peacekeeping force involvement here in Timor it will be seen as the best peace keeping operation the UN can remember.
BOWLING: Overall East Timor has been Australias biggest overseas military commitment since Vietnam and the departure of the Australian peacekeepers is an emotional issue.
07:55
These are just a few of the twenty thousand Australian peacekeepers soldiers and police who have served here.All up Australia has invested two billion dollars.
GENERAL PETER COSGROVE: We will bring our battalion home but we expect that we will continue with our training team for a good long while in fact as long as the East Timorese want us, well be here to help. Our money will be here, our expertise will be here and
08:39
a little bit of our hearts will remain here. I mean theres a generation of Australian servicemen and women whove invested a lot of blood, sweat and tears here and were not going to run away.
09:14
BOWLING: For the East Timorese, Australias pledge of support is important. Today a new generation of soldiers is being honoured.These are the first platoon commanders to be commissioned in the new East Timor Defence force. Theyve earned their place after intensive training by Australian military specialists.
09:25
MAJOR DAVID TILT, AUSTRALIAN MILITARY ADVISOR:
Theyre generally very humble, they are very strong willed however, and they are very loyal. The Timorese guerrilla force basically was based on strength of personality and loyalty to those people. So,the Timorese Defence Force now while theyre organised in a more conventional way, really theyve got some incredibly dynamic leaders and incredibly loyal soldiers.
10:17
BOWLING:
Back in 1999 a few months before East Timors historic independence vote, Falintil fighters and their leaders including L7 came together to celebrate 24 years as a guerrilla force.But after the war with Indonesia, when it came time for East Timors top commanders to choose those veterans who would be part of the nations new military force, L7 and his men missed out.
L7: I was a commander a leader a leader during the struggle against Indonesia. We led it to liberation and now there is no place for us in this new nation. I am angry.
11:02
BOWLING:
Taur Matam Ruak is one former Falintil fighter who was never going to be left out in the cold.
11:14
TAUR MATAM RUAK, EAST TIMORESE DEFENCE FORCE COMMANDER:
Like with any citizen, the dream is always to attain a better life. But they should know that the country is apart from being small so we can not work miracles.
11:27
BOWLING: Taur Matam Ruak became the supreme guerrilla leader after the Indonesians captured Xanana Gusmao, and now as East Timors military chief claims to have stuck firmly to Falintils goals and principles.
11:40
TAUR MATAM RUAK, EAST TIMORESE DEFENCE FORCE COMMANDER:
What we have always said is that when the war is over it was to have liberated the country. But we still have to fight to liberate the people. Liberate the people in what sense? From poverty, misery, illiteracy and unemployment.
11:56
BOWLING: And on the score of unemployment, the new military force is out of a job when it comes to patrolling and protecting the countrys border.
12:19
East Timors solution to replacing the UN peacekeepers Police pony patrols. Across the river is Indonesia.East Timors plan is to de-militarise the border no soldiers no heavy fortifications only police.The new East Timor pony patrol is yet to be really challenged. The river is swollen, but when the dry season comes and the peacekeepers are gone theyll need to be ever vigilant against the threat of the militia returning. Until then the boarder patrol is on the look out for smugglers and petty criminals.
12:30
Dili protestors
Dissolve to:
East Timors greatest challenge is creating financial security and the new found enemy is the Australian government which now stands accused of ripping off East Timors oil and gas reserves.
13:09
Prime Minister Mari Alkitiri in meeting And Prime Minister Mari Alkitiri is the subject of bribery allegations. He denies he accepted two million dollars from an American oil company.
13:25
Dili protestors When protestors last took to the streets of Dili it was Prime Minister Alkitiri himself who was the target of attack.On this occasion the Prime Ministers car was smashed and his house torched.
PRIME MINISTER MARI ALKITIRI: What they have been trying to do is really to destroy me psychologically,
13:36
Prime Minister Mari Alkitiri
Super: Mari AlkitiriPrime Minister. East Timor not to give me psychological capacity to keep managing the country, but its not easy to destroy me psychologically.BOWLING: Prime Minister Alkitiri L7 and group engaged in a psychological battle with none other than L7. After being denied a place in the new army, L7 threatened to raise his own force to fight for the rights of veterans.Its a move thats won L7 widespread popular support,
14:12
Prime Minister Mari Alkitiri
but raised the ire of Prime Minister Alkitiri who lived in Mozambique during the Indonesian occupation.
PRIME MINISTER MARI ALKITIRI:
14:30
Interview with Prime Minister Mari Alkitiri
I told it clearly to the people, L7 has no right to build another security forces. He has no right, if he keeps doing it I will use the authority of the police to block.
14:37
Mark Bowling interviewing Prime Minister Mari Alkitiri
BOWLING:
Would you send in the police to stop L7?
14:53
Interview with Prime Minister Mari Alkitiri
PRIME MINISTER MARI ALKITIRI:
If he tried with criminal action he will be arrested
14:55
Interview with L7
L7: If I saw him Prime Minister Alkitiri today I would like to ask, Do you respect the Falintil fighters who suffered? Will you assume your responsibilities?
15:01
L7 with friends and family eating
BOWLING: While hes at loggerheads with the Prime Minister, L7 retains the affection and admiration of his old friend and neighbour from childhood days, Foreign Minister and Nobel Peace prize winner, Jose Ramos Horta.
JOSE RAMOS HORTA: We grew up basically together, I know the whole family.
15:15
He is a great human being, a great hero of our struggle, not terribly disciplined during the struggle. Very like Rambo style during the Indonesian struggle, our struggle against Indonesian occupation and thats why his colleagues detest him, you know, he doesnt follow orders.
15:33
L7: Here is my family. We are poor, we have nothing but we are rich in a way that we are united as a sacred family.
JOSE RAMOS HORTA:
Hes a real hero and very humble.
15:52
You know in other countries that I know, in Africa, Latin America, someone like him, a hero of the struggle would have come back from the mountains and demanded a luxurious house, a Mercedes and so on.
16:12
BOWLING: As it turns out L7 has neither a mansion nor a Mercedes and this jeep that came courtesy of the government has now been confiscated.
16:24
JOSE RAMOS HORTA: I guarantee, he will not lead any rebellion in this country against a constitutionally elected government. He will not do anything that he knows goes against President Xanana or my own wishes.
16:41
BOWLING:
Back at his hill top home the legendary L7 is searching for answers for signs of better times ahead.
L7:
This is to unite the people who fought during the Indonesian occupation.BOWLING: During his jungle years L7 founded a quasi religious sect Sagrada Familia a fusion of animist and Catholic practices.On important occasions L7 sacrifices a rooster. The intention is to honour ancestors and gain divine guidance.
16:51
L7: These rituals give us great courage to be able to face our enemies to be able to go into war without being afraid, to kill and be killed.
BOWLING: Together with his undoubted bravado and gallantry as a guerilla, its rituals and practices like this that have gained L7 notoriety and superstitious support.
JOSE RAMOS HORTA:
L7 actually believes in spirits he believes in the power of magic, he believes in the power of the ancestors and the fact that he has survived so many ambushes, so many fights with the Indonesians over the years
reinforces the peoples perception of him as someone who can not be killed by a bullet.
18:17
L7:
These are all the bullet scars. They didnt go through my body because of magic. I believe that if you have faith you can not die in vain.
18:24
BOWLING: The power of magic
is not unique to the legendary L7.For General Peter Cosgrove who led the Australians on this historic peacekeeping venture, this honour from East Timors military chief Taur Matam Ruak and a traditional title of the highest order FO-HO-RAI LULIC or Magic Python.GENERAL PETER COSGROVE: I'm most honoured. I am most honoured. I thank you very much indeed because this symbol means that I have been accepted as a member of the family. I think the time has come for the magic python to get into his aeroplane.
18:39
Okay.BOWLING: For all the camaraderie between the generals, the battle is now on over oil and gas fields worth billions of dollars.
19:21
As Australias peacekeepers prepare to leave, East Timors future will continue to rely upon Australias sense of fair play and generosity of spirit.
19:36
SCARIFICE IN TIMOR:
Reporter: Mark Bowling
Camera: David Anderson and Terry McDonald
Sound: Peter Quinn
Editor: John McElhinney
Producer: Ian Altschwager
One of East Timors most charismatic jungle fighters was Cornelio Gama always referred to by his resistance code name, L7. With his red beret and flowing locks, L7 typifies the romantic vision of a guerrilla leader. Hes a war hero, revered by many Timorese for his seemingly magical powers.Foreign Minister Ramos Horta is an old friend of L7s from childhood days.The fact that he has survived so many fights with the Indonesians over the years reinforces peoples perception of him as someone who cannot be killed by a bullet.Ramos Horta tells Bowling. L7s quasi-religious sect, the Sagrada Familia, is a fusion of animist and Catholic practices, and has many followers among the superstitious Timorese.
