April 07, 2015 EXCLUSIVE By Ted McDonnell IT started in the jungles of Timor Leste in 1985, a senior commander of Falintil allegedly ordered the murder of a number of his fellow commanders. The exact number of Timorese commanders who lost their lives during that period -- remains sketchy. Some say as many as 11 were murdered, others say 8 were murdered during the mid 1980s; and a number of other commanders allegedly had their names given to the Indonesian Army during the 1990s. The deaths and betrayal of at least 11 Timorese commanders, is as significant to Timor Leste as the Balibo 5 murders to Australia. None of the men who lost their lives; or their families have ever had justice. The fear of reprisals has stopped many former commanders revealing the truth, however, now in their latter years several respected former Falintil commanders believe the truth must be revealed. These "unspoken" murders and betrayals committed in the jungles of Timor Leste during the fight against the Indonesians were 'all about power and the ongoing internal fight between Falintil Commanders' over political ethos that ended in a series of deaths of Timorese Commanders which started from 1985. The Timorese have for almost 30 years been too scared to talk about these horrific crimes against their own for fear of reprisals. The men who were ordered to be killed in the jungles of Timor Leste by a fellow commander or who later had their names handed to the Indonesian Army were: Aquilis, Fonsiano, Fernando Sousa, Rodak, Sabalae, Conis Santana, Derek Maulelak, Bendito Mauselon, Oka, Kilik, David Alex Daitula. (These names have been transcribed from Tetum and we apologise for the poor translations) Each of these men committed themselves and their families to fight against murderous Indonesian regime who invaded their country in 1975, but each of the commanders were allegedly either murdered or betrayed by their own Timorese brothers. According to one of the former Falintil commanders these men were killed in various locations in Timor Leste. The locations of the deaths were Ossu and Viqueque districts; the Bacau district and Lospalos. Only the commanders of Falintil during this period know the fully story and who gave the orders for the cold blooded killings of these men. Some have decided to come forth due to their age and fear that these murders and betrayals would go unpunished. Each of these former commanders were interviewed separately, at a different time and different location. All the interviews were recorded. Each of the former Falintil commanders name the same person who ordered the killings. The perpetrator and his henchmen have gone free for almost 30 years. Some have reached high positions in Timor Leste society; some have literally disappeared believed dead. The three former Faltinil commanders interviewed each alleged the same thing that the orders to kill or betray the commanders allegedly came from former Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao. The former commanders said that during the early 80s and leading up to the events of 1985 there was a power struggle within Timor Leste’s Falintil. According to each former commander interviewed a 'much younger Xanana Gusmao wanted absolute control of Falintil and disagreed with the political leanings of many of his fellow commanders'. The commanders allege Gusmao “gave the order” to kill the his fellow commanders in 1985. Each of the former commanders reaffirmed the allegation that Gusmao was behind the murders and betrayls. Each of their stories match. The allegations of murder and betrayal of the Timorese commanders comes at a time when the spotlight is firmly on the antics of the now former Prime Minister and his power games. There have long been allegations that Gusmao was also behind the attempted assassination of former President Jose Ramos Horta and the murder of Alfredo Reinado. Attempts to interview key players involved in the 2008 assassination plot were declined. Two as we know are dead. Reinado was killed supposedly by a member of the Timor Leste Defence Force when found with other 'rebels' within the former President's compound. However, a coroner’s report reveal that Reinado was shot at close range in the back of the head. An autopsy report indicated that Reinado died after being shot through the eye at near point-blank range. According to a forensic expert consulted by The Australian newspaper, the autopsy’s finding of “burning/blackening of the surrounding skin” to each of Reinado’s four wounds (to the eye, chest, neck, and hand) means that he must have been shot from a range of less than 30 centimetres. The report on Reinado’s colleague Leopoldino Exposto found that he was killed by a single gunshot to the back of the head, also by a “high-velocity rifle fired at close range”. It is also allege that Reinado was invited by Xanana Gusmao for a peace meeting in Dili and that Reinado and an accomplice were setup and murdered by "persons unknown". Copies of the letter signed by Gusmao are now in several safe hands and would be brought forward at a judicial inquiry. Very few people in Timor Leste like talking about these three events. They are scared for their families’ safety and their own lives. However, surely the time has come for the President Taur Matan Ruak, who knows the true facts surrounding the murders of the Timor 11, and what went on in the jungles during the struggle against the Indonesians; who knows the truth behind the attempted assassination of Ramos Horta, as well as the cold blooded killing of Reinado and Exposto, should call for a judicial inquiry into each of these murderous events. It is also necessary for the new Prime Minister Dr Rui Maria de Araújo to call for the same inquiry. Murder is murder is murder. The Balibo 5 never received the true justice they deserved, but it is about time justice came for the Timor 11 now that Timor Leste is free and peaceful. **Note: The above story was taken from interviews with three legendary Timorese commanders. They state their facts are correct. Each one recounted the same stories. The timeline of their accounts starts in 1985 and continues into the mid 1990s. Two of the three interviews were translated from Tetum. They all accused the same person of murder or betrayal at a later time. Some of the names of the former commanders are hard to decipher due to translation problems.