Background
Guterres was born in Uatulari (near Viqueque), East Timor. His parents were killed in 1976 by Indonesian TNI forces due to their known pro-Fretilin views. Though Guterres later accuses Fretilin of their deaths, this is after his conversion to Indonesian ideals.
Young Guterres was brought up by an Indonesian civil until he was sent to attend the Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic school in Becora, Dili. He left senior High School becoming involved in petty gangster activity including the government-protected gambling hall (bola guling) at Tacitolu, Dili.
In 1988 Indonesian military intelligence detained him for his alleged involvement in a plot to assassinate President Suharto, who was to visit Dili in October. At this time Guterres changes from pro-independence to pro-Indonesian alliances, becoming an informer for Kopassus and double agent against the Independence movement until he was expelled around 1990.
A counter-insurgency officer, Prabowo had taken special interest in his abilities and in 1994 recruited him into Gardapaksi. An organisation that gave cheap loans to start small businesses, but also used them as both informants and in pro-military vigilante squads. Governor Abilio Soares strongly supported Gardapaksi, which developed a record of human rights abuse.
In 1997 with a high school certificate supposedly provided by the military he began attending the Economics Institute in Dili. Though the Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Ekonomi (STIE) was run by pro-integrationist Filomeno Hornay, Guterres attended only three semesters. He is married to the niece of Bishop Nascimento of Baucau, and has three children.
He is the primary militia suspect in the Liquiçá Church Massacre of April 1999, according to information gathered by the UNTAET Crime Scene Detachment.
Read more about this topic: Eurico Guterres
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