Francisco Guterres Lu Olo a Presidente
"Serei Presidente de todos e para todos"
Comunicado de Imprensa
Quinta-Feira. 19 de Abril de 2007
O candidato presidencial da FRETILIN, Francisco Guterres Lu Olo, rejeitou hoje as acusações feitas por Ramos-Horta, publicadas recentemente na imprensa local de Dili, de que a FRETILIN está a fazer uma campanha comunista contra ele.
"A FRETILIN é um partido politico que tem como objectivo principal a protecção da soberania nacional de Timor-Leste," disse Lu Olo. "Nós não estamos a fazer uma campanha comunista contra Ramos-Horta, nem somos um partido comunista. Isto é apenas uma acusação enganadora, feita por Ramos-Horta, para tentar ganhar alguns pontos politicos."
"Porque é que Ramos-Horta usa a etiqueta de comunista contra a FRETILIN? Esta é a mesma 'arma' que foi usada em 1975, pelos militares indonésios e seus colaboradores, para justificar a invasão e os assassinatos em massa do povo timorense".
"Também questionamos o porquê de Ramos-Horta estar a atacar Moçambique, uma nação que nunca abandonou o povo de Timor-Leste e a nossa luta pela independência," disse Lu Olo.
"Foram os Moçambicanos que deram um abrigo ao Sr Ramos-Horta, e aos timorenses exilados, quando a Indonésia invadiu Timor-Leste em Dezembro de 1975. Foi com o grande apoio do governo e do povo Moçambicanos que a diáspora timorense foi capaz de iniciar, de forma eficaz, a luta pela independência, na frente diplomatica.
"Enquanto esteve em Moçambique, Ramos-Horta recebeu um passaporte Moçambicano que permitiu que pudesse continuar o seu trabalho diplomatico, e também o seu filho nasceu e cresceu em Moçambique," Lu Olo acrescentou.
"Ramos-Horta usou os Moçambicanos quando o convinha, mas agora que é um candidato presidencial ele despreza-os como uma tentativa desonesta para obter votos. Este não é o tipo de comportamento que se esperaria de um candidato presidencial."
Lu Olo disse também que os acessores Moçambicanos, que vieram recentemente à Timor-Leste para auxiliar a FRETILIN, foram convidados pelo partido para ajudar na formação de fiscais e observadores do partido, para as eleições.
"Isto foi apenas um forma de fortalecer o processo democratico. Insinuar que a utilização de Moçambicanos de certa forma corrompeu o processo eleitoral é uma maneira barata e baixa, por parte de Ramos-Horta, de tentar obter votos."
Lu Olo rejeitou também as acusações feitas por Ramos-Horta de que a FRETILIN havia contractado uma empresa brasileira de relações públicas para gerir a sua campanha.
"Qualquer pessoa pode ver que a FRETILIN estabeleceu uma dedicada equipe de comunição sociale informação para as eleições, que consiste de jovens timorenses, militantes do partido. Ao contrário de Ramos-Horta, que no passado recebeu assistência de acessores de Imprensa Australianos, a FRETILIN deposita total fé e confiança em jovens timorenses, dedicados para fazerem esse trabalho para nós, disse Lu Olo.
Para mais informações, contacte:
Harold Moucho (Assessor Político de Lu Olo) (+670) 723 0048 (Dili)
Jose Manuel Fernandes (Representante Oficial de Lu Olo para as Eleições) (+670) 734 2174 (Dili)
http://www.luolobapresidente.blogspot.com, http://luolo.blogspot.com, http://www.timortruth.com
quinta-feira, abril 19, 2007
Lu Olo: Nós não estamos a fazer uma campanha comunista contra Ramos-Horta
East Timor: Democracy Split
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
John Martinkus
The votes cast in the 9 April first round of East Timor’s Presidential elections have been counted. Only preliminary results are available at this stage, but these indicate that a second round will be required on 8 May between the first round winner Francisco ‘Lu Olo’ Guterres (the candidate of FRETILIN, the Party which currently controls Parliament), and second-placed current Prime Minister, José Ramos Horta, who won 28.8 per cent and 22.5 per cent of the vote respectively.
From these results we can deduce that FRETILIN was the clear winner in a poll which many in East Timor see as a crucial indicator of whether the retiring President, Xanana Gusmão, has the electoral clout to secure control of Parliament and become Prime Minister at the 30 June parliamentary elections.
The political divisions that led to last year’s crisis are becoming increasingly clear. It is a conflict between those who remain loyal to former Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri and his FRETILIN Party, which fought for East Timor’s independence from Indonesia, and those who believe the future lies with Xanana, Ramos Horta and the nascent Democratic Party (PD).
Xanana’s vision for the future is simple. He has stated repeatedly that if elected as Prime Minister he would approve the release of the funds held in the East Timor Government’s ‘Petroleum Fund’ — which was set up in 2005 to manage the revenues from huge oil and gas reserves in the Timor Sea.
Alkatiri and FRETILIN maintain they are already spending the money and that last year’s crisis (which they now squarely say was caused by Xanana) has prevented them spending money already allocated in the Budget.
The other main issue in this election was whether Xanana was behind the push to unseat Alkatiri from the Prime Minister’s office last year. Opinion here is sharply polarised between those who believe that Xanana, backed by the international community, was the driving force behind last year’s violent events, and those who believe that he only came out against FRETILIN to prevent further disorder.
Most analysts in Australia have failed to appreciate the depth of support that FRETILIN retains in the east of the country. As the only East Timorese political Party that never made concessions to the Indonesians and never stopped fighting for independence, FRETILIN has an enormous symbolic place in the minds of many who lost family and suffered fighting for them.
Xanana’s now very public opposition to FRETILIN has infuriated many who once revered the charismatic leader. As one senior FRETILIN member Harold Moucho said, ‘These are the people that died for Xanana and now he has betrayed them.’
This division between Xanana’s supporters and FRETILIN loyalists cuts right through East Timorese society and has caused problems during this election. FRETILIN complained bitterly when Xanana came out and attended a rally for his preferred Presidential candidate Ramos Horta, saying that it was not appropriate for a sitting President to be politically active.
The European Union Electoral Observer Mission, the most experienced and credible of all the electoral observer groups in East Timor, noted in its preliminary report that ‘during the campaign, some public officials took political positions — from village chiefs up to the highest national authorities.’ The report went on to identify the CNE (National Election Commission) spokesman Martinho Gusmão’s and his public statements in support of Democratic Party candidate Fernando ‘Lasama’ Araujo.
All through last week, as the person responsible for announcing the results, Martinho Gusmão, a Catholic priest, was the centre of attention. Based on the results from the capital, Dili, he basically called the election in favour of Ramos Horta, with Araujo as the runner up. The majority of the results weren’t made available until last Wednesday — causing a shock when FRETILIN moved from third position to first, after the inclusion of the results from the Baucau and Lautem districts in the country’s east.
The high support for FRETILIN in the east mirrored the divisions drummed up by leaders last year that resulted in east/west violence during the crisis. But last Saturday, Martinho Gusmão revealed at another press conference that the counting for key areas of FRETILIN support in the east — Lautem, Viqueque and FRETILIN candidate Lu Olo’s home town of Ossu — had not been completed. He then went on to tell the press that that the total number of votes in the biggest eastern city of Baucau was 200,000 higher than registered voters.
In an electorate of only 520,000, this was an extraordinary claim. European Union observers, however, say that there were never any ‘excess voters’ and that Martinho Gusmão was highlighting a mathematical error that had already been ironed out.
Why would he do this? As a confessed supporter of third-placed candidate Araujo, the CNE spokesman may be trying to assist the latter’s calls to have the vote declared invalid. FRETILIN has repeatedly called for the spokesman to be removed, issuing another statement this week stating, ‘The CNE failed to remove him and since then he has repeatedly made statements prejudicial to FRETILIN and to the independence and neutrality of the CNE.’
