A
collection of recent media releases, reports, articles and news on the
August 30th 2001
East Timor elections for a
Constituent
Assembly. Following
Fretilin’s
convincing win, the Constituent Assembly was officially sworn in on
September
15th
2001.
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* women's
issues - women and the upcoming election
*
constitutional
process / konsulta iha konstituisaun
*
peoples'
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FRETILIN
- Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor
Oct
30 UNSC: ET women: ‘Arria formula’ meeting Speech
added
Nov 2
"In the last 25 years 96.6% of East
Timorese
experienced trauma. With the assistance of UNTAET’s Gender Unit and the
leadership of Mr. de Mello, women
obtained
26% of the seats in the recently elected Constituent
Assembly. This remarkable achievement occurred despite the mixed
messages
from UN departments and ultimate rejection of the proposal that would
have
required 30% of each party’s political candidates to be women. The will
of the East Timorese must be celebrated by continued efforts at
expanding
women’s roles within a patriarchal society. ... They
[rural women] do not participate in
decision-making
at all levels of government and educational programs. A problem with
the
election process was voiced by several rural women who stated that:
“they
had been told who to vote for by their village chiefs.” This indicates
a need for election observation efforts to be gender sensitive to women
as voters and candidates." Natércia Godinho-Adams, on behalf of
East
Timorese women’s organizations
Oct
30 IOM: East Timor - Returns on the Increase News
added
Oct 31
"In October, IOM has assisted 3,233 East
Timorese refugees to return home, the highest number of returns in
a single month since March 2000 when 9,485 East Timorese were assisted
to return home. This significant increase can be attributed to the
ongoing reconciliation process that has boosted the confidence of
refugees
as to the situation in East Timor, especially since the successful
30
August elections." Jean Philippe Chauzy, International Organisation
for Migration (IOM) Spokesperson
Sep
20 A Popular Challenge to UNTAET’s Achievements
Statement
added Sep 20
"UNTAET has recently published in the
September issue of its broadsheet Timor Tais 20 of the UN’s major
achievements
in East Timor. Many of these achievements are either misleading or
things
that UNTAET has been forced to do under pressure from Timorese people,
civil society and leaders and international critics. ... 7. Civil
Registration:
The process of civil registration made many mistakes that have been
widely
noted by international observers of this year’s elections and by
the Independent Electoral Commission. These mistakes made it difficult
to establish a reliable voter list, but the hard work of the IEC
helped correct this. Had it not been for the IEC, UNTAET would have
left
a deeply flawed list of the country’s population. Although, drawing up
civil and voters’ lists reflected again the big rush approach of
UNTAET."
Sep
13 IFET: Constituent Assembly winners names and parties
List added Sep 13
"The following is the officially certified
list of East Timorese who were elected to the Constituent Assembly on
the
August 30 ballot. Some of these people will probably be selected to
serve
in the cabinet [of the second transitional
government],
in which case they [will probably] resign from the Assembly. The
next-ranking
person on the slate of the party they were elected under will fill the
vacancy." Charlie
Scheiner, U.N. Representative International Federation for East Timor
(IFET)
Sep
10 UNDP: FRETILIN's East Timor electoral victory confirmed
News added Sep 11
"East Timor’s Independent Electoral
Commission
(IEC) has endorsed the results of the 30 August elections, today
confirming
that the former resistance
group, FRETILIN has won a 57 percent majority in the Constituent
Assembly.
The number of seats falls short of the two-thirds majority needed to
draft
East Timor’s first Constitution without consultation with other
parties,
... " UNDP
Sep
10 UNDP: 24 Women in 88-Seat Constituent Assembly News
added Sep 11
"Results of last week’s elections in East
Timor indicate that the territory’s new 88-seat Constituent Assembly
will
have a total of 24 women members. The full breakdown on female
representatives
gives the Fretilin party 17, the PSD
three, the ASDT one and the PST
and PNT one apiece. The party with
the
lowest female representation is the second- placed PD,
which elected no women candidates." UNDP
UNTAET:
Election Commission Presents Certified Results To SRSG
News added Sep 11
"They sent a signal to their community
leaders, and indeed to the whole world, that for them, a successful
electoral
process was more important than any particular outcome, ... it is an
attitude
which typically distinguishes mature democracies from those still in a
process of development.” Dr. Bong-Scuk Sohn, Chair of the Independent
Electoral
Commission
"While the winners at the ballot, Fretilin,
deserve our congratulations, all those who took part in the elections
likewise
deserve credit and our utmost respect, ... In East Timor today,
democracy
looks to be in a very healthy state indeed.” SRSG Sergio Vieira de Mello
Bahasa Indonesia:
Sep
10 Teks Pakta Persatuan Nasional (ditanda tangani 8 July 2001)
Terjemahan ditambahkan tanggal 10 Sep
"Pakta Persatuan Nasional: Yakin
bahwa ada keperluan untuk menciptakan dan memelihara suasana yang damai
dan stabil sebagai dasar pertama untuk pembangunan berkelanjutan Timor
Lorosa'e; Mengingat primsip2 mentahbiskan dalam Magna Carta yang
disetujui
dalam Konvensi Nasional Timor Timur dalam Pengasingan yang pertama
diadakan
di Peniche, Portugal, tertanggal 25 April 1998; Menyadari kebutuhan
menjaminkan
suasana penghormatan dan kepercayaan satu sama lain; ... "
APODETI
Pro-Refrendum; ASDT
Associação
Sosial Demokrata Timorense; FRETILIN Frente
Revolucianário de Timor Leste Independente; KOTA
Klibur Oan Timor Aswa’in; PD
Partido
Demokrático;
PDC Partido Demokrata
Cristão;
PDM Partido Democrático
Maubere;
PL Partai Liberal; PPT
Partido de Povo de Timor; PSD
Partido
Social Democrata Timor Lorosa’e; PST
Partido
Socialista de Timor; PTT
Partido
Trabalhista Timorense; UDC/PDC
União
Democratica Cristão; UDT
União
Democrática Timorense. [Pakta ini ditandatagani, kapada
taggal
8 July 2001 oleh semua partai polik Timor Lorosa'e, kecuali PARENTIL
dan PNT.]