Now, angry that he and 30,000 former fighters have been denied pensions, and many have no employment or a role in the countrys new security forces, L7 is threatening to leading a rebellion and to form his own forces, to fight for the right of veterans. It hasnt gone down too well with Prime Minister Alkitiri, who lived in Mozambique for much of the twenty years of Indonesia occupation, while L7 and others were on the run in East Timors mountains. But the former guerrilla leader is unrepentant: We led the country to liberation, and now there is no place for us in this new nation. I am angry. Alkitiri says L7 will be arrested if he builds his own army, but Ramos Horta is confident that his old friend will not go against the wishes of President Gusmao. Meanwhile, across the border in Indonesia, the man accused by the UN of war crimes in East Timor, General Wiranto, has just been selected as Golkars candidate in the forthcoming Presidential election. No wonder the East Timorese are worried.
Music
BOWLING:
Soldiers from the 6th battalion Royal Australian regiment in the highlands of East Timor.
1:00
Acting on reports of armed militia, these Australian troops are conducting one of their last patrols. In just weeks theyll complete their tour of duty theyll be gone from East Timor and peacekeeping patrols will cease.
00:15
SOLDIER:
A lot of the women are scared the militia will come back, and theyll go and rape and everything. I have concerns that we will,
but when we leave well be called back in a year or so if the militia come back into the area and we have to come back into Timor.
00:43
BOWLING:
The fear of militia returning haunts many villagers. But all the more pressing for East Timor, the threat of national upheaval.Its a tense time in the capital Dili - protestors are out in force.After 400 years of Portuguese colonial rule and more than 20 years of Indonesian occupation, the people of East Timor are demanding a better life.
00:55
This in fact is a mock demonstration a test for East Timors new riot squad.The United Nations
has trained the fledgling security forces - police and military and come May the 20th it will hand over responsibility.
01:43
SANDI PEISLEY, UN POLICE COMMISSIONER:
I think there will be demonstrations.. now whether those demonstrations are students or whether they
are groups related to, whether its politics, or whether its related to unemployment or poverty or anything else. I think, yes we will see demonstrations.
01:58
You have done a very good job and I am very proud of you.I would like to hear your song again.
02:06
BOWLING: It might look like a tropical paradise but here near the small town of Laga times are tough.
02:25
Like most of East Timor its dirt poor two out of every five people live on less than a dollar a day.Half are without safe drinking water and three quarters dont have electricity.
02:39
In these parts Cornelio Gama is a legend a famed Falintil guerilla commander better known by his resistance code name L7.But in the new East Timor hes on the outer a forgotten hero one of the poor.L7: This is my home town, Laga. I was born here, my mother is buried here, and all my siblings died and buried here also. This is my country this is my home.
03:03
BOWLING:
And its here Australia and East Timor first forged a friendship through mutual sacrifice and support.L7: During the war, when the Japanese came into Timor my father collaborated with Australians to fight against the Japanese until the end of the war
03:35
BOWLING: Australia didnt return the favour when Indonesia invaded L7s country in 1975. These days the man who devoted 24 years to liberate his country is fighting a losing battle.Despite his heroic war deeds theres been little recognition and even less compensation.
03:58
L7: We asked the government to assist us, since there are no jobs but it seems as if we are worthless because they haven't even recognised our plight.
04:22
BOWLING: The corn L7 planted last year has been ravaged by drought. Theres no money to feed his extended family including the widows and children of his fallen comrades. L7 is one of 30 thousand East Timorese whove applied for war time pensions.
L7:
The Government is lacking vision, because those who struggled for independence continue to struggle
04:34
yet there are those who committed crimes who today are in a better position. I dont understand where the loyalty of this government lies.
05:03
BOWLING:
The Governments under pressure the war veterans are frustrated and now to add to the tension the peacekeepers are leaving.
05:14
Maliana, close to the Indonesian border was one of the towns ravaged by the Jakarta backed militia. Here safety and security are paramount.Maliana is slowly being rebuilt people are returning to the market and the peacekeeping presence has created a sense of calm.
PRIVATE PATRICK BRENNAN:
They like us because we're protecting the border and stuff like that, just looking after them I guess. They've kind of
05:33
relied on us for a little bit and just protection, I guess. Everyone likes to be covered in that warm blanket.
06:01
BOWLING:
The East Timorese will tell you their greatest fear is the return of the Indonesian military. Thats because Indonesian soldiers carried out a scorched earth policy. They wanted to try and destroy everything that their country had built here. They warned the East Timorese not to try and rebuild or occupy buildings because otherwise theyd come back and murder them. As a result buildings like this one, right across the country, have been left to rot.
06:37
LOCAL WOMAN:
I think when the peacekeeping force is here, no problem but after this well have a problem.
06:44
because if they come back.. maybe the Indonesians will come back.
