TMR to go way of Mauk Moruk?

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By Ted McDonnell - Ted McDonnell

EIGHT months ago Paulino Gama, better known as Mauk Moruk, was killed in a hail of bullets under the government of Prime Minister Rui Maria de Araújo. It was nothing more than a state sanctioned murder at the behest of one man.

Former Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao had publicly demanded Moruk’s death – as always he got his way.

It’s a fact, Gusmao had stated he wanted Moruk dead. He was sick of Moruk and his followers pointing to his government’s blatant corruption.

Moruk and Xanana Gusmao had been long time foes dating back to the 1980s. Whether it dates back to the murder of fellow Falintil commanders in the mid 1980s I do not know. But the dislike between the two was palpable.

Moruk consistently claimed the Gusmao government is financially incompetent, corrupt and is bound by nepotism.

The evidence suggests he was right. But the dead tell no tales, just ask Gusmao.

It remains a fact that Gusmao has made his family wealthy at the cost of the Timorese peoples poverty. Hundreds of millions of dollars in contracts have gone their way.

Prime Minister Rui Maria de Araújo, who was a former Fretilin politician, was hand picked by Gusmao because he is easily controlled, according to many current Fretilin politicians.

"He sold out Fretilin for thirty pieces of silver,” said one in Dili today. “He has no control and does what Xanana tells him to do.”

However, Rui Maria de Araújo is doomed for political oblivion in 2017 elections because he is seen as a puppet PM. Some say he deserves his forgetful fate in Timor Leste political history as the man who ”took thirty pieces of silver.”

The future Prime Minister is potentially the untouchable current President Taur Matan Ruak. He is one of the few honest politicians in Timor Leste. He is a good man.

But he is also a target of the corrupt elite in Timor Leste and a marked man after he declared former PM Mari Alkatiri and Gusmao reminded him of the former despot and corrupt ruler of Indonesia, President Suharto.

Gusmao really lets his enemies sleep too long.

One thing is for sure TMR will run for the Prime Ministership of Timor Leste in 2017; and if he runs he will win.

But first he must protect himself from the fate afforded Alfredo Reinado; Mauk Moruk and the would-be dead Jose Ramos Horta – all whom had an enemy in common.

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