RENETIL’S Election Observer Commission
“The entire nation is the author of this process.”
August 9, 2001 -- RENETIL, one of the leading youth organizations in the Timorese resistance, sees East Timor’s unfolding political process as one of its main priorities as it encourages popular participation in the August 30th general election and the subsequent drafting of a democratic constitution. To implement this priority RENETIL is undertaking civic education projects and fielding election observer teams.
“The young people are really concerned about securing a peaceful future for this country in future generations,” said Miguel Marques, the Secretary General of RENETIL. As a result some 155 RENETIL observers have been fielded in seven districts to observe the campaign period and the election process. The observers have reported a largely peaceful campaign thus far.
The active participation of the youth in their sub-districts or Villages is very helpful, because they are part of the local community and know what are the issues within the community.
Civic education is a comprehensive program that takes place in the context of the political process by sharing information about democracy, human rights, tolerance, and the obligations of citizens. The entire nation is the author of this process. Who does what with whom, how and to whom, are the important questions to be answered in concrete political behavior. Electoral observation can help people to assess the democratisation process because elections are one way to see if democracy, human rights, freedom, law and order are being respected.
The Political Department of RENETIL established an Electoral Observer Commission in June 2001 and began training observers.
RENETIL has fielded observers to operate in the districts of Viqueque, Baucau, Liquica, Maliana, Ermera, Suai and Oecussi. Most are students from secondary schools and universities with some teachers.
Training for observers has also been held
in the districts with the observers being deployed since the beginning
of the campaign period in most places. The Asia Foundation supports the
training and observation program.
R E N E T I L
RESISTENCIA NACIONAL
DOS ESTUDANTES DE TIMOR LESTE
Rua Gov. Serpa Rosa, Farol
- Dili
Mob.0418805446/0409612017
Email: renetil88@yahoo.com
About RENETIL
RENETIL is a youth and student organization that has been involved in the struggle for freedom since 1988. It began as an organization of East Timorese students attending universities in Java and its work organizing the resistance there led to many of its leaders being jailed during the Indonesian period. It is now working to secure a democratic future for East Timor through participation in the election process and other nation building programs. Its headquarters are in Dili.