CJITL -Based widow of East Timor rebel Alfredo Reinado has released a statement after her husband was shot dead in the rebel assassination attempt on Jose Ramos-Horta. Maria Neti, made her statement through the Uniting Church of Western Australia's justice and mission consultant Rosemary Hudson Miller.
The Statement
Maria met alfredo through her brother "Afri" in East Timor in 1992 onher 15th Birthday. It was just a month later Alfredo finally worked up the courage to Ask Maria out through her brother.
They dated for three years. Six month After Billy was born they were married on the 24 May when they set of to Australia.
Maria laughs as she recalls Alfredo says "Honey this is the longest honeymoon anyone will ever have. Funny enough it turned out into a four years honeymoon. During this time Donovan was born their second son. Alfredo returned to East Timor on 1999.
The children spoke to Alfredo almost every night they had a close relationship. Although he never had a chance to meet their younger daughter Felicity or spend much time with their other child Tiffany they still had a very close bond.
He had a nick name for each of them. He called Felicity is "Little Kookaburra" after first sound she made, Tiffany was his "Little chatter box" Donovan the "Grumpy Face" and Billy "Lazy Boy".
It wasn't easy being with out Alfredo, especially with four children. Sometimes I felt though enough is enough. It is because of the children I found the strength to get through the days.Alfredo encouraged me to be strong for the kids. Sometimes I would cry alone at night so the children wouldn't see me be weak.
He always assured me and comforts me during this hard time, even though it was just over the phone I felt like he was beside me. Now who will I turn to for a winge I have lost my very best friend and companion in my life.
It has affected us all so much. It was through a friends and the media that I found out my husband was gone.
The kids have not seen him for almost two years it is hard for me tohelp them to understand that he is gone. They still tell me that dadis still alive and not to believe the TV.
I encourage the kids to cry out loud, and remind them of the daily horrible nightmare to hide reality would be foolish.
Maria is surprise by the support of her Australian friends and family. It is not surprising Alfredo loved Australian people so much. Alfredo indeed a big Eagles fan.
All I want now is for the media to leave me and my family alone so that I can start the journey of repairing the broken heart of my children. I am not in hiding I just want people to respect my privacy.
In our last conversation he asked me to promise him that I would look after myself and our children. He also wanted me to remember he will always love me till he died and hold a special place in his heart.
He promised to me once that I would never become a young widow and now he is gone. I will not break my promise to him.
Maria met alfredo through her brother "Afri" in East Timor in 1992 onher 15th Birthday. It was just a month later Alfredo finally worked up the courage to Ask Maria out through her brother.
They dated for three years. Six month After Billy was born they were married on the 24 May when they set of to Australia.
Maria laughs as she recalls Alfredo says "Honey this is the longest honeymoon anyone will ever have. Funny enough it turned out into a four years honeymoon. During this time Donovan was born their second son. Alfredo returned to East Timor on 1999.
The children spoke to Alfredo almost every night they had a close relationship. Although he never had a chance to meet their younger daughter Felicity or spend much time with their other child Tiffany they still had a very close bond.
He had a nick name for each of them. He called Felicity is "Little Kookaburra" after first sound she made, Tiffany was his "Little chatter box" Donovan the "Grumpy Face" and Billy "Lazy Boy".
It wasn't easy being with out Alfredo, especially with four children. Sometimes I felt though enough is enough. It is because of the children I found the strength to get through the days.Alfredo encouraged me to be strong for the kids. Sometimes I would cry alone at night so the children wouldn't see me be weak.
He always assured me and comforts me during this hard time, even though it was just over the phone I felt like he was beside me. Now who will I turn to for a winge I have lost my very best friend and companion in my life.
It has affected us all so much. It was through a friends and the media that I found out my husband was gone.
The kids have not seen him for almost two years it is hard for me tohelp them to understand that he is gone. They still tell me that dadis still alive and not to believe the TV.
I encourage the kids to cry out loud, and remind them of the daily horrible nightmare to hide reality would be foolish.
Maria is surprise by the support of her Australian friends and family. It is not surprising Alfredo loved Australian people so much. Alfredo indeed a big Eagles fan.
All I want now is for the media to leave me and my family alone so that I can start the journey of repairing the broken heart of my children. I am not in hiding I just want people to respect my privacy.
In our last conversation he asked me to promise him that I would look after myself and our children. He also wanted me to remember he will always love me till he died and hold a special place in his heart.
He promised to me once that I would never become a young widow and now he is gone. I will not break my promise to him.