Sep
8 CM: Australian Labor MP on Tampa refugees and ETimor
Article added Sep 10
"Horta
had been telephoned early on the morning of Thursday, August 30 (the
actual
day of the vote) ... to see if East Timor could assist with taking
asylum
seekers from the Tampa. ... the monstrous
insensitivity
of the Australian Government disrupting the East Timorese political
leadership
on the very morning of the country’s first democratic elections in its
history beggars belief." Labor MP
Kevin
Rudd, all-party [Australian] delegation to ETimor's elections
Sep
6 RDP: Fretilin leader makes victory speech Speech
added
Sep 8
"Fretilin is proud to have carried out
and ensured an irreproachable election campaign. ... Fretilin
reiterates
solemnly its intention to constitute a government of inclusion, which
will
act as a catalyst for knowledge and the available synergies, to build
and
consolidate a state apparatus which is effective and without room for
corruption,
nepotism or the traffic of influence. A state where moral standards and
ethics prevail in the defence of the public good and in the
establishment
and consolidation of a democratic state of law. Fretilin commits
itself,
before the Maubere people, to guarantee the construction of a
democratic
state of law in East Timor, and it will do its utmost so that nothing
and
no one is able to jeopardize this objective." Lu
Olo, Fretilin’s president
Sep
6 RDP: Timorese leaders reiterate commitment to government of inclusion
Interview added Sep 8
"We have said several times that instead
of thinking of a coalition between parties, we should think of a
coalition
of talents. This country needs skills to be reborn with vigour and this
is what we hope to do." Mari
Alkatiri,
Fretilin
leader & future first prime minister of the second transitional
government
of East Timor
"I think that Fretilin, above all, has
shown that it reality wants a government of inclusion which will have
people
from parties which did not even obtain 1 per cent in the elections, one
deputy - as long as the person has talent - this is a great historic
opportunity,
a golden opportunity for Fretilin to show that it is a party of
statesmen.
... I would like to see the entire process of reconciliation, of
inclusion
to involve UDT, a historic party
which
was not very successful in these elections." Jose
Ramos Horta, current foreign minister
Sep 6 East Timor Election Results (percentage summaries) Results added Sep 8
Sep
6 UNTAET: Final Election Results Announced Today In East Timor
Briefing added Sep 7
"Fretilin is
the winning party, with 43 seats in the national election, and 12 of
the
13 district seats. The 88-member assembly will consist of one
representative
from each of East Timor’s 13 districts, with the rest of the seats
divided
on a proportional representation basis. The seat allocation on national
seats is as follows:
Frente
Revolucionária
do Timor-Leste Independente (Fretilin): 57.3 % of the vote, 43
seats;
Partido
Democrático (PD): 8.7 %, 7 seats; Partido
Social Democrata (PSD): 8.1%, 6 seats; Associação
Social-Democrata Timorense (ASDT): 7.8 %, 6 seats; União
Democrática Timorense (UDT): 2.3 %, 2 seats; Partido
Nasionalista Timorense (PNT): 2.2 %, 2 seats; Klibur
Oan Timor Asuwain (KOTA): 2.1 %, 2 seats; Partido
do Povo de Timor (PPT): 2 %, 2 seats; Partido
Democrata Cristão (PDC): 1.9 %, 2 seats; Partido
Socialista de Timor (PST): 1.7 %, 1 seat; Partai
Liberal (PL): 1.1 %, 1 seat; Partido
Democrata-Cristão de Timor (UDC/PDC): 0.6 %, 1 seat." UNTAET
Sep
6 ETAN: Grassroots & Congressional Action Mark Anniversary of Timor
Massacres Release added Sep 6
““East Timor took an historic step with
last week’s democratic, multiparty election. Yet, the U.S. and
the
wider international community have failed to fully address critical
issues,”
said John M. Miller, spokesperson for ETAN. “The victims of past crimes
require justice and all refugees
in West Timor who wish to return must be able to do so.” Approximately
one-tenth of those eligible to vote last week in East Timor’s
constituent
assembly election could not do so. They were among the estimated 80,000
East Timorese still held in squalid refugee camps in Indonesian West
Timor.
Humanitarian workers have described widespread malnutrition, epidemics,
militia intimidation and violence against women in the camps, which are
controlled by militia backed by the Indonesian military.” East
Timor Action Network (ETAN)
Sep
4 WI: On the road to democracy, where the streets have no name
Interview added Sep 13
"We’ll take Fretilin
as an example. Many people question why PD does not join the Fretilin.
But for PD members, the priority is to democratize the process. We do
not
want this country to be dominated by just one group. ... When we speak
of the (type of) people, in Fretilin there is a tendency towards
veteranism.
The seniors are considered to have more rights or know more. This is a
very patenalistic attitude unwanted by the PDs. ... There is also the
question
of leadership. We believe in the necessity for a new generation. ...
70%
of the top leaders of PD are under 40. You can’t say we’re really
youths
... we’re called the post-75 generation." Partido
Democratico (PD) leader, Fernando de Araujo
Sep
4 UNTAET: Further Results Announced In Constituent Assembly Polls
Results added Sep 5
"The Independent Electoral Commission
today announced the final, yet-to-be-certified national representative
results from the East Timorese districts of Viqueque, Lautem, Oecussi,
Bobonaro and Ermera districts following the 30 August Constituent
Assembly
elections." UNTAET Daily Briefing 4 September 2001
Sep
4 DemNow!: East Timor Votes Radio interview added Sep
4
"But East Timor is still far from being
a truly independent country. 9,000 UN troops continue to occupy the
territory.
East Timor will celebrate its independence almost wholly dependent upon
foreign aid. International agencies such as the World
Bank and IMF are creating East Timor’s
infrastructure
almost from scratch, while foreigners already dominate the local
economy
...
