Timor-Leste: Hércules, uma figura sinistra

Recently a certain Indonesian national caused a stir and turned up the heat between Indonesia and Timor-Leste in what would normally have been a cozy but unremarkable relationship. This all took place after Lere Anan Timur, the head of F-FDTL and a national hero of resistance, threatened to arrest this individual if he ever visits Timor-Leste again. Indonesian members of parliament rejected Lere's threats and demanded an apology. In Timor-Leste, local politicians viewed the Indonesian reaction as laughable and even offensive. So who is this individual? He is Rosario Marçal, AKA 'Hercules', a ruthless gangster who controls Jakarta's underworld to some, a hero and a celebrity to others. The name Hercules is associated with fear. "Whenever the name Hercules is mentioned, the image which comes to mind is that of terror," said a popular Indonesian talk show host, Kick Andy, as he introduced Rosario Marçal "Hercules" to his audience (YouTube). But Hercules has since 'reformed', apparently changing his career from leading one of Jakarta's most notorious gangs to philanthropy. More recently, he also made strides into politics, backing various politicians in the elections, including Jakarta's governorship, as well as running a mass movement called GRIB (New Indonesian People's Movement). Many in the Indonesian elites court him including celebrities and politicians, in particular Prabowo Subianto, a serious contender to Indonesia's top job in the upcoming elections. So who exactly is Hercules, or Rosario Marçal? If you think his name doesn't sound very Indonesian that's because he's not 'really' Indonesian. He is East Timorese who made it big in Indonesia for all the wrong reasons. Marçal was born in Timor-Leste's district of Ainaro, a remote and mountainous region, more than 40 years ago. In his childhood, this region would have been considered a frontier. The road to Ainaro is very bad today and it takes many hours to get there. Forty years ago, you could only get there on horseback and the journey took days. However by the 1970s, Marçal already understood the political questions facing Timor-Leste as the Portuguese empire began to fade. He opted for Timor-Leste's integration to Indonesia opposing those who wanted independence. According to James Dunn, a former Australian diplomat and Timor-Leste historian, in the early 1980s Marçal was "organising groups of young men to counter independence supporters using strong arm methods, specially martial arts". During the Indonesian invasion, Marçal served with the Indonesian army against the pro-independence resistance fighters lead by FRETILIN. According to Dunn, he helped the Indonesians identify FALINTIL fighters who were handed over to KOPASSUS intelligence for 'investigation'. Marçal's enthusiasm for the pro-integration cause impressed a certain Indonesian special force officer who consequently adopted him and brought him to Jakarta in the mid 1980s. It was an enduring relationship which helped transform Marçal from a common villager to Hercules, perhaps the most influential and most successful East Timorese in Indonesia. And that man who made him Hercules was none other than Prabowo Subianto. Posted 17th January 2013 by Alex Tilman