When asked to respond to accusations of his own personal bias Martinho Gusmão said simply, ‘That happens to me everyday. I will not answer that question.’
The rash of allegations of voting irregularities from all the losing candidates — including Ramos Horta — contribute to a very delicate situation where there are already calls to have the vote recounted. It is worth noting that these calls of foul play only started when the majority FRETILIN vote was made known.
If any violence erupts in East Timor as a consequence of this FRETILIN victory it will be started not by FRETILIN but by those who are already disputing the result. The same people who, last year, resorted to violence to remove Alkatiri from power.
About the author
John Martinkus covered the conflict in East Timor from 1995 until 2000. He was resident
correspondent in Dili for Associated Press and Australian Associated Press, from 1998 until 2000.
He is author of A Dirty Little War (Random House, 2001), about the country’s violent passage to independence. And last year, he co-produced the report ‘East Timor: Downfall of a Prime Minister’ for SBS TV’s Dateline.
AVISO - CNE
No. 139/RE-CNE/IV/2007
Resultados Provisórios Nacionais da Eleição Presidencial de 09 de Abril de 2007
A CNE, no quadro do apuramento das actas para anúncio dos resultados provisórios, terminou no dia 15 de Abril, às 04.30 horas da manhã o processo de revisão das actas e de decisão sobre os votos nulos e reclamados das 705 estações de voto das eleições presidenciais, vindas dos treze distritos. Este processo iniciou-se no dia 12 de Abril às 11.38 horas.
Uma vez terminado o apuramento, e de acordo com o art. 46, 2.(lei 7/2006) a CNE tinha 72 horas para elaborar e afixar na sua sede a acta do apuramento provisório dos resultados nacionais.
Como ainda existiam algumas inconsistências aritméticas para resolver a CNE dirigiu uma carta ao Tribunal de Recurso no dia 17 de Abril, solicitando autorização para proceder à abertura dessas urnas necessárias para o apuramento dos resultados provisórios ncionais. Em resposta, o Tribunal de Recurso comunicou que esta tinha toda a autoridade para decidir sobre as medidas necessárias e adequadas para poder chegar a esses resultados. Com base nesta decisão a CNE decicdiu utilizar essas 72 horas para verificar e rever as actas das estações de voto com inconsistências aritméticas provenientes de Dili (14), Ermera (3) e Manufahi (1). Esta operação assim como a introdução dos dados na base de dados (a nível da estaçao de voto por cada distrito) realizou-se, na presença dos fiscais de candidaturas, observadores internacionais e nacionais da seguinte maneira:
Dia 17/04
17:00 – 24:00 – Abertura das urnas, separação e verificação de todos os boletins;
24:00 – 02:00 – Introdução dos dados verificados por cada estação com inconsistências (Dili, Ermera e Manufahi);
02:00 – 03:30 – Introdução de todos os dados na base de dados dessas estações para apuramento do resultado provisório e continuação da verificação;
09:00 – 11:30 – Abertura e verificação das ultimas urnas e introdução dos ultimos dados.
11:30 – 16:30 – Verificação final e impressão da Acta Final e Acta Conjunta dos resultados provisórios da Eleição Presidencial de 2007;
17:30 – Anuncio do Resultado Provisório da Eleição Presidencial de 09 de Abril de 2007 ao publico
Também hoje a CNE, em plenária, de acordo com a Lei Eleitoral, fez a apreciação das queixas e reclamações apresentadas e decidiu sobre aquelas que serão enviadas ao Ministério Publico para investigação, além das que já foram enviadas.
Depois do apuramento ter terminado, a CNE vem anunciar os resultados provisórios nacionais da Eleição Presidencial de 9 de Abril de 2007. Para esta eleição o total de votos válidos foi 403.941 (94,56%), distribuídos da seguinte forma:
Candidato Francisco Guterres “Lu Olo” 112.666 votos = 27,89%
Candidato Avelino Maria Coelho
da Silva “Shalar Kosi F.F. 8.338 votos = 2,06%
Candidato Francisco Xavier do Amaral 58.125 votos = 14,39%
Candidato Manuel Tilman 16.534 votos = 4,09%
Candidata Lúcia Maria Brandão Freitas Lobato 35.789 votos = 8,86%
Candidato José Manuel Ramos Horta 88.102 votos = 21,81%
Candidato João Viegas Carrascalão 6.928 votos = 1,72%
Candidato Fernando”Lasama” de Araújo 77.459 votos = 19,18%
De um total de 522.933 eleitores registados votaram 427.712 o que significa uma taxa de participação de 81,79%.
De acordo com a Lei Eleitoral, 7/2006, a CNE enviará ainda hoje uma cópia da acta final do apuramento provisório dos resultados nacionais para o STAE, para os Órgãos de Informação nacionais. A CNE enviará também cópias das actas dos resultados provisórios ao Tribunal de Recurso.
Informação detalhada sobre os resultados provisórios nacionais da eleição presidencial de 2007 estão afixados na sede da CNE: a Acta Final, a nível nacional e a Acta Conjunta, a nível das estações de voto dos treze distritos.
Após a fixação destes resultados inicia-se o período de 24 horas para interposição de recurso junto do Tribunal de Recurso. Terminado este prazo, sem que tenha havido recurso, a CNE remete ao Tribunal de Recurso a acta do apuramento dos resultados nacionais acompanhada das actas de apuramento distritais.
Dili, 18 de Abril de 2007
Faustino Cardoso Gomes
Presidente CNE
Assim se compram votos...
The Jakarta Post
18.04.2007
"Ramos-Horta, in facing the renegade Major Alfredo Reinado, made a mistake by using night vision technology, snipers, infra-red and Black Hawks, killing five of Reinado's soldiers with ease, something that will not win any sympathy from the people of Same and the Timorese as a whole."
Público
18.04.2007
“O primeiro-ministro de Timor-Leste, José Ramos-Horta, candidato a Presidente nas eleições que terão uma segunda volta em Maio, declarou ontem que vai dar uma oportunidade à Igreja Católica de persuadir o major rebelde Alfredo Reinado a reatar o diálogo com o Governo, na certeza de que serão interrompidas as operações militares para o capturar.
…
Alguns analistas, citados pela Reuters, afirmam que, ao desistir de mandar prender Reinado, que tem partidários entre as camadas mais pobres, Ramos-Horta procura fortalecer as suas hipóteses de vencer o presidente da Fretilin, Francisco Guterres, Lu Olo. Este foi o mais votado na primeira volta, apesar de ainda não terem sido divulgados os resultados oficiais, o que se espera possa acontecer no fim desta semana.”
Vale tudo, contra a FRETILIN e Lu-Olo...
Governo timorense disposto a conferenciar com o major rebelde Alfredo Reinado
Público – 18 de Abril de 2007
Jorge Heitor
O primeiro-ministro de Timor-Leste, José Ramos-Horta, candidato a Presidente nas eleições que terão uma segunda volta em Maio, declarou ontem que vai dar uma oportunidade à Igreja Católica de persuadir o major rebelde Alfredo Reinado a reatar o diálogo com o Governo, na certeza de que serão interrompidas as operações militares para o capturar.
Horta explicou em conferência de imprensa que decidiu retomar contactos com o major depois de, ao contrário do que se chegara a temer, ele não ter perturbado a primeira volta das presidenciais, dia 9 de Abril.
A controversa figura desertou das Forças Armadas em Maio de 2006 e juntou-se a seis centenas de antigos soldados que tinham passado à disponibilidade depois de se terem queixado de ser discriminados nas promoções, num episódio que desencadeou a grave crise durante a qual o secretário-geral da Fretilin, Mari Alkatiri, teve de ceder a Ramos-Horta o lugar de primeiro-ministro.
Alguns analistas, citados pela Reuters, afirmam que, ao desistir de mandar prender Reinado, que tem partidários entre as camadas mais pobres, Ramos-Horta procura fortalecer as suas hipóteses de vencer o presidente da Fretilin, Francisco Guterres, Lu Olo. Este foi o mais votado na primeira volta, apesar de ainda não terem sido divulgados os resultados oficiais, o que se espera possa acontecer no fim desta semana.
Ainda muito novo, Reinado foi capturado pelas tropas indonésias que invadiram Timor-Leste no fim de 1975, tendo fugido para a Austrália no início da década de 1990 e regressado após o referendo de 1999 em que a população optou pela independência. Chegou a ser comandante de duas lanchas de patrulha oferecidas à antiga colónia pela Marinha portuguesa; e posteriormente passou pelo comando da polícia militar, numa carreira repleta de episódios rocambolescos.
Em 25 de Fevereiro o Presidente cessante, Xanana Gusmão, chegou a considerar que Reinado "passara dos limites" no seu desafio às autoridades, desde que em 30 de Agosto de 2006 fugira da cadeia de Becorá, com mais 50 reclusos. Mas agora, uma vez mais, volta a ser tentada a resolução deste problema por meios pacíficos, prescindindo-se do uso da força contra o oficial rebelde e os seus companheiros de aventura.
Calendário legislativas não prevê actualização recenseamento
Díli, 18 Abr (Lusa) - O calendário das eleições legislativas de 30 de Junho em Timor-Leste não prevê a actualização do recenseamento exigida na Constituição da República, segundo o documento a que a Lusa teve acesso.
A actualização do recenseamento está prevista no artigo 65º da Constituição da República de Timor-Leste.
"O recenseamento eleitoral é obrigatório, oficioso, único e universal, sendo actualizado para cada eleição", diz o ponto 2 do artigo 65º.
Questionada sobre este ponto numa entrevista de balanço das eleições presidenciais, a ministra da Administração Estatal, Ana Pessoa, afirmou à Lusa que "o recenseamento é feito uma vez por ano", ressalvando uma melhor análise da legislação aplicável, que disse não ter de memória.
A manutenção do recenseamento não está em dúvida na segunda volta das presidenciais, acrescentou a ministra, uma vez que "a actualização dos dados já foi feita".
Para as legislativas, a ministra da Administração Estatal favorece a utilização do recenseamento actual, "até porque, do ponto de vista de segurança, seria complicado estar a mexer outra vez na base de dados".
"Do meu ponto de vista, não faz sentido nenhum que a base de dados seja alterada. Mesmo para as legislativas, não creio que seja um bom precedente".
"Nem sequer haveria tempo", concluiu Ana Pessoa.
O calendário das operações eleitorais para a eleição dos deputados ao Parlamento Nacional foi entregue ontem à Comissão Nacional de Eleições (CNE) pelo Secretariado Técnico de Administração Eleitoral (STAE), o organismo dependente do ministério da Administração Estatal.
O documento elenca 23 acções para a concretização das eleições de 30 de Junho, começando na marcação da data das eleições, feita pelo Presidente da República.
Uma primeira análise do calendário pedida pela Lusa a dois especialistas envolvidos na preparação das eleições presidenciais revela que "a maior parte das tarefas não tem a ver com o STAE, mas é sobretudo trabalho da CNE".
Oito tarefas na lista são da competência expressa da CNE, incluindo a aceitação das candidaturas; o sorteio das listas para atribuição de ordem no boletim de voto; a verificação da regularidade do processo e a autenticação dos documentos e elegibilidade dos candidatos; a admissão das candidaturas; a reclamação para a CNE e o recurso ao Tribunal; a substituição de candidatos e a desistência de lista.
Outra parte das tarefas que tem a ver directamente com a campanha eleitoral, organização do voto, apuramento distrital e nacional, elaboração da acta do apuramento provisório e a acta do apuramento final, estão calendarizadas ao cuidado da CNE.
Um dos especialistas consultados pela Lusa, com larga experiência na assistência a eleições em Timor-Leste, notou que as operações previstas no documento do STAE não incluem expressamente a formação de eleitores nem a formação do pessoal das estações de voto.
Ana Pessoa referiu, porém, que está prevista a continuação da formação anterior, "em princípio de uma semana" para as legislativas.
"Mesmo para a segunda volta das presidenciais, haverá uma formação de cinco dias, insistindo nos problemas detectados agora".
A formação das brigadas eleitorais dará atenção "ao preenchimento das actas, à necessidade de afixar os resultados à porta das estações de voto, a verificar os dedos das mãos antes de votar (por exemplo, assegurar que o dedo é mergulhado e que a tinta vai até à cutícula da unha e não apenas à pontinha), o garantir que os boletins que não são usados são carimbados, assim como os votos brancos, além de outros detalhes técnicos".
A apresentação de candidaturas às eleições legislativas deverá ser feita até 11 de Maio.
Até 31 de Maio, o STAE determina "o número e o local de funcionamento dos centros de votação e estações de voto e promove a divulgação", segundo o calendário de operações.
A campanha eleitoral é de 30 dias. Tem início a 29 de Maio e termina a 27 de Junho, dois dias antes da eleição.
PRM-Lusa/Fim
Ministra Ana Pessoa "em geral satisfeita" com STAE
Díli, 18 Abr (Lusa) - Ana Pessoa, ministra da Administração Estatal, declarou à Lusa estar "satisfeita" com o Secretariado Técnico de Administração Eleitoral (STAE) e defendeu o organismo, que tutela, das muitas críticas surgidas durante o escrutínio das presidenciais de 09 de Abril.
"Estou satisfeita com a equipa do STAE, com os brigadistas do STAE, os coordenadores. Em geral, estou satisfeita", declarou Ana Pessoa numa entrevista à Lusa.
"São, na maioria, jovens dedicados, empenhados, que deram aquilo que podiam dar", sublinhou a ministra.
"Não houve casos de pessoas que abandonaram o serviço, ao contrário de alguns internacionais que chegaram a certa hora e disseram que iam descansar".
"Ganham muito pouco e, no entanto, a dedicação e empenhamento é muito grande. Podia ser melhor? Claro que sim. Pode ser sempre melhor", declarou.
O escrutínio presidencial de 09 de Abril, que só hoje conheceu resultados finais provisórios, ficou marcado por erros técnicos, falta de boletins de voto, "inconsistências", documentos incompletos e vários problemas de procedimento, que fizeram recair sobre o STAE muitas das críticas e acusações após as eleições.
"Não é só um problema, são muitos, mas um deles é o aspecto do pessoal que exerce o dever de pôr em funcionamento o processo de eleição", admitiu Faustino Cardoso, presidente da Comissão Nacional de Eleições, em declarações à Lusa, no domingo, no final da apreciação das reclamações surgidas do apuramento provisório.
"O processo de recrutamento deve tomar em consideração como pode assegurar a qualidade dos recursos humanos, para obter um melhor processo eleitoral", explicou Faustino Cardoso sobre "a base" do aparelho eleitoral, numa referência implícita ao STAE.
"Os erros técnicos não foram generalizados", respondeu Ana Pessoa no seu balanço das presidenciais.
"Os erros que houve não foram de má-fé, foram de fraco entendimento do processo, mas todas as coisas foram sendo explicadas", declarou a ministra.
"O que parecia de lesa pátria não tinha, afinal, tanta importância assim. Os erros foram facilmente detectados. Eram, digamos, erros de dactilografia".
Ana Pessoa afirmou não estar preocupada com a segunda volta das eleições, marcada para 09 de Maio.
"Evitar os erros a cem por cento com certeza que não seremos capazes. Mas vamos melhorar", afirmou a ministra.
"Espero que haja sentido de Estado e bom-senso. É o mínimo que nos é exigido e o mínimo que o povo espera de nós", comentou Ana Pessoa quando questionada sobre a influência do resultado das presidenciais na condições de governabilidade do país até às legislativas de 30 de Junho.