Guests: Jose
Ramos Horta; Joaquim Fonseca, Yayasan
Hak; John Miller, East Timor Action
Network."
Democracy NOW!
Sep
3 CIIR: Listen to East Timorese women’s voices, urges CIIR
Release added Sep 6
"CIIR’s delegation in East Timor looked
at women’s participation in the 30 August elections,
met political parties, non-governmental organisations, UN agencies and
voters in Dili and in the districts and concluded:
- Women were represented in party
lists but this doesn’t mean that women will automatically be elected.
...
- Most parties have not prioritised the
needs of women in their programmes. ...
- There is a severe lack of understanding
of the objective of the elections among the rural women. ...
- Violence against women is endemic,
amplified
by the post-conflict situation. ...
- Women have energetically organised to
address these issues through organisations ... " Catholic
Institute for International Relations (CIIR)
Sep
3 UNTAET: First Results Announced In Constituent Assembly Polls
Results added Sep 5
"The Independent Electoral Commission
today announced the final, yet-to-be-certified results from the 30
August
Constituent Assembly elections. District and national results were
announced
for five districts [Aileu, Ainaro, Covalima, Liquiça, and
Manatuto],
as well as the district representative for Lautem. All the district
representatives
provisionally elected thus far are representatives of the Fretilin
party." UNTAET Daily Briefing 3 September 2001
Sep
3 YHak: Elections in the Context of Nation-Building
Release
added Sep 4
"Much emphasis is being placed on the
provisional figure of the 91% voter turnout. However this figure must
be
compared to the figure of 98.6% voter turnout in the 1999 Popular
Consultation.
In extremely difficult circumstances the East Timorese people
demonstrated
their will and understanding of the act of voting and its accompanying
mechanisms. In 2001, in peaceful and secure environment, with the
presence
of heavily funded electoral education campaign, the voter turnout
stands
lower at 91%. Therefore the figure of 91% should not be read as
evidence
of a successful election, but evidence of the desire of the East
Timorese
people to have a voice in their future. ... This election is a step
towards
democracy, but is a small step in a long process to a successful
transition
to democracy." Yayasan HAK: Hukum, Hak
Asasi
& Keadilan (Law, Human Rights & Justice)
Sep
3 IFET Preliminary Election Observations Report added
Sep 4
" ... this election is a small
but important part of the larger process of nation-building, leading to
a constitution, independence, and self-government. IFET believes that
this
step has been mounted successfully, but that significant obstacles
remain
for a truly democratic process. ... We believe that the campaign and
voting
were largely free and fair, and that the results will accurately
reflect
the preferences of the people of East Timor within the limited issues
and
choices placed before them." International
Federation for East Timor (IFET)
Sep
3 STL: Bishop Belo invites refugees to return because of peaceful
election
News from ETimor added Sep 4
“You have all seen the way the 30 August
election
was conducted. It was peaceful and calm. Because of that, I appeal to
all
of you to return home to your country of birth so that you can live
peacefully
with all of us, ... We will congratulate which party that gets the most
votes. Those parties that do not get enough votes must not be
disappointed
because they will have an opportunity again in four or five years
time,”
Nobel Peace Laureate Bishop Carlos Ximenes Belo
Sep
3 Voting Behaviour, Outcome & Post-Election Role for the Int'l
Community
Analysis added Sep 4
"A return to conflict in the aftermath
of the election is a remote possibility. Simply put, however
ingenuous
this may sound, the uniqueness of East Timorese postconflict election,
itself is a guarantee for peace and security. In other words, the risk
of going back to bullet from ballot is minimal if not non-existence." Joao
Boavida
Sep
1 RDP: UDT to challenge results of first free elections
Interview added Sep 4
"Sergio Vieira de Mello, head of UNTAET,
the UN Transitional Administration in East Timor, has replied to the
fraud
accusations, made by UDT [Timorese
Democratic
Union] leader Joao Carrascalao, after the [30 August] elections
[for the constituent assembly]. Sergio Vieira de Mello said these
comments
were alarmist and violated the spirit under which the political parties
signed a national unity pact. He also said
that
the results would talk for themselves and that all irregularities
pointed
out by Joao Carrascalao, or anyone else, would be investigated by the
Independent
Electoral Committee. ... Speaking in a press conference, the UDT
president
blamed Fretilin [Revolutionary Front for an
Independent
East Timor] for crimes against humanity and demanded the UN to
carry
out a probe on the territory’s history of the period between 1974 and
1975.
He added that this was a necessary step to preventing criminals from
ruling
the country." RDP Antena 1 radio, Lisbon, Portugal
Sep
1. 11 am UN IEC: Statement of Chief Electoral Officer
Statement added Sep 2
"I would like to reiterate that our
highest
priority is the accuracy of the count, and we will take the time
necessary
to ensure that the results reflect the will of the voters. That said,
we
are on schedule at this point and anticipate that we will continue to
be."
Chief Electoral Officer, Independent Electoral Commission, UN
Aug
31 JSMP: Election observervation report Becora prison
Report added Sep 1
"A number of significant problems were
observed, leading to only 47% of the eligible voters being able to cast
their votes. As a result, many prisoners voiced their frustration and
anger
at being effectively disenfranchised through procedural flaws in the
electoral
process. ... JSMP makes the following recommendations: 1. That
prisoners
continue to be eligible to vote in future elections in East Timor; 2.
That
special provision be made for prisoners to vote outside their
registered
address or polling centre; 3. That future polling procedures be
designed
with the special circumstances of prisoners, who are detained by the
State,
in mind." Judicial System Monitoring
Programme
(JSMP)
Aug
31. 7 pm UN IEC: Statement of
Chief
Electoral Officer
Statement added Sep 1
"From these figures, we can see that the
highest turnout in percentage terms was in Ermera, with 94.3 percent
turnout,
and the lowest was in Dili with 87.1 percent. Nevertheless, Dili
produced the highest absolute number of voters, with 70,136 ballots
issued."
