[2] The arming of civilians occurred after the country's police force had disintegrated, during a coup attempt.

[3] In 2007, Rogério Lobato tried to leave the country to go to Malaysia for heart surgery resulting in a standoff at Dili Airport.

[5] Lobato began his political career as part of Fretilin when it declared independence in November 1975.

3 December that year he departed East Timor with fellow Fretilin member Mari Alkatiri to promote the interests of the new country.

Following the Indonesian invasion of East Timor on 7 December, Lobato and Alkatiri stayed in Africa to campaign for the rights of their home country.