"Quero acreditar que assim será. Que haja bom-senso e possamos ultrapassar as nossas diferenças de forma correcta. Creio que todos estamos cientes de que é o Estado, o nosso Estado, que está em causa".
PRM-Lusa/Fim
East Timor set for run-off election
ABC - Transcript PM Programme - Wednesday, 18 April , 2007 18:42
Reporter: Anne Barker
PETER CAVE: East Timor's Electoral Commission has all but confirmed there'll be a second presidential ballot next month, between the Prime Minister, Jose Ramos Horta, and the Fretilin party candidate, Francisco Guterres.
The Commission will this evening hold a press conference in Dili with the final results for the main election last week.
Because neither candidate has won an outright majority, there'll be a run-off election on May the 9th. Steven Wagenseil is the United Nations' Chief Electoral Officer in Dili - he spoke a short while ago to Anne Barker.
STEVEN WAGENSEIL: As I understand it, the results will confirm the news that was announced this week from the preliminary totals accumulated around the country, which is that there is to be a run-off election between the two leading candidates, that is to say, Francisco Guterres Luolo and Jose Ramos Horta.
ANNE BARKER: Why have we had to wait til now to know what we really always knew?
STEVEN WAGENSEIL: Well, the law requires, and I think good sense mandates that the returns be carefully examined to make sure they're accurate. They were done at polling stations across the country, oftimes the forms were filled out incorrectly. It's important to verify all the numbers to make sure no votes were lost.
ANNE BARKER: When you consider the many allegations that have been made about vote-rigging or manipulation, about irregularities in the count, about the number of invalid votes and so on, how accurate is the result that we're now hearing?
STEVEN WAGENSEIL: I believe that the result that you will hear today is extremely accurate. The central election commission has worked long and hard, they've been putting in 24-hour rotational shifts since last week to verify the numbers, counting... verifying the invalid votes by hand, and I believe that this is absolutely the best result, the most accurate result that can be produced.
ANNE BARKER: Where does that leave, though, the complaints from the five candidates a week or so ago, who claimed that there was widespread sort of manipulation of votes, that there was voter intimidation and so on?
STEVEN WAGENSEIL: Well, the Central Election Commission, the National Election Commission, has responded to that letter from five candidates basically saying, as I understand it, that the letter does not contain any specifics. If they have specifics, please come forward with them as to time, date, place, who was involved, and then they could be further considered and referred for prosecution. There was a similar complaint made by another candidate in recent days which has been examined by the election commission with a similar response: if they have specifics, please come forward, and they'll be examined.
ANNE BARKER: And if their complaints are later substantiated, does that open the way to challenge the election result?
STEVEN WAGENSEIL: I don't know of anything in any of the complaints that would challenge the result of the election as a whole. There may be one or two instances, perhaps more, where the results at one or two or more polling stations might be affected. But I don't believe in any way that that's enough to overturn the results, the overall results nationwide out of 704 polling stations. ANNE BARKER: Do you believe there need to be changes in the way that the run-off election is run next month?
STEVEN WAGENSEIL: First of all, I think it'll be very difficult to implement any changes right now since the regulations and the laws have been basically adopted and its difficult to change policy in the middle of an election. There are certain things that we and the Government have learned which will certainly lead to changes before the parliamentary elections at the end of June.
The issues of the process by which votes are tabulated and recorded from the polling stations up to the national level, plus issues of how people are trained to fill out the paperwork, that sort of thing.
PETER CAVE: Steven Wagenseil, the United Nations' Chief Electoral Officer in Dili, talking to Anne Barker.
UNMIT – MEDIA MONITORING - Wednesday, 18 April 2007
National Media Reports
President of the republic asks the ISF to halt the operation on Alfredo
Prime Minister Ramos Horta said that the ISF will stop its pursuit of Alfredo Reinado and his men in order to resume dialogue.
He expects that within the month, President Xanana would meet Brigadier Mal Rerden, the commander of ISF to discuss the issue. TP
Horta: “UN stays 5 more years in TL”
Ramos Horta, at a press conference at the Government Palace yesterday, said that Timor-Leste needs the UN to remain for another 5 years in order to improve the professionalism of the PNTL and F-FDTL. (DN)
Barris: “Security policy in TL is not in a predicament”
The Minister of Interior, Alcino Barris, reportedly said that security management is not a problem as the PNTL’s strategies continually progress in relation with the current situation. (DN)
Claudio Ximenes: “the court has not received election results from CNE”
After meeting with the President of the Republic, Kayrala Xanana Gusmão, on Tuesday (17/4) at the Palacio das Cinzas Caicoli Dili, the President of the Court of Appeals, Claudio Ximenes, said that Court of Appeals has not received the preliminary results of the election from CNE.
“I don’t know anything about the preliminary results of the presidential election because CNE is still working and the process is going on,” said Ximenes. (DN)
Barris: “Paul Martins is a member of the PNTL”
The Minister of Interior, Alcino Barris, told journalists on Tuesday (17/4) at the Ministry of Interior Villa Verde Dili, that Ex-General Commander Paul de Fatima Martins is considered by the Ministry as a member of the PNTL, so he has to be registered, interviewed and evaluated before returning to his previous tasks. (DN)
Xavier: “Vote for Lu-Olo means suicide”
One of the founders of Fretilin, Francisco Xavier do Amaral, who is also a presidential candidate said his coalition will not vote for Lu-Olo since it would be considered a “suicide.”
“We tend to vote for a candidate who is capable to lead the country. Voting for Lu-Olo would mean suicide," said Xavier. (TP, STL, DN, TVTL, and RTL)
CNE has no Capacity
The presidential candidate Avelino Coelho said that the CNE is an independent body organizing the presidential election in the country and cannot blame STAE in relation with manipulation matters. He revealed that if the court of appeals legalizes the results of this election, this nation will face manipulation, corruption and injustice for next 5 years.
He said that the CNE has no capacity to resolve problems and if the party’s observers present complaints to the CNE, they should be accompanied by evidence. (STL)
Horta accuses Fretilin of spreading Communist Propaganda
The presidential candidate, Ramos Horta, accused Fretilin of spreading propaganda to harm his reputation and Xanana Gusmão, the president of republic.
Horta claims that Fretilin engages in communist propaganda saying that Horta wants to sell Atauro, Oecusse and Jaco Island to the US after winning the presidential election. (STL and TP)
Lu-Olo confident of having capacity to run for presidency
In response to a statement by Jose Ramos Horta about international relations with neighboring countries, presidential candidate Francisco Guterres Lu-Olo said that he has the capacity to run for the republic’s presidency.
Lu-Olo pledged that if he becomes president, Timor-Leste’s interests would be the priority including maintaining relations with other nations. (TP)
Horta awarded Noble Peace Prize because of Fretilin
The member of national parliament from KOTA, Manuel Tilman, reportedly said that Jose Ramos Horta was awarded the noble peace prize because of Fretilin and he added that Horta would not have received it without Fretilin.
According to Tilman, Fretilin made it possible for Horta to go overseas and was sheltered by the resistance organization (CNRT) to help him to aid in the liberation of his people from Indonesian occupation 24 years ago. (TP)
Need to improve the working system of STAE and CNE
To minimize the errors in the process of the second round of the presidential election, improvements are needed in the technical departments of STAE and CNE.
According to the Dean of Social Politics at the National University of Timor Leste (UNTL), Jose Magno, improvements rather than restructuring would improve the system. (TP)
International Media Reports
East Timor calls off hunt for rebel military officer
Last Updated 18/04/2007, 11:37:17
ABC Radio Australia
East Timor’s Prime Minister Jose Ramos Horta has announced that the hunt for fugitive rebel leader Alfredo Reinado has been called off.
Reinado was blamed for contributing to unrest last year in which dozens of people died.
Dr. Ramos Horta says the decision to call off the search for the rebel leader would allow negotiations for his surrender to resume.
Last month Australian troops attacked Major Reinado's mountain hideout in a failed bid to capture him.
Five of his armed supporters were killed during the raid.
Sergeant who 'threatened to kill' faces Timor inquiry
Andrea Petrie
April 18, 2007 - The Age
A VICTORIAN policeman working in East Timor on an international peace-keeping mission has been accused of threatening to kill a motorist who was later discovered to be an adviser to the Government.
Sergeant Peter Beames, who has 35 years of police experience, is on international deployment in the troubled nation. He is believed to have intercepted a car in the Ermera district, west of Dili, on February 20, after he saw it being driven erratically.
He approached the driver after the car was parked outside the Hotel Tropical Inn. When Sergeant Beames asked to see the driver's licence, the man refused to let him take down his details.
Sergeant Beames, a Vietnam veteran, is understood to have told the driver that he could be arrested for not cooperating, but the man still refused.
The driver, Jose Manuel Gomes Guterres, complained in a letter to the Special Representative to the Secretary-General, Dr. Atul Khare, claiming that Sergeant Beames assaulted and threatened to kill him.
Mr. Guterres is a lawyer and adviser to East Timor's Council of Ministers. The Government took his allegations seriously and has demanded an investigation.
Sources have told The Age that Mr. Guterres' recollection of events had not been corroborated by any witnesses.
A spokesman for the Australian Federal Police confirmed that an investigation had been launched by the United Nations.
The spokesman said Sergeant Beames was among 50 Australian police working for the UN's mission in Timor-Leste.
"All police officers in Timor-Leste are bound by United Nations police procedures and codes of conduct and the AFP is aware that the UNPOL professional standards and discipline office is currently investigating this matter," he said.
Victoria's Police Association yesterday vowed to stand by Sergeant Beames.
Union secretary Paul Mullett said the Government was "obviously believing one version of events over another in terms of what was said during the one-on-one conversation," which he said could cause diplomatic tension between the two nations.
"This is just a politically motivated allegation that will potentially compromise a police officer who has an outstanding reputation," he said.
"Quite clearly, the Prime Minister has a responsibility to resolve what could become a highly charged political issue."
A Victoria Police spokeswoman said Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon would monitor the investigation.
"Lu-Olo" e Ramos Horta na 2ª volta ... (ACTUALIZADA)
Díli, 18 Abr (Lusa) - Francisco Guterres "Lu-Olo" e José Ramos-Horta foram os mais votados nas eleições presidenciais de 09 de Abril, segundo os resultados finais provisórios anunciados hoje pelo presidente da Comissão Nacional de Eleições (CNE), Faustino Cardoso.
Os dois candidatos passam à segunda volta das eleições, marcada para 09 de Maio, embora seja necessário esperar pela validação final dos resultados pelo Tribunal de Recurso, conforme frisou o presidente da CNE.
Os resultados finais foram anunciados por Faustino Cardoso na sede da CNE, cerca das 17:30 locais (09:30 em Lisboa), pondo termo a uma espera de nove dias, com acusações de irregularidades e informações desencontradas ao longo do escrutínio.
O presidente do Parlamento e candidato da Fretilin, Francisco Guterres "Lu-Olo", obteve 112.666 votos, 27,89 por cento, de um total de 403.941 votos válidos (94,56 por cento) dos 427.712 depositados nas urnas.
José Ramos-Horta, primeiro-ministro e candidato independente, obteve 88.102 votos, 21,81 por cento.
Fernando "Lasama" de Araújo, do Partido Democrático, teve 77.459 votos, 19,18 por cento.
Registando uma subida sensível em relação a projecções anteriores, Francisco Xavier do Amaral, da ASDT, obteve 58.125 votos, 14,39 por cento.
A seguir ficaram Lúcia Lobato, do PSD, com 35.789 votos (8,86 por cento), Manuel Tilman, do partido Kota, com 16.534 votos (4,09 por cento), Avelino Coelho "Shalar Kosi F.F.", com 8.338 votos (2,06 por cento) e, em último, João Viegas Carrascalão, com 6.928 votos (1,72 por cento).
De um total de 522.933 eleitores registados, votaram 427.712, o que significa uma taxa de participação de 81,79 por cento.
A CNE envia ainda hoje a cópia da acta final do apuramento dos resultados ao Secretariado Técnico de Administração Eleitoral (STAE) e cópias das actas dos resultados provisórios ao Tribunal de Recurso.
Na sede da CNE está afixada desde o final da tarde informação detalhada sobre a votação nos distritos, além da acta final nacional.
O Tribunal receberá, nas 24 horas que se iniciam com a recepção destas actas, queixas e pedidos de impugnação, se os houver. Caso contrário, poderá de imediato decidir pela validação do apuramento e os resultados definitivos poderão ser anunciados.
O Tribunal de Recurso não tem nenhum prazo legal para anunciar a validação dos resultados.
PRM-Lusa/Fim
"Lu-Olo" e Ramos Horta na 2ª volta ... (ACTUALIZADA)
Díli, 18 Abr (Lusa) - Francisco Guterres "Lu-Olo" e José Ramos-Horta foram os mais votados nas eleições presidenciais de 09 de Abril, segundo os resultados finais provisórios anunciados hoje pelo presidente da Comissão Nacional de Eleições (CNE), Faustino Cardoso.
Os dois candidatos passam à segunda volta das eleições, marcada para 09 de Maio, embora seja necessário esperar pela validação final dos resultados pelo Tribunal de Recurso, conforme frisou o presidente da CNE.
Os resultados finais foram anunciados por Faustino Cardoso na sede da CNE, cerca das 17:30 locais (09:30 em Lisboa), pondo termo a uma espera de nove dias, com acusações de irregularidades e informações desencontradas ao longo do escrutínio.
O presidente do Parlamento e candidato da Fretilin, Francisco Guterres "Lu-Olo", obteve 112.666 votos, 27,89 por cento, de um total de 403.941 votos válidos (94,56 por cento) dos 427.712 depositados nas urnas.
José Ramos-Horta, primeiro-ministro e candidato independente, obteve 88.102 votos, 21,81 por cento.
Fernando "Lasama" de Araújo, do Partido Democrático, teve 77.459 votos, 19,18 por cento.
Registando uma subida sensível em relação a projecções anteriores, Francisco Xavier do Amaral, da ASDT, obteve 58.125 votos, 14,39 por cento.
A seguir ficaram Lúcia Lobato, do PSD, com 35.789 votos (8,86 por cento), Manuel Tilman, do partido Kota, com 16.534 votos (4,09 por cento), Avelino Coelho "Shalar Kosi F.F.", com 8.338 votos (2,06 por cento) e, em último, João Viegas Carrascalão, com 6.928 votos (1,72 por cento).
De um total de 522.933 eleitores registados, votaram 427.712, o que significa uma taxa de participação de 81,79 por cento.
A CNE envia ainda hoje a cópia da acta final do apuramento dos resultados ao Secretariado Técnico de Administração Eleitoral (STAE) e cópias das actas dos resultados provisórios ao Tribunal de Recurso.
Na sede da CNE está afixada desde o final da tarde informação detalhada sobre a votação nos distritos, além da acta final nacional.
O Tribunal receberá, nas 24 horas que se iniciam com a recepção destas actas, queixas e pedidos de impugnação, se os houver. Caso contrário, poderá de imediato decidir pela validação do apuramento e os resultados definitivos poderão ser anunciados.
O Tribunal de Recurso não tem nenhum prazo legal para anunciar a validação dos resultados.