Chief Electoral Officer, Independent Electoral Commission, UN
Aug
31. 11am UN IEC: Statement of Chief Electoral Officer
Statement added Sep 1
" ... the Independent Electoral
Commission
is pleased to report that all ballot boxes have now safely arrived in
the
district capitals, and the counting process has begun. ... we can say
that
from the total estimated voter population, we have a turnout of 91
percent.
... We anticipate that we may have complete results from one or two
districts
by the end of the weekend, with the bulk of the results coming during
the
first half of next week." Chief Electoral Officer, Independent
Electoral
Commission, UN
Aug
30 UN IEC: Election Day Statements by Chief Electoral Officer
Statements added Aug 31
"30 August 2001 will be remembered in
the history of East Timor as a demonstration of the capacity of the
East
Timorese people to organize themselves, to participate, and to confront
their differences in the context of a multiparty democracy. It
will
also be remembered as a peaceful election, and this will help reassure
the East Timorese people that they can exercise their democratic rights
without fear." Chief Electoral Officer, Independent Electoral
Commission,
UN
Aug
30 Time Asia: Gusmao: What Happens Next? Interview
added
Aug 30
"TIME: Are you worried that the
election will proceed badly? Gusmao: I had been very worried
about
violence. So far, we don’t have any reports of it."
Aug
29 JRS: Refugees await election outcome Alert added
Sep
1
"As East Timor holds its first election
on 30 August, an estimated 10 per cent of its population living in refugee
camps in West Timor will not be participating in this process.
According
to JRS West Timor, some 80,000 refugees remain, ... Many refugees are
still
expected to return to East Timor. JRS East Timor director, Frank
Brennan
SJ, said the people in the camps are now waiting for a negotiated
settlement
between their leaders and an elected government in East Timor.
“Generally
people seem resigned to waiting until given the word from someone
higher
up whom they trust that it is time to move,” said Fr Brennan." Jesuit
Relief Service
Aug
29 AP: Large Number Of Voters Turn Up For East Timor Election
News added Aug 30
"Long lines formed in front of polling
stations in the morning twilight more than an hour before they opened
at
7 a.m. (2000 GMT Wednesday). The atmosphere was relaxed as people joked
with police who were ushering women and children to the front of the
line.
Election monitors said there were no reports of violence. ... Voters
will
choose the 88-member assembly that will write
the fledgling country’s constitution, and there was little doubt
who
would win. The Revolutionary Front for an
Independent
East Timor, which led the country’s independence struggle, had a
comfortable
lead in polls." AP
Aug
29 FAETTA: Horta's response to PD advert Release added
Aug 30
"Tomorrow’s vote is not to choose the
President and the Vice-President of the Republic, but simply and only
to
elect the Constituent Assembly. ... Under these circumstances I
categorically
and unequivocally declare that neither Xanana
Gusmao nor myself Ramos-Horta are in the running for the August 30
elections. I therefore encourage every Timorese to vote their
conscience,
in choosing from the parties and candidates that are actually running
for
election, and vote for those you trust." Cabinet Member for Foreign
Affairs
Dr
Jose Ramos-Horta
Italian:
Aug
29 FRETILIN Italia: Coordinamento italiano di solidarieta’ con il
Popolo
Timorese Letter added Aug 31
"Domani Timor Est fara’ un altro passo
decisivo verso la piena sovranita’. Il mio popolo eleggera’ i
membri
dell’Assemblea Costituente. La campanga elettorale e’ stata
contraddistinta
dalla calma e dell’ ormai avvenuto divorzio tra Xanana e il mio
partito.
Il FRETILIN e’ il grande favorito in virtu’ di 24 di lotta, di una
maggior
preparazione politica e dell’ ormai scomparsa dell’ avversario storico
l’
UDT che non e’ riuscito a sopperire
all’ emorragia verso il PSD e il PD.
Per questi due neonate formazioni politiche il tempo non ha consentito
che si organizzassero a sufficenza per contrastare la nostra capillare
diffusione sul territorio." Davide
Corona, FRETILIN ITALIA
Aug
29 GLW: Elections mark new step toward independence
Article
added Aug 31
"Overall there is
very little to distinguish the contesting parties from each other. In
many
cases their platforms or policies are identical. Most espouse support
for
a “free-market” economy. The only exception is the Socialist
Party of Timor (PST) which has consistently focused on developing a
base among workers and the rural poor through establishing peasant
cooperatives
and campaigning for better wages and conditions for East Timorese
employed
by the UN and private businesses. The 5000 strong rally the PST
organised
in Dili on August 25 reflects its growing influence." Jon
Land,
Indonesia
- East Timor Campaign Watch
Aug
28 SMH: To forge a future, Timor needs justice for the past
Article from ETimor added Aug 30
"On Thursday we elect a constituent
assembly which will write
our constitution. It is a proud moment for a new country. As we
move
towards independence, we must remain vigilant in pursuing
justice for those whose lives were scarred by violence. The inner
life
of the people of East Timor continues to be clouded by the events of
1999,
as well as by doubts about the future." Bishop Carlos Belo
Aug
28 Problems in East Timorese participating in the elections
Statement added Aug 29
" ‘How about my democratic right to choose
the leaders to represent me?’ asks a villager who will have to walk 4 -
5 hours to vote in East Timor’s first ever democratic elections. ...
This
is the foundation of the new country but some will be denied their
right
to participate. Many East Timorese will have to walk long distances to
vote. The young can do it but how about the old, sick, handicapped and
who will look after the children and village when people are away
voting?"
Aug
27 ABC: Fretilin expects to win more than 60 seats
Interview
added Aug 29
"Fitzgerald: You have a reputation as
a socialist. Is that a perception?
