As a journalist one can be assured of rarely a dull day in one’s life.  In my case, with a career that spans almost two decades it has been my good fortune to have met and interviewed many interesting and notable figures, including heads of states and a variety of public figures whether famous or notorious, national or international.  Some leave more lasting impressions to me than others while not a few barely etch themselves in my short-term memory.

Lady Margaret Thatcher (former British Premier) for instance, was quite a challenge to interview – she was quite intimidating in her schoolmarmish way, unlike her much later successor Tony Blair who seemed rather flustered and ill at ease by the experience.  The French Diva Catherine Deneuve was a total nightmare that I decided to cut short the interview by fifteen minutes while the Chinese President Jiang Zhemin was, despite language barriers and intimidating surrounding, surprisingly affable and friendly.  The (now assassinated) former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was impressive and eloquent as was Pervez Musharraf when he was top honcho. 

When it came to personality however, Xanana Gusmao, when he was still the captured and jailed rebel, was a real star attraction for journos, and a lot of other Indonesians for that matter, who found the jungle rebel or freedom fighter (depending on which side one looks at it) irresistibly romantic and captivating.  On top of it all he was soft-spoken, diffident with a handsome demeanor to boot.  Us journalists made a bee line to pay homage to this then traitor and outlaw, airing interviews with him and secretly wishing Indonesia too had a leader like him:  a hero, a fighter and altogether a charming individual. 

However, with all these important individuals I don’t expect them to remember having been interviewed by me as a person let alone recall me as an individual.  It was enough for me to know that once I had shared space with these people who were destined for greater things.  Besides, these were in the past and some of those I met had tragic endings (Bhutto, Yitzak Rabin).  And as I become less and less active as a field journalist I truly thought that I’ve well passed the highlights of my journalistic career.  Until that is I am accused personally by no less the President of Timor Leste as being instrumental in facilitating the assassination attempt towards him from which he’s just recovering.

I quote from a transcript of the press conference made recently by President Ramos Horta in front of the international media and widely published: ‘ Mr. Alfredo Reinado had a lot of contacts in Indonesia.  He went there with false documents.  Who issued to him these false documents in Atambua?  We knew who did.  The authority in Atambua did it with the help of Metro TV television Mrs Desi Anwar.  And I will take this complain to Brussel to all international journalists institutions because their activities among others that almost let me to be killed, the democratic elected of this country.  So, I will not rest until the truth is totally uncover and if necessary I will take the matter to the Security Council as it happened with the assassination of the Lebanese Prime Minister.’
 
I note that Horta specifically mentioned my name three times in the press conference, which leads me to believe that he really was referring to me as a person (as a journalist to be sure I have brushed shoulders with him in the past) and seemed fully convinced in what he was saying.  In which case the only logical reason I can think of why he’s making such fantastic and delusional accusations is that either he’s still not quite fully recovered from his I’m sure extremely traumatic experience (post traumatic syndrome, paranoia or bits of bullet shrapnel lodged in his brains perhaps?) or he’s developed that awful habit insecure leaders adopt once they are in power, which is to blame the media for all their woes and failures.  Which is fine too because to blame the Indonesian government or the armed forces would be too risky especially for a tiny and poor country that couldn’t even get Conoco Phillips to help fund his anti poverty projects.  But it still doesn’t explain why the point blank accusation which, at this stage I’m still sane enough to find risible.

As to President Ramos Horta himself, the only thing I could recall about him was the lack of wish to interview him in those referendum days a decade ago mainly because as a journalist there was not much news value in someone (Nobel Laureate or otherwise) who fought for the freedom of his country from the comfort of a European lifestyle and, instead of wearing combat boots, sporting Rambo like hairstyle with head bands and military outfits, wore flashy jackets, pomaded hair and enjoyed regular hot dinners.  Although this might sound disrespectful it hardly merits my being called an accessory to an assassination attempt.

So while somewhat perplexed (and I can’t say not un-flattered) by this curious attention from the President of Timor Leste and the superior but thoroughly undeserved conspiracy capabilities he is giving me credit for, I could only wish him speedy recovery and hope that his accusations are temporary rantings that will not reflect upon his governing skills and sound judgment.  Just in case however, I also pray for the future of the country.