Four thieves stabbed the Australian-born wife of the East Timor independence hero, Mr Xanana Gusmao, yesterday in the latest in a series of violent robberies in the UN administered territory.
Ms Ines Almeida, of the National Council for East Timorese Resistance (CNRT), said Ms Kirsty Sword Gusmao was assaulted at a beach near the capital, Dili, where she was with her mother and baby son. Ms Sword Gusmao was resting at home last night after earlier requiring treatment in hospital, Ms Almeida said.
"They were going back to their car. . . and one of the four men approached and took the keys off her," Ms Almeida said after visiting Ms Sword Gusmao.
"She fought back and they punched her twice in the face and then one of them grabbed a screwdriver and stabbed her in the leg. She is shocked." Ms Almeida said the thieves took Ms Sword Gusmao's bag and mobile phone. "They even took the baby's bag," Ms Almeida said.
David Shanks adds: Ms Sword Gusmao has in recent months been campaigning around the world on behalf of a 16-year-old East Timorese woman, Ms Juliana dos Santos, who was allegedly kidnapped by a militia leader, Mr Igidio Manek, and taken to West Timor, where she has had a child by him.
Earlier this month Ms Sword Gusmao delivered a petition on behalf of Ms dos Santos and her family to the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva.