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Country Girl to Undercover Agent – The Story of East Timor's First Lady, Kirsty Sword Gusmao - by Rhonda Sutton
Bendigo born, Kirsty Sword Gusmao, once an undercover agent, is now the wife of East Timor’s handsome and charismatic Prime Minister, Xanana Gusmao. Rhonda Sutton visits her home in Dili for this interview.
Brushing her long hair, Kirsty glances over some notes for a speech. Next she’s reading to her son. It’s hard to believe this busy young mother was once code named ‘Ruby Blade’, risking her life to help East Timor become a free nation.
‘She did a dangerous job, smuggling information to Xanana in prison and smuggling out information to me. She would have been murdered if she’d been caught. She was indispensable - reliable, discreet, humble. That woman is perfect,’ says Nobel Peace prize recipient and East Timorese leader, Jose Ramos Horta.
Kirsty spent her school years in Bendigo, attending ballet classes and leading a normal country life. After studying Indonesian at university she worked as an interpreter on a documentary about East Timor. ‘Many people we’d spoken to in Timor were later killed in the Santa Cruz massacre, in Dili, in 1991,’ she explains. ‘This had a profound effect on me.’ Kirsty packed her bags and moved to Jakarta to help the East Timorese in their long struggle to end Indonesia’s brutal occupation of their country.
Xanana Gusmao led the resistance against Indonesian rule in East Timor. He was captured and in 1993 was imprisoned in Jakarta. Xanana and Kirsty were destined to meet. Xanana bribed his jailors and smuggled out instructions to his guerilla fighters in East Timor. He wrote letters to world leaders, garnering their support for the East Timorese to take control of their own country. Without the knowledge of the Indonesians Kirsty, under the pseudonym Ruby Blade, translated these secret documents, encrypted them and passed them on. She later taught Xanana English by correspondence. The two had never met, but a romance soon developed. Kirsty waited anxiously for the opportunity to meet him.
In 1994 an Australian was imprisoned in the cell beside Xanana. Kirsty visited the Australian, pretending he was her uncle. ‘I had to embrace and kiss this man I’d never met before and then turn to Xanana, shake his hand and pretend I wasn’t interested in him.’ Kirsty and Xanana didn’t see each other again for four years. Kirsty continued her work towards East Timorese independence, often acting as Xanana’s personal emissary in high level meetings with politicians around the world. In a long distance romance of letters and occasional phone calls Xanana and Kirsty’s love for each other deepened.
In early 1999 pressure from world leaders meant Xanana was released from prison so he could help negotiate a future for his country. Country girl, Kirsty Sword Gusmao, had been a major player in events that changed the course of history. East Timor would become the world’s newest nation. Kirsty and Xanana were together at last.
When the militia forces left East Timor they moved across the country, killing and burning every building in bloody retribution. ‘Returning to the country in 1999 I had very mixed feelings,’ says Kirsty, ‘ Xanana and I were shocked by the destruction but also very proud that the East Timorese could at last take control of their own destiny.’
Soon Kirsty became pregnant with their first child. She married Xanana in a simple ceremony. After years of subterfuge their lives had changed forever. ‘The independence celebrations in May 2002 were a culmination of everything we had worked towards,’ Kirsty explains. Xanana became President , with Kirsty as the First Lady. A few months later their second child was born. Asked if it was difficult being First Lady and the mother of young children Kirsty replies that it was a privilege to be a role model. ‘Having small children I was able to model proper immunization and promote breast feeding.’ Mana Kirsty, as she is known by locals, is enormously popular in East Timor.
The Alola Foundation, which Kirsty set up to help women and children, has grown into a strong organization. ‘When you educate a woman you educate an entire village,’ Kirsty explains. ’I think the flow-on effects of empowering women are huge.’
At times Kirsty has become frustrated about the Timorese peoples’ ability to develop new skills. ‘We have to remember what a low base many people are starting from. There is a mammoth task in education and health. Oil money will help but we desperately need assistance developing our human resources.’
‘I encourage Australians to dig below the surface and not listen only to headlines that focus on the bad news. Our recent independence celebrations were spectacular. People cried with joy and pride in their nation. None of this was reported in Australian newspapers.’ After decades of foreign control the Timorese are slowly learning how to run their own businesses and manage their country. Normal life is returning to East Timor.
Dotted along Dili’s white beaches are restaurants serving fresh seafood. Teenagers play music and dance. Kirsty has brought her three boys for a swim in the warm, tropical water. The young woman wishes she had more time to spend with her boys. Kirsty’s mother Rosalie, is currently visiting during the school holidays to help look after her energetic grandsons. Rosalie lives in Rosebud and works tirelessly to support East Timor.
As Kirsty watches her sons play she explains how she was inspired by both parents’ strong sense of social justice. As she speaks she’s constantly interrupted. It’s hard for Kirsty to escape attention amongst the crowds on the beach. She has a great ability to remember names and courteously gives people her full attention. Her bodyguards watch from the nearby road.
Kirsty dedicates her autobiography to her father, ‘for teaching me a lot about dragons and to never shy away from the difficult.’ She recognizes the enormity of the task ahead. ‘Our country is still learning. It just needs your friendship, understanding and support.’
END OF STORY
For information about Kirsty Sword Gusmao and what you can do to help go to -
www.alolafoundation.org
Kirsty’s autobiography is titled ‘A Woman of Independence’.
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Transcript of "Dangerous Liaison" in the ABC's Australian Story, February 22, 2002:
"...KIRSTY SWORD: In Jakarta in the 1990s we would often get up to a few mischievous things like gatecrashing receptions at the Australian ambassador's home to which a visiting Australian parliamentary delegation had been invited...with a particular focus on East Timor. And they were, of course, being taken on a guided tour by the Indonesian authorities and weren't given access to East Timorese at all, much less members of the resistance. And, sort of taking them aside and sticking them in a taxi and through the back streets of Jakarta late at night to meet with various, entities from the clandestine struggle...more"
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