Alkatiri [Sec-Gen, Fretilin]:
“I always refuse to be labelled. What I can assure you is that my main
pre-occupation is people. How to help them, how to develop the country
to such a level that they can have what they need. I am not against the
rich people but I am really against poverty.” " Australian Broadcasting
Corporation
Tetum
Aug
25 Xanana: Desizaun ba Kandidata an Presidente hosi Timor Lorosa’e
Statement added Aug 29
"Loron hirak tan, iha 30 de Agosto,
ita hotu sei tuir eleisoens ba Assembleia Constituinte, nebé sei
fila ba ita nia Parlamento. Fou-foun kedas, mosu duvida iha povu nia
let
kona ba se mak atu sai Presidente, tanba ita nia povu hanoin katak ita
sei tui sistema indonésio nian nebé DPR mak foti
Presidente."Kay
Rala Xanana Gusmão
Portuguese
Aug
25 Xanana: "Aceitarei Ser Candidato Dos Partidos A Presidente"
Statement added Aug 29
"As eleições que vão
ter lugar no próximo dia 30 de Agosto serão para a
Assembleia
Constituinte e que muito provàvelmente virá a
tranformar-se
no primeiro Parlamento. Havia logo no início, no seio do povo, a
dúvida se estas eleições seriam também para
o Presidente da República, pois o povo estava já
habituado
ao sistema das eleições indonésias, onde o
parlamento
decide sobre quem deve ser o Presidente." Kay
Rala Xanana Gusmão
Aug
25 Xanana's statement on decision to run for President
Statement added Aug 29
"The elections which will take place on
30 August are for the Constituent Assembly which will, in all
likelihood,
transform itself into the first Parliament. From the beginning there
existed
among our people doubts as to whether these elections would also
determine
who would become the President of the Republic given that our people
are
accustomed to the Indonesian electoral system, according to which the
parliament
decides who will take office as President." Kay
Rala Xanana Gusmão
Aug
24 UNIFEM: Participation of women as candidates for the elections
Info update added Aug 25
"We have made an important update to the
East Timor page of the UNIFEM East and South East Asia web site ...
Almost
all of the page content has been changed, with the highlight being an
all
new section about the participation of women as candidates for the
30th
August 2001 election, including an assessment of the support they
will
need to be elected. " Geoff
Corner,
UNIFEM
Aug
21 CIIR: Where are East Timor's women leaders? Article
added Aug 23
"As the people of East Timor prepare to
elect the country’s first national assembly since independence CIIR is
sending an all-women team of observers to focus on women’s
participation. ... Three women candidates are standing as
independent
candidates in the districts, Olandina Caeiro, Teresa Carvalho, and Maria
Domingas Fernandes. The election of one or all of them ... ‘ ...
would
be a step towards dealing with unreasonable discrimination in East
Timorese
society, which is profoundly conservative and traditional, and in which
women occupy a position of subjugation, if we succeed in changing it
just
a little bit.’ [Caeiro said]" Catherine
Scott, Asia Policy Officer, Catholic
Institute for International Relations (CIIR)
Aug
20 SMH: Gusmao ready to stand for president News added
Aug 20
"Ending months of speculation on the eve
of his country’s first democratic elections, East Timor’s charismatic
independence
leader Mr
Xanana Gusmao has indicated he is prepared to stand for president.
A diplomatic source in Dili said he would publicly confirm details of
his
proposed political role in days. ... “He says he is going to put the
condition
that if they want him to be president of East Timor that not a single
drop
of blood shall be spilt, [during the elections]” the source said." Mark
Dodd, Herald Correspondent in Dili and agencies
Aug
20 Text of Pact of National Unity (signed July 8th)
Text
added Aug 20
"Pact of National Unity: Convinced
of the need to create and maintain an atmosphere of peace and stability
as primary grounds for the sustainable development of East Timor;
Considering
the principles consecrated in the Magna Carta approved at the First
National
Convention of East Timor, which took place in 1998, in Peniche,
Portugal;
Conscious of the need to assure an atmosphere of mutual respect and
trust
... " APODETI
Pro-Refrendum
AssociaçaoPopularDemocráticadeTimor Pró-Refrendum;
ASDT
Associação Sosial Demokrata Timorense; FRETILIN
Frente Revolucianário de Timor Leste Independente; KOTA
Klibur Oan Timor Aswa’in; PD
Partido
Demokrático;
PDC Partido Demokrata
Cristão;
PDM Partido Democrático
Maubere;
PL Partai Liberal; PPT
Partido de Povo de Timor; PSD
Partido
Social Democrata Timor Lorosa’e; PST
Partido
Socialista de Timor; PTT
Partido
Trabalhista Timorense;
UDC/PDC
União Democratica Cristão; UDT
União Democrática Timorense. [Signed by all parties
except
PARENTIL
and PNT]
Aug
19 VOA: Xanana Gusmao: Guerrilla-Turned-Statesman
Article
added Aug 22
"East Timor is not likely not to hold
a presidential election until just before it achieves full independence
early next year, and that poses a problem for East Timor’s U.N.
caretakers.
Mr.
Gusmao is so extraordinarily popular that many are under the
mistaken
belief that the August 30 ballot to election an interim council to write
a constitution is really a presidential election, and thousands
have
declared their intention to vote for Mr. Gusmao." Patricia Nunan
Aug
18 STL: Bishop Belo's Pastoral letter Letter added Aug
20
"Those amongst you who want to be big
must first be your servers; those amongst you who want to be famous
must
first be your slaves. Why? Because the Son of Man did not come to be
served,
but to give his life so that Mankind may live (Mark 10: 43-45) ... Once
again we are at a crucial moment in our history, a moment that is
important
in our efforts to develop our nation. This is our first general
election.
In less than two weeks we will choose, for the first time, our leaders
the people's representatives who will be given the heavy responsibility
of drafting a Constitution
that will encompass all our hopes and aspirations." Bishop Carlos
Ximenes
Belo
Aug
18 SMH: After 26 years, Timorese about to begin life again
Article added Aug 18
"Whether or not Fretilin
will win its expected landslide, it appears there will be a large
percentage
gap between it and the second-place party. Because 16 parties are
competing,
the vote of the 409,019 electors will be divided various ways, a
problem
aggravated by the fact that most parties were only formed after 1999.
