IN April 2006, the 1,400-strong army of Timor Leste split and 600 fully armed soldiers joined a group led by Alfredo Reinado.

The problem did not go away when the rebellious Alfredo Reinado decided to flee to the mountains in the coffee-producing region of west Timor Leste. Yet we know that Reinado did not go into meditation after days of rioting in April 2006 left 37 dead. He had plans for his young and problem-filled nation.

Reinado was the v