06:54
JOSE RAMOS HORTA:
The people as a whole place enormous trust on the peacekeeping troops
07:01
Australians and others. All of them have performed with enormous integrity, professionalism and gained the respect, the friendship of the people.
BOWLING:
East Timors Foreign Minister Jose Ramos Horta
07:12
readily understands the commonly held fears.. but according to the latest strategic assessment, the militia no longer rank as the major threat.
JOSE RAMOS HORTA:
Militia threat has receded significantly, but
07:26
I also have to say that the peace is still fragile. Fragile at our institutions our police other law and order agencies like the courts are still fragile.
07:41
Since independence Australia has become a key ally. General Peter Cosgrove and his troops have played a vital role in securing the country.General Cosgrove has come to know the country intimately having led the first Australian contingent into East Timor almost five years ago.
GENERAL PETER COSGROVE:
Australias peacekeeping force involvement here in Timor it will be seen as the best peace keeping operation the UN can remember.
BOWLING: Overall East Timor has been Australias biggest overseas military commitment since Vietnam and the departure of the Australian peacekeepers is an emotional issue.
07:55
These are just a few of the twenty thousand Australian peacekeepers soldiers and police who have served here.All up Australia has invested two billion dollars.
GENERAL PETER COSGROVE: We will bring our battalion home but we expect that we will continue with our training team for a good long while in fact as long as the East Timorese want us, well be here to help. Our money will be here, our expertise will be here and
08:39
a little bit of our hearts will remain here. I mean theres a generation of Australian servicemen and women whove invested a lot of blood, sweat and tears here and were not going to run away.
09:14
BOWLING: For the East Timorese, Australias pledge of support is important. Today a new generation of soldiers is being honoured.These are the first platoon commanders to be commissioned in the new East Timor Defence force. Theyve earned their place after intensive training by Australian military specialists.
09:25
MAJOR DAVID TILT, AUSTRALIAN MILITARY ADVISOR:
Theyre generally very humble, they are very strong willed however, and they are very loyal. The Timorese guerrilla force basically was based on strength of personality and loyalty to those people. So,the Timorese Defence Force now while theyre organised in a more conventional way, really theyve got some incredibly dynamic leaders and incredibly loyal soldiers.
10:17
BOWLING:
Back in 1999 a few months before East Timors historic independence vote, Falintil fighters and their leaders including L7 came together to celebrate 24 years as a guerrilla force.But after the war with Indonesia, when it came time for East Timors top commanders to choose those veterans who would be part of the nations new military force, L7 and his men missed out.
L7: I was a commander a leader a leader during the struggle against Indonesia. We led it to liberation and now there is no place for us in this new nation. I am angry.
11:02
BOWLING:
Taur Matam Ruak is one former Falintil fighter who was never going to be left out in the cold.
11:14
TAUR MATAM RUAK, EAST TIMORESE DEFENCE FORCE COMMANDER:
Like with any citizen, the dream is always to attain a better life. But they should know that the country is apart from being small so we can not work miracles.
11:27
BOWLING: Taur Matam Ruak became the supreme guerrilla leader after the Indonesians captured Xanana Gusmao, and now as East Timors military chief claims to have stuck firmly to Falintils goals and principles.
11:40
TAUR MATAM RUAK, EAST TIMORESE DEFENCE FORCE COMMANDER:
What we have always said is that when the war is over it was to have liberated the country. But we still have to fight to liberate the people. Liberate the people in what sense? From poverty, misery, illiteracy and unemployment.
11:56
BOWLING: And on the score of unemployment, the new military force is out of a job when it comes to patrolling and protecting the countrys border.
12:19
East Timors solution to replacing the UN peacekeepers Police pony patrols. Across the river is Indonesia.East Timors plan is to de-militarise the border no soldiers no heavy fortifications only police.The new East Timor pony patrol is yet to be really challenged. The river is swollen, but when the dry season comes and the peacekeepers are gone theyll need to be ever vigilant against the threat of the militia returning. Until then the boarder patrol is on the look out for smugglers and petty criminals.
12:30
Dili protestors
Dissolve to:
East Timors greatest challenge is creating financial security and the new found enemy is the Australian government which now stands accused of ripping off East Timors oil and gas reserves.
13:09
Prime Minister Mari Alkitiri in meeting And Prime Minister Mari Alkitiri is the subject of bribery allegations. He denies he accepted two million dollars from an American oil company.
13:25
Dili protestors When protestors last took to the streets of Dili it was Prime Minister Alkitiri himself who was the target of attack.On this occasion the Prime Ministers car was smashed and his house torched.