PRM-Lusa/Fim
Participação eleitoral ultrapassou os 75%
Jornal de Notícias - Quarta-feira, 18 de Abril de 2007
Ao mesmo tempo que a ministra da Administração Estatal de Timor-Leste, Ana Pessoa, revelava que a abstenção nas eleições presidenciais do dia 9 se situou nos 24,44%, "Lu Olo", o candidato da Fretilin que já assegurou a passagem à segunda volta, fez um forte ataque a Ramos-Horta dizendo que "nunca deixou o país para trabalhar em Nova Iorque" e que, com ele na Presidência, "serão mantidas boas relações com os países vizinhos, embora com Timor sempre em primeiro lugar".
Ana Pessoa revelou que o número de votantes corresponde a uma afluência de 75,56%, um resultado considerado "bom em qualquer país do Mundo".
Em declarações à Lusa, Ana Pessoa mostrou-se "em geral satisfeita" com a forma como decorreram as eleições e o escrutínio, embora reconheça que houve erros técnicos.
"Os erros que houve não foram de má-fé, foram de fraco entendimento do processo, mas todas as coisas foram sendo explicadas", declarou a ministra, acrescentando que "o que parecia de lesa-pátria não tinha, afinal, tanta importância assim".
Os resultados definitivos não deverão alterar muito as posições já reveladas pela contagem provisória, ou seja, Francisco Guterres "Lu Olo" distanciado de José Ramos-Horta, com um terceiro candidato a pouca distância, Fernando "Lasama" de Araújo.
Entretanto, já embalado para a campanha da segunda volta, o candidato da Fretilin reagiu de forma vigorosa às afirmações de Ramos-Horta para quem, caso "Lu Olo" vença, "as relações de Timor-Leste com os países da região serão enfraquecidas".
"Relações internacionais não se baseiam apenas em ter amigos pessoais. Baseiam-se em Estados e nas instituições interagindo entre elas. Eu sempre respeitarei e promoverei a amizade com outros Estados, mas Timor-Leste estará sempre em primeiro lugar e sempre defenderei o nosso país", afirma "Lu Olo".
À afirmação de Ramos-Horta de que "Lu OLo" teria "dificuldades em unir todo o país", o candidato da Fretilin diz que "como presidente do Parlamento teve um papel de sucesso na gestão de diferenças entre os partidos e na promoção de diálogo entre todos, ao contrário do actual primeiro-ministro".
Perigo provocado pelo gás não convence desalojados
A cisterna de gás clorídrico desembarcada há três dias no porto de Díli continuava ontem a derramar o conteúdo tóxico, mas os deslocados do outro lado da rua mantiveram-se na zona. O gás clorídrico, com a referência de carga internacional 1789, tem uma grande toxicidade e pode causar queimaduras de pele e das vias respiratórias. O gás é altamente perigoso em espaços fechados e o potencial tóxico aumenta com a temperatura, duas condições presentes nas tendas abafadas onde vivem os deslocados. Dois especialistas australianos chegaram a Díli para lidar com o derrame da cisterna, que tem pelo menos seis furos causados pelo ácido. O gás clorídrico derramado pelo contentor no cais poente de Díli é levado para as águas do porto.
O contentor, com uma capacidade de 22 mil litros, é proveniente de Surabaia, Indonésia, e devia ser carregado em Díli por outro barco com destino à Austrália.
DAS AGÊNCIAS NOTICIOSAS INTERNACIONAIS - 18 de Abril 2007
AFP – Wednesday, 18 April, 2007, 08:32 AM
Militias may be granted amnesty if they ‘confess’
Kupang, Indonesia: Militia members responsible for a wave of killings in East Timor in 1999 may be granted amnesties in return for confessions, officials from a commission examining the violence said yesterday.
Indonesian-East Timor Truth and Friendship Commission members said the amnesties were an attempt to encourage the perpetrators to come forward, confess their roles in the unrest and reveal where victims had been buried.
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Violence erupted in East Timor in 1999 around a UN-administered referendum for independence, which the tiny nation chose following 24 years of occupation by neighbouring Indonesia. Militia gangs, which the UN says were recruited and directed by Indonesia’s military, killed about 1,400 people and destroyed much of the infrastructure in the former Portuguese colony.
Commission member Olandina Cairo said many East Timorese were open to the amnesty idea after the plan was discussed recently at public forums. “The people of East Timor are open to forgiveness, so (the commission) hopes the rights violators will confess to the killings and clarify where the bodies were buried,” said Cairo in Kupang, West Timor.
Cairo said most of those involved had been part of the pro-Indonesian militias, and were now living on the Indonesian side of Timor island.
A commissioner from Indonesia, Anton Sujaka, said the commission “may recommend amnesty to rights violators and rehabilitation to victims.”
Sujaka told journalists here the commission - which aims to establish the truth about the violence - was currently verifying testimony given at its hearings.
The 10-member commission, which Indonesia and East Timor formed in 2005, plans to collect testimony from 70 people by June after hearings started in February. Indonesia’s president at the time, BJ Habibie, has given evidence.
An Indonesian rights court set up to try military officers and officials f
or atrocities in East Timor was widely condemned as a sham for failing to jail any Indonesians.
The impoverished state held its first presidential vote since independence on April 9. A run-off vote with two leading candidates will be held next month.
AFP – Wednesday, 18 April, 2007
ETimor results confirm runoff
Dili -
East Timor Prime Minister Jose Ramos-Horta and a former guerrilla fighter will contest a runoff vote in the nation's presidential election, final results from the poll confirmed Wednesday.
The ruling Fretilin party's Francisco "Lu-Olo" Guterres won 27.89 percent or 112,666 votes in the closely fought April 9 race, the country's first presidential poll since its independence in 2002.
Nobel Peace laureate Ramos-Horta took 21.81 percent or 88,102 votes, according to results released by the National Election Commission (CNE).
The results are final pending a 24-hour window for candidates to appeal, CNE chairman Faustino Cardoso told reporters.
The two leading candidates did not garner 50 percent of the vote, leaving Guterres and Ramos-Horta to contest the runoff on May 8.
"Participation rate was 81.79 percent from 705 polling stations all over East Timor," said Cardoso, releasing the figures. "We give 24 hours to the public to claim their case to the appeal court. If there are no objections after that period, CNE will verify the results to the appeal court," he said.
Opposition Democrat Party chairman Fernando "Lasama" de Araujo was third with 19.18 percent and a total of 77,459 votes.
Voter turnout was high and Timorese are hoping the election stalemate will not plunge the impoverished nation into more turmoil and bloodshed.
Confusion and irregularities with the poll count had threatened to undermine the election's credibility, and had prompted some of the eight candidates to demand a recount.
Reuters - 18 Apr 2007 10:33:28 GMT
Parliament chief, PM to contest E.Timor poll runoff
Dili - East Timor Prime Minister Jose Ramos-Horta and the country's parliament chief, Francisco Guterres, will contest a presidential runoff next month, the head of the election commission said on Wednesday.
Neither Guterres, who is also president of the ruling Fretilin party, nor Ramos-Horta won an absolute majority in the April 9 elections.
Guterres won 27.89 percent of the vote and Ramos-Horta placed second with 21.81 percent, said Faustino Cardoso Gomes, the chairman of the National Election Commission, citing official provisional results.
AAP - April 18, 2007 08:33pm
Two set to square off for presidency
From correspondents in Dili
East Timor Prime Minister Jose Ramos-Horta and a former guerrilla fighter will contest a runoff vote in the nation's presidential election, final results from the poll confirmed today.
The ruling Fretilin party's Francisco "Lu-Olo" Guterres won 27.89 per cent or 112,666 votes in the closely fought April 9 race, the country's first presidential poll since its independence in 2002.
Nobel Peace laureate Ramos-Horta took 21.81 per cent or 88,102 votes, according to results released by the National Election Commission (CNE).
The results are final pending a 24-hour window for candidates to appeal, CNE chairman Faustino Cardoso told reporters.
