Taur Matan Ruak Politician

José Maria Vasconcelos, popularly known by his nom de guerre Taur Matan Ruak (Tetum for "Two Sharp Eyes") 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.

Personal facts

Taur Matan Ruak
Birth dateOctober 10, 1956
Birth place
Baguia , Portuguese Timor , East Timor
Religion
Catholic Church
Spouse
Isabel da Costa Ferreira

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Office holder

military operations
Indonesian occupation of East Timor
military command
Falintil
Ponta Leste Sector
Timor Leste Defence Force
military rank
Major general
officePresident of East Timor
party
Independent (politician)
prime minister
service end2011
service start1975

Taur Matan Ruak on Wikipedia

External resources

  1. http://www.timor-leste.gov.tl/mindef/Eng/Defence%20&%20Security/commander.htm