There
is no one opposition party that can match Fretilin.
The serious contenders in the second rank
are the Social Democrat Party (PSD
in the Portuguese acronym) led by former governor Mario Carrascalao, the
Democratic Party (PD), headed by student leader Fernando Araujo, the
radical Timorese Socialist Party (PST), led by Avelino Coelho da
Silva,
and the nationalist Timorese
Democratic
Union (UDT), led by Joao Carrascalao. The
Timorese Social Democratic Party (ASDT), formed by Fretilin founder
Francisco Xavier do Amaral last March, may also make its mark, with
support
from traditional leaders in the central Ainaro region." Jill Jolliffe
(in
Dili), freelance journalist, author of 'Cover-Up: The Inside Story of
the
Balibo Five' [to be published Oct 16]
Aug
13 RDP: East Timorese political rivals exchange accusations
Interview added Aug 14
"The old political rivals UDT
and Fretilin seem to have awakened to a new
existence of political opposition, 26 years after the ideological
dispute
which took East Timor to civil war. The UDT has accused its political
opponent
of promoting an anti-democratic intimidation campaign but Fretilin has
countered these accusations. In an attempt to play down UDT’s
accusations,
Mari Alkatiri, the secretary-general of Fretilin [economy minister of
the
transition government who stood down for campaigning] has said that UDT
is the party ignoring the principles of democracy" Antonio Veladas
Aug
11 ABC RN: Jose Ramos Horta: Walk a Mile in my Shoes
Transcript
added Aug 13
"Picture an election where the
media has no real influence, an election where, if you want to take
your
message to the people, you have to fly to remote mountaintops, or drive
for hours on treacherous roads and risk attacks from violent gangs. An
election where if you’re to have any chance of winning, you’ve got to
have
the blessing of the church. An election where voters are scared to go
to
the ballot box because the last time they did, they saw their houses go
up in flames and blood flow in the streets. ... this week ... we go on
a campaign trail like no other, with Jose
Ramos Horta in East Timor, as his country literally invents its own
institutions." Gerald Tooth
Aug
9 RENETIL'S Election Observer Commission Statement
added
Aug 30
"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." RENETIL,
Resistencia Nacional Dos Estudantes De Timor Leste
Aug
6 EMMP: Timor Journalists Adopt Code of Conduct for Elections
Statement added Aug 13
"The Timor Lorosa’e Journalists’
Association
(TLJA) adopted a code of conduct for its members to follow during the
ongoing
election campaign in East Timor ... The voluntary code is an effort by
TLJA to encourage its members to behave in a fair and responsible
manner
during the territory’s first free elections. ... The aim of the code is
to assist Timorese journalists in maintaining careful balance in their
reporting while avoiding taking sides in political debates." Election
Media
Mediation Panel
Aug 5 Contact info for ET political parties Info added Aug 10
Jul
25 IFET: Scheiner: No IFET-OP 2001 observer project
Letter
added July 26
"A number of people from around the world
have asked if the International Federation for East Timor (IFET) is
going
to organize an observer project for the upcoming August 30 constituent
assembly election in East Timor, as we did for the referendum two years
ago. Based on advice from East Timorese
NGOs, on our capacity, and on our assessment of the current
situation,
we will not be organizing such a project. ... This is a decision based
on priorities and resources, not on principle. ... We reached this
decision
reluctantly, after discussions with La’o
Hamutuk,
Yayasan
Hak, and other East Timorese NGOs." Charles
Scheiner, U.N. Representative,
International
Federation for East Timor (IFET)
Portuguese:
Jul
20 OTL: As eleições para a Assembleia Constituinte e os
Partidos
Políticos Report added July 26
"As primeiras eleições
livres
de Timor Leste devem realizar-se em 30 de Agosto. A sua
organização
pertence ao Governo transitório das Nações Unidas
que tiveram de realizar o recenseamento da população e o
recenseamento eleitoral, registo dos partidos políticos e dos
candidatos.
Mais difícil é assegurar a paz a uma
população
que tem a recordação viva da destruição que
se seguiu os resultados da consulta popular organizada pelas NU em
1999."
Observatório
Timor Leste
Jul
20 ETO: Constituent Assembly Elections and the Political Parties
Report added July 24
"East Timor’s first free elections are
to take place on 30 August. They have been organised by the UN
transitional
government, which first had to carry out a population census and an
electoral
registration process, and then conduct a registration of the political
parties and other election candidates. However, a more difficult task
is
that of keeping the peace among a population for whom the devastation
that
followed the announcement of the results of the UN-sponsored popular
consultation
in 1999 is still a vivid memory." East
Timor
Observatory
Jul
20 STL: Fretilin shakes Liquica town News from ETimor
added Jul 21
“But today we are gathered here full of
hope. Now we live free in a democracy. We do not have to be afraid of
the
enemy, because the enemy has left the country. Democracy, now, is not
the
same as democracy during the time of the Indonesians. Democracy now
will
bring us to the road of independence,” Luis Lobato.
Jul
18 STL: Don’t believe rumors Editorial from ETimor
added
July 20
"But the irresponsible are still around.
As evidenced two days ago, they were some politicians who were
spreading
rumors that there was a group of armed Indonesians heading towards
Timor
Lorosae. All these rumors are meant to scare people. FDTL
Commander Brigadier-General Taur Matan Ruak had to intervene to
calm
the people. He asked the people not to believe rumors and not to
believe
those who said an armed group of Indonesian was out to disrupt the 30
August
election." Suara Timor Lorosae
Jul
16 STL: National Council Officially Dissolved News
from
ETimor added July 17
"The Transitional UN Administrator Sergio
Vieira de Mello on Saturday officially dissolved the National Council."
Suara Timor Lorosae
Jul
9 STL: National Unity Pact signed News from ETimor
added
July 11
"The long-awaited National Unity Pact
was at least signed by 14 political parties last night. Only two
parties
opted to stay out of it the National
Party of Timor (PNT) and National Republic Party of Timor Leste
(Parentil).