PRIME MINISTER MARI ALKITIRI: What they have been trying to do is really to destroy me psychologically,
13:36
Prime Minister Mari Alkitiri
Super: Mari AlkitiriPrime Minister. East Timor not to give me psychological capacity to keep managing the country, but its not easy to destroy me psychologically.BOWLING: Prime Minister Alkitiri L7 and group engaged in a psychological battle with none other than L7. After being denied a place in the new army, L7 threatened to raise his own force to fight for the rights of veterans.Its a move thats won L7 widespread popular support,
14:12
Prime Minister Mari Alkitiri
but raised the ire of Prime Minister Alkitiri who lived in Mozambique during the Indonesian occupation.
PRIME MINISTER MARI ALKITIRI:
14:30
Interview with Prime Minister Mari Alkitiri
I told it clearly to the people, L7 has no right to build another security forces. He has no right, if he keeps doing it I will use the authority of the police to block.
14:37
Mark Bowling interviewing Prime Minister Mari Alkitiri
BOWLING:
Would you send in the police to stop L7?
14:53
Interview with Prime Minister Mari Alkitiri
PRIME MINISTER MARI ALKITIRI:
If he tried with criminal action he will be arrested
14:55
Interview with L7
L7: If I saw him Prime Minister Alkitiri today I would like to ask, Do you respect the Falintil fighters who suffered? Will you assume your responsibilities?
15:01
L7 with friends and family eating
BOWLING: While hes at loggerheads with the Prime Minister, L7 retains the affection and admiration of his old friend and neighbour from childhood days, Foreign Minister and Nobel Peace prize winner, Jose Ramos Horta.
JOSE RAMOS HORTA: We grew up basically together, I know the whole family.
15:15
He is a great human being, a great hero of our struggle, not terribly disciplined during the struggle. Very like Rambo style during the Indonesian struggle, our struggle against Indonesian occupation and thats why his colleagues detest him, you know, he doesnt follow orders.
15:33
L7: Here is my family. We are poor, we have nothing but we are rich in a way that we are united as a sacred family.
JOSE RAMOS HORTA:
Hes a real hero and very humble.
15:52
You know in other countries that I know, in Africa, Latin America, someone like him, a hero of the struggle would have come back from the mountains and demanded a luxurious house, a Mercedes and so on.
16:12
BOWLING: As it turns out L7 has neither a mansion nor a Mercedes and this jeep that came courtesy of the government has now been confiscated.
16:24
JOSE RAMOS HORTA: I guarantee, he will not lead any rebellion in this country against a constitutionally elected government. He will not do anything that he knows goes against President Xanana or my own wishes.
16:41
BOWLING:
Back at his hill top home the legendary L7 is searching for answers for signs of better times ahead.
L7:
This is to unite the people who fought during the Indonesian occupation.BOWLING: During his jungle years L7 founded a quasi religious sect Sagrada Familia a fusion of animist and Catholic practices.On important occasions L7 sacrifices a rooster. The intention is to honour ancestors and gain divine guidance.
16:51
L7: These rituals give us great courage to be able to face our enemies to be able to go into war without being afraid, to kill and be killed.
BOWLING: Together with his undoubted bravado and gallantry as a guerilla, its rituals and practices like this that have gained L7 notoriety and superstitious support.
JOSE RAMOS HORTA:
L7 actually believes in spirits he believes in the power of magic, he believes in the power of the ancestors and the fact that he has survived so many ambushes, so many fights with the Indonesians over the years
reinforces the peoples perception of him as someone who can not be killed by a bullet.
18:17
L7:
These are all the bullet scars. They didnt go through my body because of magic. I believe that if you have faith you can not die in vain.
18:24
BOWLING: The power of magic
is not unique to the legendary L7.For General Peter Cosgrove who led the Australians on this historic peacekeeping venture, this honour from East Timors military chief Taur Matam Ruak and a traditional title of the highest order FO-HO-RAI LULIC or Magic Python.GENERAL PETER COSGROVE: I'm most honoured. I am most honoured. I thank you very much indeed because this symbol means that I have been accepted as a member of the family. I think the time has come for the magic python to get into his aeroplane.
18:39
Okay.BOWLING: For all the camaraderie between the generals, the battle is now on over oil and gas fields worth billions of dollars.
19:21
As Australias peacekeepers prepare to leave, East Timors future will continue to rely upon Australias sense of fair play and generosity of spirit.
19:36
SCARIFICE IN TIMOR:
Reporter: Mark Bowling
Camera: David Anderson and Terry McDonald
Sound: Peter Quinn
Editor: John McElhinney
Producer: Ian Altschwager