The two leading candidates did not garner 50 per cent of the vote, leaving Mr Guterres and Mr Ramos-Horta to contest the runoff on May 8.
"Participation rate was 81.79 per cent from 705 polling stations all over East Timor," said Cardoso, releasing the figures.
"We give 24 hours to the public to claim their case to the appeal court. If there are no objections after that period, CNE will verify the results to the appeal court," he said.
Opposition Democrat Party chairman Fernando "Lasama" de Araujo was third with 19.18 per cent and a total of 77,459 votes.
Voter turnout was high and Timorese are hoping the election stalemate will not plunge the impoverished nation into more turmoil and bloodshed.
Confusion and irregularities with the poll count had threatened to undermine the election's credibility, and had prompted some of the eight candidates to demand a recount.
Former Dili Bishop Belo meets jailed ex-militia leader
Jakarta Post - April 18, 2007
Jakarta: Former Dili Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo Wednesday met former leader of pro-Indonesia militia Eurico Gutteres at Cipinang prison, East Jakarta where he was jailed for his involvement in post-referendum riots in 1999 in East Timor.
During the meeting, Belo discussed reconciliation process among East Timorese, who were split into rivalry groups, following the referendum, which made possible for East Timor to separate from Indonesia, MetroTV television reported.
During the meeting, Gutteres said he expressed the hope that the second round of the presidential election in East Timor or Timor Leste would take place smoothly.
He said he would support any candidate, who will come out as a victory.
Guterres, who was the only person jailed over the incident, believed killing hundreds of people, also demanded that the East Timorese government respect East Timorese, who preferred to become Indonesians.
Don't worry about Lu Olo
Jakarta Post - April 18, 2007
Kristio Wahyono, Jakarta
The presidential polls in East Timor last week resulted in a run-off election on May 8 between Jose Ramos-Horta, an independent candidate, and Fransisco Guterres Lu ‘Olo of the Fretilin Party. The preliminary vote count showed that Ramos-Horta won 23 percent of the vote, trailing behind Lu ‘Olo, who had 29 percent.
Lu ‘Olo, the warrior name of Francisco Guterres, was a commander in East Timor's guerrilla army. He spent 24 years fighting and did not once set his feet in a village or a town. He lived in mountain camps and hid in isolated farmhouses. He was one of only a handful of army commanders who escaped captivity or death and the only original member of Fretilin who survived in East Timor.
When the Indonesians quit Timor Leste at the end of October 1999, Lu ‘Olo left his mountain camp and began his transition from soldier to civilian. Since his wife was killed in a battle, Lu ‘Olo promotes peace and stability, love and forward looking. At a Fretilin function, three concerned women discussed the imperfect nature of Lu `Olo's private life. He replied: "A lot of old ladies and my family have advised me to find a partner... with whom to share the happiness of life. But I haven't taken that step because first, I want to rebuild the lives of our people." (From East Timor: Birth of a Nation, www.abc.net.au).
As a speaker of the unicameral National Parliament, Guterres, president of the ruling party Fretilin, which secured 55 of 88 seats in the parliament, finally agreed with the Horta government to ratify an accord between Australia and Timor Leste on Feb. 27, 2007 over the management of oil and gas resources in the Greater Sunrise field in the Timor Sea. It has reserves worth more than US$27 billion over the project's life and could potentially contribute $10 billion over the course of 20 years to Timor Leste. The decision to ratify the agreement showed that Comrade Lu ‘Olo is not stubborn, but is looking forward to build his country, considering the government's sluggishness in the sector after five years of independence. He always visits the rural areas and listens to the villagers.
As a guerrilla leader, Lu ‘Olo resembles Xanana Gusmao, although he is not as popular and charismatic as the outgoing president of Timor Leste. According to the constitution, the president has veto rights and is the armed forces commander in chief, but that position is only a symbol, ceremonial, and powerless.
What's wrong with the ex-speaker and freedom fighter being elected as president of Timor Leste? He has a clear track record and did a lot for his country.
On the other hand, the government of Timor Leste, according to the Asia Development Bank and the World Bank, has yielded little improvement in recovering the economy of ordinary Timor Leste people after five years. Infrastructure and social services, particularly in rural areas, have degraded to their levels before 1999. Malnutrition and food shortages are widespread. Poverty is pervasive, with 40 percent of the population living below the poverty line. Jobs are scarce, resulting in unemployment of up to 80 percent.
Although the development of oil and gas resources in nearby waters has begun, the technology-intensive industry has done little to create jobs for the unemployed because the gas is piped to Australia.
Socio-political problems as well as domestic security after the departure of the UN peacekeeping force in 2002 remain fragile. Unity is ruptured since people are deeply divided, weapons are distributed illegally to civilians, and thousands of people still live in refugee camps in Dili. Who is to blame and responsible? Is it the Fretilin Ruling Party, in which Mari bin Amude Alkatiri acts as a powerful secretary general, or the members of the cabinet and the prime minister, or both?
Jose Manuel Ramos-Horta, the country's current prime minister replacing Mari Alkatiri, is a former foreign minister, Nobel Peace prize winner in 1996, good communicator, former UN secretary general candidate and looks to have better prospects. Although he is considered "diaspora" by a majority of the people, it was him who, on Sept. 11, 1974, established the Fretilin Party together with Francisco Xavier do Amaral, the late Nicolao Lobato and Mari Alkatiri, but left it in 1978. He lived for 24 years overseas to promote the independence of East Timor.
At the first round of presidential elections last week, Ramos-Horta and Lu ‘Olo defeated six other candidates, including rising star Fernando "Lasmana" de Araujo of the Democratic Party and Lucia Maria Lobato of the Democratic Socialist Party. But who will win in the end depends on the supporters of the six political parties. Apart from this, Lu ‘Olo has difficulties in uniting Fretilin Maputo (Alkatiri) with Fretilin Mudanca (the reformists).
Ramos-Horta, in facing the renegade Major Alfredo Reinado, made a mistake by using night vision technology, snipers, infra-red and Black Hawks, killing five of Reinado's soldiers with ease, something that will not win any sympathy from the people of Same and the Timorese as a whole.
- The writer is a former Indonesian representative in East Timor (2000-2003).
Telecomasia - Apr 18, 2007
Indonesia’s Telkom secures a $1.3 million contract to provide telecommunications satellite services to East Timor. The company expects the leasing of Telkom's transponders by Timor Leste to allow for further expansion of businesses in the region.
CNE Independent?
http://timor-today.blogspot.com/index.html
17 April 2007
The spokesperson for the CNE continues to bring the CNE into disrepute. A representative of what is supposedly an independent body Father Martinho Gusmao has been increasingly prejudicial in his conduct as spokesperson which has the potential of destabilise a fragile country.
It was previously highlighted in this blog (More allegations: this time vote rigging) concerns of the biased conduct of Father Gusmao. It is not surprising that an Australian observer Damien Kingsbury who ironically previously has been critical of FRETILIN is calling for Gather Gusmao’s replacement.
A main concern for the elections is how Father Gusmao has publicly thrown his support for Fernando Lasama a PD candidate before the casting of the Presidential ballot and now Father Gusmao’s comments on Alkatiri and Lu OLo as reported on ABC’s PM radio program (see below) is disturbingly similar to the media release released by Jose Ramos Horta’s campaign team http://www.prlog.org/10013715-world-exclusive-ramos-horta-asks-who-has-the-right-to-rule-the-people-or-the-party.html. Such irresponsible and unethical comments cast doubts on the impartiality of the CNE for a senior official to continually come out publicly and criticise a candidate while showing support to another candidate.
The CNE needs to be impartial and for someone holding such an important position his conduct is not helpful in elections that will certainly bring confidence to the people in Democracy and which has the potential to solve some of the underlying issues that has recently plagued Timor Leste. The people have shown that they want to be the vehicle determining the future of Timor Leste, it is important the CNE as an electoral body acknowledges this and show impartiality to ensure that these elections are fair.
