Un Supports Historic Election in Timor-Leste
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APRIL 2007 SPECIAL EDITION UN SUPPORTS HISTORIC ELECTION IN TIMOR-LESTE UNMIT Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) Atul Khare has emphasized the need to uphold the common goal of inclusiveness in the coming Presidential election saying the exercise “must have a restorative and unifying impact and must not on any account lead to divisiveness.” In this issue uoting Rule 15 of the Code of Conduct three-member Electoral Certification Team. He Q signed by all presidential candidates, the added however that some of the recommenda- SRSG said the manifestations of this goal is em- tions of the Certification Team pertained only bodied in “…a language that ensures a peaceful to the Parliamentary elections. “I think there is environment, free of defamation, non-threaten- enough time for the National Parliament to con- ing, not encouraging violence, and without per- sider those provisions after the Presidential sonal criticism towards persons or a group of Elections,” said DSRSG Finn Reske-Nielsen. people, notably other candidates and their sup- Meanwhile, 504 polling centers and 705 porters.” polling stations have been established across the Speaking on Thursday, 29 March 2007 at the country. “The 2007 Presidential election is the weekly press conference convened by UNMIT first national election since Timor-Leste gained Office of Public Information, the SRSG paid its independence in 2002, and the first nation- Reaching out to voters in IDP camps “direct” tribute to the people of Timor-Leste wide elections to be organized by the national and their authorities---assisted by the interna- election authorities,” STAE Director Tomas 2 tional community---through the United Nations Cabral said in a recent press release. “We wel- for their efforts in facilitating the polls, which come the assistance given by the international kicks off on 9 April 2007 with the conduct of community and the advice of the the Presidential election that has attracted eight UN Mission in Timor-Leste, candidates, including a female politician. but we are proud that these Addressing the same conference, the elections are the first we DSRSG and UNDP Resident Representative Timorese will stage our- selves,” he stated. Voter education Finn Reske-Nielsen underscored the significance in Ermera of this electoral process in the country’s history, Courtesy of the “inte- noting that unlike the previous elections, the re- grated mission” con- 5 sponsibility for conducting the Presidential and cept, over 200 staff Parliamentary election in 2007 rests with the drawn from the state institutions of Timor-Leste, “principally UN fraternity in STAE in the Ministry of State Administration Timor-Leste have and the National Electoral Commission, the continued on pg. 3 CNE.” He stressed however, that through its top decision making organ of the Security Council, the UN had been mandated---through Security Photo: Renato da Costa Council Resolution 1704---to provide extensive Support to the support to the electoral process “to ensure that candidates the elections are indeed free and fair.” 6 Fielding questions from journalists, the DSRSG explained that the United Nations has also been assisting the Government in drafting relevant legal provisions as recommended by the 1 ELECTION NEWS SPECIAL EDITION REACHING OUT TO VOTERS IN IDP CAMPS As each and every citizen of Timor-Leste ment of Timor-Leste, STAE, the CNE and “We would prefer should be provided with information UNMIT concerning the elections, posters and a polling station at about the upcoming elections, this posed some pamphlets have all been posted on the notice our camp as we challenges for communicating to those living in boards to increase public awareness of the elec- Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps. A toral process. In addition the teams have been worry about our logical idea, to distribute electoral information using mobile sound systems installed in their ve- security when we go through already established communication hicles to transmit voter information through home to vote, but channels to these camps was embarked upon. radio broadcasts and music when visiting each if that cannot hap- The UNDP ‘Communication Support to Hu- of the IDP camps. “This is especially important manitarian Assistance for IDP’s’ project has been because IDP’s are no longer in their own neigh- pen we will still go making relentless efforts since July 2006 to create bourhoods and as such many are cut off from to make our vote” an effective communications network to IDP accessing their usual sources of information”, centres both in Dili and throughout Timor-Leste. observed Carolyn. “We are the only body that is solely dedicated to Having accompanied one of the project’s in- bringing news and information into the IDP centres” remarked Carolyn Tanner, Project Manager, Commu- nication Support to Humanitarian As- sistance for IDP’s. Notice boards were placed in all of the IDP camps throughout Dili, including Metinaro, Hera, Dare formation teams as they visited an IDP camp at A child walks around and Tibar to assist with this effort and continue Dili National Hospital in Toko Baru last week, it the perimeter of his to be up-dated on a regular basis. Notice boards appears some of the information has been fil- home; an IDP camp in were also posted throughout most districts and tering down to the ground and although nervous Dili's central cathederal, Vila Verde. these also continue to be updated. “Close to about their personal security, all the people we 70% of IDP’s acknowledged that they use the spoke with intend to vote in the Presidential Notice boards at an board as a source of information at least once a election next Monday, 9 April 2007. IDP camp displaying week”, she added. In addition, on a bi-weekly “We would prefer a polling station at our voter education posters. basis the project is distributing press releases to camp as we worry about our security when we go Photos (left to right): every Suco Chief in the country. home to vote, but if that cannot happen we will Chris Parkinson Currently in Dili, there are three informa- still go to make our vote” remarked Lindo, refer- Toby Gibson tion teams who are working in the field to main- ring to his family’s preference. He added that it is Renato da Costa tain the continual flow of timely information difficult deciding who to vote for, “there is a lot regarding health and sanitation issues, humani- more choice now, it was easier the first time”. tarian assistance, current security and district Marcelina and Mateus Pinto both agreed that news as well as to deliver messages to and from they are also happy with the choice of presidential the Information Service Centre established candidates saying “we are pleased that who our within the Ministry of Labour and Community next president will be, depends on the people” Reinsertion. The information distributed by the adding that they believed that by voting, the peo- project comes from different sources but is al- ple can choose a good leader for their country. ways disseminated in close collaboration with Florindo, another IDP commented. “The other humanitarian agencies. new president must focus on trying to understand As the Presidential election looms ever and solve the problems of the people”. He was closer, these information teams have been sup- fully aware of the significance of voting in these porting the Timorese electoral process by help- elections. “The only way to change the system and ing to distribute voter education materials at the our welfare comes from being able to vote…. we IDP camps. Press releases from the Govern- must go for the votes”, he remarked. continued on pg. 3 2 ELECTION NEWS SPECIAL EDITION Continued from page 2 Continued from page 1 Many of the IDP’s that we spoke with re- been deployed in the country to support the ceived information about the electoral process electoral process, which will target 522,933 reg- not only from the notice boards but also from istered voters, according to figures obtained the radio, television and newspapers, among from STAE. As part of its logistical support others. Their increased awareness of this demo- UNDP has provided 40 vehicles for transporta- cratic process will serve to enhance the belief tion of election materials. that they can direct the fate of Timor-Leste by “The 2007 Presidential election is the first national choosing its leaders. This sentiment was cap- tured well by one IDP, Imaculada. election since Timor-Leste gained its independence in “As Timorese, we must go to vote, if we do 2002, and the first nationwide elections to be organ- not, we will lose our future,” she said. ized by the national election authorities,” STAE Director Tomas Cabral “TV and radio programmes have BROADCAST MEDIA PLAYS A KEY ROLE been documenting the electoral process The advent of public television and radio in During the through regular Timor Leste late 1999 gave rise to the belief prime time that a new era was opening in public communica- show, two productions; focus- tion. One of the great contributions expected of candidates ing on various television lay in its presumed capacity to inform per day are aspects such as and stimulate the political interests to the public allowed to air information on about the election for the president in this country. their views to As time has passed, events have seemed to the audience. voter registration, give substance to this expectation. The televising Meanwhile, polling centers and of important parliamentary hearings, the na- live broad- security matters.” tional nominating conventions, and most re- casting for cently the debates have appeared to make a all candidates novel contribution to the political life of the na- was held on 5 April 2007 at 3pm.