... Political parties that signed the National Unity Pact will be bound
by 14 clauses. The most important clause is that all parties must
accept
unconditionally the results of the UN-supported popular consultation on
30 August 1999, whereby the Timorese overwhelmingly voted to separate
from
Indonesia. ... Also, all the political parties, in the pact, agreed to
refrain from violence ... " Suara
Timor Lorosae
Tetum
Jul
8 Pacto Unidade Nacional Nian Text added Sep 1
"Pacto Unidade Nacional Nian:
Hatene
tiha ona katak iha necessidade atu hamoris no kuda dame no hakmatek iha
ita nia let hanesan alicerce fundamental ida hatu haburas Timor
Lorosae;
Hare ba principios lulik sutar makna nian nebe maka hetan
provação
huso convencão ba dala uluk iha tinan 1998 iha Piniche Portugal;
Hatene tiha ona katak iha necicidade atu kuda iha ita nian let respeita
malu no fiar malu; ... " APODETI
Pro-Refrendum;
ASDT
Associação Sosial Demokrata Timorense; FRETILIN
Frente Revolucianário de Timor Leste Independente; KOTA
Klibur Oan Timor Aswa’in; PD
Partido
Demokrático;
PDC Partido Demokrata
Cristão;
PDM Partido Democrático
Maubere;
PL Partai Liberal; PPT
Partido de Povo de Timor; PSD
Partido
Social Democrata Timor Lorosa’e; PST
Partido
Socialista de Timor; PTT
Partido
Trabalhista Timorense; UDC/PDC
União
Democratica Cristão; UDT
União
Democrática Timorense. [Partidu ida-idak tau asinatura
sira-nian
iha lia-kotun. Maibé PARENTIL
no PNT la tau asinatura.]
Jul
8 PD: Manifesto & speech of Partido Democratico
Full
text added July 12
" ... the Democratic Party, want to remind
and appeal to all of you to contribute your strength, knowledge and
experience
to the political party that you have chosen. The Democratic Party
respects
your freedom of choice and its doors are wide open to every citizen of
Timor Loro Sae. If you want democracy and the new political alternative
you are welcome to join PD!" Fernando "La Sama" de Araujo, President of
Democratic
Party (PD)
Jul
4 GLW: New party in East Timor faces election challenge
Article added July 12
"In the lead-up to the elections, the
PST [Socialist Party of Timor] has
launched
a new political manual designed to give a basic introduction to the
party
for new members. The 15-page publication sets out, and answers,
“frequently
asked questions” about the PST: its structure, its program on social,
political
and economic issues. The PST has put forward 75 candidates for the
Constituent
Assembly election, 19 of whom, including its top candidate, are women.
In a surprise move, the list does not include its high-profile general
secretary, Avelino Coelho da Silva. Coelho said he would be focusing
his
attention on other areas of the party’s activities." Vanya Tanaja
Jul
3 UN: Timor Sea arrangement approved by East Timor cabinet
Release added July 7
“This is the very first time the United
Nations has participated in negotiating a treaty on behalf of a
country.
It will be up to the new elected Government of East Timor to decide
whether
it wants the treaty or not. I believe it is a good treaty, I think it
is
to the advantage of East Timor and so my recommendation would be that
East
Timor agree its terms,” Peter Galbraith, Cabinet Member for Political
Affairs
and Timor Sea
Tetum:
Junho
2001 BLH: Lia Badak: Nasional survey konaba votantes sira nian
konhecimentu
News from ETimor added Aug 26
"Iha loron 22 fulan Maiu, Asia Foundation
(husi Estados Unidos) fo sai resultadu “nasional survey konaba votantes
sira nian konhecimentu.” Survey ne’e hala’o iha fin de Marsu husi
working
group NGO Forum ba Edukasaun Votantes
sira
nian, envolve mos ho intrevistas ho votantes potensiais iha districtus
13 iha rai Timor. Hatudu Timor eleitoradu sira senti positivu pursentu
75 ema ba hare ne’e hanoin katak rai ne’e la’o iha diresaun los no
pursentu
94 hatete katak sira atu vota iha eleisaun be mai ne’e. Maibe resultadu
ne’e fo’o preokupasaun bo’ot konaba eleisaun."
La’o
Hamutuk, Institutu Timor Lorosa’e ba Analiza no Monitor Reconstrusaun
Tetum:
Junho
2001 BLH: Lia Badak: Partisipasaun Politika hosi
Feto News from ETimor added Aug 26
"Iha loron 1 fulan Maiu, UNTAET sira nian
“Gender Affairs/Urusan Gender” Unit hamutuk ho Nasoes Unidas nian
Fundus
ba Feto sira (UNIFEM) komesa halao treinu potensial ba kandidatus feto
sira. Treinu ne’e hala’o iha fulan Maiu nian laran to’o prinsipiu fulan
Junhu no fokus ba partisipasaun politika,
halo desizaun no konhecimentu baziku konaba oinsa bele sai kandidatu
iha
eleisaun
oin mai hanesan membru konstituanti."
