Background
He was born in 1946 in Soibada, Portuguese Timor.
He was born in 1946 in Soibada, Portuguese Timor.
Lobato was prime minister of East Timor from 28 November to 7 December 1975. Upon the arrival of the Indonesian military Lobato, along with other key Fretilin leaders, fled into the Timorese hinterland to fight against the occupying forces. On the final day of 1978 Lobato was ambushed by Indonesian special forces led by Lieutenant Prabowo Subianto (later son-in-law of President Suharto).
He was killed after being shot in the stomach, and his body was brought to Dili to be inspected by Indonesian press
Nicolau Lobato was made an East Timorese national hero. The East Timor International Airport has been named in his honour (Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport).