He was one of East Timor's most charismatic jungle fighters and was always referred to by his resistance code name, L-7.
He is a war hero, revered by many East Timorese for his seemingly magical powers having survived numerous wounds.
His Falintil name is Eli Foho Rai Boot, the first part of which means: 'one who asks god for help', the second part meaning: 'one who loves everyone'.
All the Falintil and Independence activists give themselves these names so that their real identities cannot be discovered.
Two of his younger brothers died fighting the Indonesian military in 1979 and 1980.
He has been living in the forest and fighting the Indonesians since they invaded East Timor in 1975.