La’o
Hamutuk, Institutu Timor Lorosa’e ba Analiza no Monitor Reconstrusaun
Jun
29 SMH: People to have their say - but so will the UN
News added June 29
"The United Nations has told the people
of East Timor they will be virtually self-governing from September 15 -
but that the UN will decide who will form the government. The head of
the
UN administration in the country, Mr Sergio Vieira de Mello, appealed
yesterday
to political parties to accept a government of national unity after
elections
on August 30 for a constituent assembly, or parliament. He indicated he
had the right to appoint such a government, although he added that the
new Cabinet would “broadly reflect” the results of the elections." Mark
Dodd, Herald Correspondent in Dili
May
2001 AsiaFound: Nat'l Survey of Voter Knowledge
Foreword
and executive summary added June 28
"This report presents the findings of
the first ever random nationwide survey to assess East Timorese
political
opinions and knowledge. ... The survey involved 1,558 in-person
interviews
of potential voters in a total of 392 Aldeia in 196 villages in all the
13 districts of East Timor. It addresses critical issues related to the
national mood; voter and civic education issues; access to
media;
language
use and preference; and demographics." The Asia Foundation
May
20 FRETILIN: Electoral Commitment 2001 Position
statement
added July 5
"The struggle of our People was always
aimed at restoring independence. FRETILIN, as the driving force of the
resistance, believed in the unwavering capacity of the Maubere People
to
resist and to win. ... Together we will Restore Independence and Free
the
People." FRETILIN:
Frente Revolucionária Do Timor-Leste Independente
April
2001 ACFOA: Walsh: East Timor's Political Party Profiles Complete
text of report [150KB] added May 22
"East Timor is now entering the last,
crucial stage of the transition process to full independence. ... The
scene
is now set, however, for the political parties to take their rightful
place
under the spotlight as key players in the democratic process. This is a
healthy and positive development which excesses by some should not be
permitted
to undermine. ... How many parties will contest the election? Who are
their
leaders and how does one contact them? How have they changed from
previous
times? What ideas and policies do they have for East Timor’s
development,
foreign policy and so on?" Pat
Walsh, Human rights consultant,
Australian
Council for Overseas Aid
Bahasa Indonesia:
Maret
2001 ACFOA: Partai-Partai Dan Kelompok-Kelompok Politik Di Timor Timur
Téks
[150KB] added June 29
"Timor-Timur kini tengah memasuki tahap
akhir yang penting dari proses transisi menuju kemerdekaan penuh. ...
Tetapi
sekarang partai-partai boleh menduduki ‘centre stage’ untuk memainkan
peranan
penting mereka dalam suatu proses demokrasi. Ini adalah suatu kemajuan
yang positif dan sehat di mana kelebihan seseorang tidak menjadi faktor
yang melemahkan. ... Berapa banyak partai yang akan bertanding dalam
pemilihan?
Siapa pemimpin partai-partai tersebut dan bagaimana mereka dapat
dihubungi?
Seberapa berbeda partai-partai ini dibandingkan dengan yang sebelumnya?
Apa ide-ide dan kebijakan mereka terhadap pembangunan di Timor Timur,
kebijakan
luar negeri dan sebagainya?" Pat
Walsh, Badan Bantuan Luar Negeri Australia
Mar
17 SMH: UN fears sabotage of ETimor elections News
added
Mar 20
"The UN memo says CPD-RDTL
supporters had clashed with members of the East Timorese
pro-independence
Fretilin party on Atauro on February 22, the same time as the seven
Indonesians
[suspected spies] were seen there. Last week, Mr Gusmao warned of links
between senior RDTL officials and shadowy Indonesian army intelligence
agents." Mark Dodd, Herald Correspondent in Dili
Mar
16 CNRT/NCP: Gusmao: Speech at signing of the Electoral Regulation
Speech added Mar 18
"[This is the] English version of the
speech of the Presdient of CNRT/CN and National
Council (NC) at the signing of the Electoral Regulation for the
forthcoming
and first elections to be held on August the 30th this year. The original
speech was said in Portuguese and translated into English by the
Media
Unit of CNRT/CN Presidency." Ines
Alemeida, Head, Media Unit CNRT/CN
Portuguese:
Mar
15 CNRT/CNP: Gusmão: O Regulamento Assinado pelo Dr
Sérgio
De Mello Speech added Mar 18
"Intervenção do Presidente
do CNRT/CN, Xanana Gusmão na ocasião da assinatura, pelo
Dr Sergio Vieira de Mello, Administrador Transitório, do
regulamento
sobre a eleição de uma Assembleia Constituinte para a
elaboração
de uma constituiçâo para um Timor Leste independente e
democrático"
CNRT/Congresso
Nacional Presidência
Portuguese:
Mar
5 OTL: Partidos políticos e Forças
pró-independência
Report
"Oito partidos apresentam-se sob a
bandeira
da independência. Dos cinco partidos criados em 1974, quatro
foram
levados a colaborar, mais ou menos, com o ocupante indonésio. A
FRETILIN sempre se opôs à ocupação.
Consciente
da vantagem que adquiriu, a FRETILIN sente-se limitada na frente comum
proposta por Xanana Gusmão, e quer partir à conquista do
poder. Mas para alguns isso faz renascer a lembrança da guerra
civil
de 1974 e provoca apelos angustiados de Xanana Gusmão a favor da
unidade nacional." Observatório
Timor Leste
Mar
5 ETO: Political parties and Pro-Independence Forces
Report
updated Apr 27
"There are 8 parties behind the
independence
flag. Of the five parties set up in 1974, four eventually collaborated,
to a greater or lesser extent, with the Indonesian occupiers. FRETILIN
always maintained its opposition to the occupation. Aware of its
present
advantage, FRETILIN now feels restricted as part of the united front
proposed
by Xanana Gusmão, and wants to leave it to conquer its own
territory.
For some, however, talk of such a move only rekindles memories of the
1974
civil war and impels Xanana Gusmão to appeal for national
unity."
East
Timor Observatory
Feb 24 AGE: Date set for East Timor election News added Mar 1
Feb 22 STL & TP: Political Party Registration / No Dual Citizenships for Party Leaders News from ETimor added Feb 23
Jan
24 GLW: `Fretilin will win first Timor election' News
added Jan 25
"We expect over 50% of the first elected
parliament -- definitely ... [Fretilin is] in the best position to
promote
tolerance and democracy" Estanislau da Silva, member of Fretilin's
central
committee
Nov
13 2000 The East Timorese NGO Forum: Meeting with UN Security Council
"Is UNTAET committed to the participation
of East Timorese civil society or only to consultation in the
performance
of the mandate?
The National Council is not a
democratically
elected parliament. UNTAET should not treat it as such. Until there is
a democratically elected Congress, UNTAET must make greater efforts to
ensure the participation of interested East Timorese groups in the law
and policy making processes." Forum Nacional
ONG
Timor Lorosa'e / The East Timor National NGO Forum