East Timor's First Female Dictator Hailed As Step Forward For Women

Amivi Gama's violent rise to power has proved that women are just as capable as men when it comes to brutality and oppression.

00:00:00.000,00:00:03.000 Captions by www.SubPLY.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . 00:00:06.840,00:00:09.840 East Timor has a troubled history, but tonight, it is a place 00:00:10.040,00:00:11.780 of inspiration and progress for women. 00:00:12.250,00:00:15.190 Amivi Gama seized control of the nation's capital today, 00:00:15.390,00:00:18.400 becoming East Timor's first ever female dictator. 00:00:18.720,00:00:20.450 Reporter Mark Ward has the story. 00:00:21.320,00:00:24.060 It's been a long, hard journey for Amivi Gama 00:00:24.260,00:00:25.730 but it was worth it. 00:00:26.190,00:00:27.460 After a bloody, six day long coup, 00:00:27.860,00:00:30.200 a triumphant Gama declared herself president for life, 00:00:30.630,00:00:32.160 commander in chief of the armed forces, 00:00:32.600,00:00:34.100 and high court chief justice today, 00:00:34.530,00:00:36.500 proving that a woman can rule with an iron fist, 00:00:36.700,00:00:37.970 just as well as any man. 00:00:38.370,00:00:41.110 For years we were terrified and oppressed by men. 00:00:41.580,00:00:45.420 It will be wonderful to now be terrified and oppressed by one of our own. 00:00:46.110,00:00:48.040 Doctor Sandra Sujana, the author of the book, 00:00:48.450,00:00:50.620 "Amivi Gama: A Woman to Fear" says Gama's success 00:00:51.080,00:00:52.800 is a sign of the country's progress. 00:00:53.190,00:00:54.860 Twenty, or even ten years ago, 00:00:55.290,00:00:58.970 nobody could have even considered a woman would behead her 00:00:59.170,00:01:00.860 political rivals in the town square. 00:01:01.490,00:01:02.730 It's a truly great day for women. 00:01:03.130,00:01:05.890 Dr. Sujana says that in addition to a ruthless pursuit for 00:01:06.090,00:01:08.270 ultimate power, Gama has a feminine side, 00:01:08.670,00:01:11.790 even while leading a campaign of terror through the countryside 00:01:11.990,00:01:13.900 rooting out intellectuals, and killing religious leaders, 00:01:14.500,00:01:16.340 Gama made time to be a mother to her children. 00:01:16.540,00:01:19.510 It's this down to earth relate-ability that has made her an icon 00:01:19.910,00:01:21.180 to many East Timor women. 00:01:21.580,00:01:24.480 She didn't just order her militia to destroy our crops, 00:01:24.690,00:01:26.430 she got right in there with a torch. 00:01:27.140,00:01:27.850 She looked good doing it. 00:01:28.610,00:01:29.530 Many expect that, as a woman, 00:01:29.860,00:01:32.400 Gama will bring a more level headed and sensitive approach 00:01:32.590,00:01:33.660 to the massive slaughtering. 00:01:33.990,00:01:35.670 Even members of the older generation, 00:01:35.870,00:01:37.800 like former cabinet member Uriko Alkitiri, 00:01:38.270,00:01:40.120 have learned to look past Gama's gender, 00:01:40.310,00:01:41.670 and respect her as a political force. 00:01:42.070,00:01:44.740 Some people have doubts, but now they're all dead. 00:01:45.170,00:01:47.740 When she plunged a knife into my crying son's throat, 00:01:48.140,00:01:50.610 as I lay helplessly by, I realized that she could do anything. 00:01:51.080,00:01:53.120 She's a real dynamo. 00:01:53.480,00:01:55.450 The size of Gama's army is all we need as proof 00:01:55.880,00:01:57.780 to know it's a woman's world now in East Timor. 00:01:58.220,00:01:59.920 We congratulate you President Gama. 00:02:00.320,00:02:03.290 From Delhi, I'm Mark Ward, for the Onion News Network. 00:02:03.890,00:02:06.030 Thank you, Mark. That's one feisty lady. 00:02:06.660,00:02:08.530 When we come back, Gatorade scientists 00:02:08.730,00:02:10.500 have discovered four new kinds of thirst. 00:02:10.900,00:02:15.240 STILL AHEAD THIS HOUR: Supreme Court Overturns Judicial Review