The main concern that must be raised is that such conduct can resurface any existing tensions. The dissemination of information favoured some candidates during the initial process of counting, especially Fernando Lasama who Father Gusmao had earlier publicly supported. Rather than providing consistent information and ensuring people that the counting procedure was still at its infancy the spokesperson was hinting of a surprise outcome, with this many people jumped into premature conclusions (including the media and the candidates). The CNE neglected the fact that parallel counting made by other organisations were suggesting that the two leading candidates Horta and LuOlo were in front. When the preliminary results were issued it caused apprehension as it caught many people by surprise especially with LuOlo sharp rise in latter stages of counting. The spokesperson came under fire from FRETILIN because of the subjectiveness of his comments that also raised questions on the validity of such votes with some candidates taking advantage of the spokesperson inability to analyse the count.
Father Gusmao opinion is important but should he wish to continue with his obvious discontent of FRETILIN he should not be an official of the CNE. Should he continue with his biased approach the integrity of the CNE during this election and the Legislative elections will come under scrutiny. It is in the interest of Timor Leste and the fair conduct of the elections that Father Martinho Gusmao is replaced.
CNE = National Electoral Commission.
http://timor-today.blogspot.com/2007/04/cne-independent.html
The perils of instant reportage were evident in the coverage of East Timor’s elections last week.
By Michael Leach - posted Tuesday, 17 April 2007 Sign Up for free e-mail updates!
[forum-loriku] East Timor - the perils of instant reportage
Last Tuesday, early results from Dili were proclaimed to show Fretilin’s candidate Lu Olo in third place. This announcement (from the regrettably partisan spokesperson for the National Electoral Commission (CNE), Father Martinho Gusmao, who had publicly endorsed one of the opposition presidential candidates) created a media climate in which an entirely predictable event - the sharp rise in Fretilin candidate Lu Olo's vote when Eastern districts votes came in - came to be viewed to be under a cloud a suspicion.
Mounting opposition claims of irregularities in the conduct of the election soon followed. And there are numerous reports of low-level intimidation, on both sides of the political divide, which should be investigated. However, as the 1999 referendum should have amply demonstrated, the East Timorese people are not easily intimidated into voting a certain way by anyone.
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It is becoming clear that some opposition claims about the conduct of the election are grossly exaggerated, or at best, pre-emptory and ill-informed.
In particular, claims that about 30 per cent of registered voters did not vote quickly dissolved upon inspection by monitoring teams.
According to Damien Kingsbury of the Victorian Local Governance Association electoral observer group, poor registration practices, particularly the issuing of new cards to those who held them from previous elections, resulted in a grossly inflated "registered voter" figure. For example, about 6 per cent of the entire roll is now deceased.
An even larger discrepancy appears to be the product of the double listing of previously registered voters who obtained new cards for this election. Though these people may have voted legitimately, they will also appear as "did not vote" registrants. Indelible ink marking the index finger of voters seriously limits the chances of double voting for this class of voter.
In sum, the gap between registered voters and cast votes is much narrower than suggested, at about 7 per cent, and voter turnout was in fact as high as 93 per cent.
Compounding the registration errors, the CNE has failed to adequately explain the cause of these problems to the press. More was to follow. This week, phantom figures from Baucau district suggesting 300,000 votes were counted (from a pool of 100,000 registered voters) turned out to be a simple accounting error by the CNE, not an irregularity involving suspect surplus votes.
It now seems that the sole substantive issue is the 10 per cent of votes that were declared invalid - and these will now be subject to a monitored recount in Dili. In other words, the 166,000 “missing voters” have essentially been accounted for, and the 200,000 “excess voters” from Baucau never existed.
With 2,000 international monitors, a UN police presence, and squads of party scrutineers, the scope for widespread electoral abuse was fairly limited. For all the legitimate concern about the potential excesses of party militants on all sides, neutral observers should be aware that ritual claims of foul play are now part and parcel of the ongoing conflict within East Timor’s political elite.
While some of these reflect very legitimate concerns over blurred boundaries between governing party and state, others are now commonplace vehicles for political ambition which sees rewards in continuing the ongoing climate of political instability. The international press should be subjecting opposition claims to greater scrutiny, as it should with Fretilin’s own claims of voting irregularities, which, in inverse proportion to opposition complaints, have trailed off as their vote has increased.
Importantly, neither the international monitors, nor the CNE itself consider there are any grounds to invalidate the election result.
While the CNE is still learning how to conduct an election and should not be too harshly criticised, it is fair to say that commentators seeking explanation for major irregularities should probably look to the processes of the Commission and its technical secretariat, the STAE, rather than the actions of political parties themselves.
Much of this confusing reportage has occluded the real story - the significant fall in support for Fretilin. Barring a very low voter turnout, Jose Ramos-Horta will almost certainly win the second round, as other opposition candidates swing their vote behind him.
This vote is a promising development, and one which clearly signals the likely emergence of a genuine multi-party democracy in East Timor in the coming parliamentary elections on June 30.
The collapse in Fretilin's vote since receiving 57 per cent in 2001, and dominating the 2005 district elections, suggests the 2006 crisis was a major factor in desire for change. The vote is easily poor enough to give succour to those within Fretilin who seek a change of leadership.
However, the demise of Alkatiri's confident assertion of an easy victory for Lu Olo is to some degree matched by the thwarting of opposition hopes that the 2006 crisis would herald a wholesale voter demolition of Fretilin. Neither has come to pass. Fretilin has retained a core vote which will probably see it remain the largest single party in the new parliament - though now in opposition against a coalition of anti-Fretilin parties.
The Fretlin vote may actually increase slightly in parliamentary elections - as Jose Ramos-Horta is probably more capable of swinging Fretilin supporters than Xanana Gusmao now is; having maintained better relations with the governing party, and kept himself more successfully "above the fray" in the 2006 East-West crisis.
Nonetheless, the likelihood remains that Xanana Gusmao's new party, the CNRT, will form a loose coalition with PD and other opposition parties to form a government after June 30. Who becomes prime minister will depend on which party gets the largest number of seats. Gusmao has the higher profile with a broader support base and is therefore favourite, but PD has the more organised party structure. The "last-minute" nature of CNRT may tell against them.
Moreover, PD has an established alliance with two other smaller opposition parties which may favour the younger contender Fernando “Lasama” de Araujo. Gusmao has ruled out joining forces formally, and will therefore have to poll well to guarantee the PM role.
In the long term, however, this informal coalition may prove fragile and unstable. The parties have anti-Fretilin sentiment in common, and also Catholic Church endorsement, and broadly concur on a less critical approach to the very few neoliberal development prescriptions that Fretilin rejected.
But populist opposition calls to spend East Timor's now substantial oil funds still lack adequate detail on the type of sustainable development initiatives proposed to address entrenched poverty, and on controversial intergenerational issues (such as the choice of official languages) the anti-Fretilin parties, broadly representing different generations, may yet find little ground in common.
Inevitably, part of a wider problem with political accountability in a country without mature democratic institutions has been a weak, marginalised opposition in the wake of Fretilin’s dominant showing at the 2001 elections. Clearly, this will no longer be the case after June 30.
While this election represents an important milestone in East Timor's political development, the emergence of a genuine democratic political culture will require all parties to accept the election results - not just Fretilin.
Amnesty offer mulled for ETimor's murdering militias
Kupang, Indonesia, April 17 (AFP) - Militia members responsible for a wave of killings in East Timor in 1999 may be granted amnesties in return for confessions, officials from a commission examining the violence said Tuesday.
Indonesian-East Timor Truth and Friendship Commission members said the amnesties were an attempt to encourage the perpetrators to come forward, confess their roles in the unrest and reveal where victims had been buried.
Violence erupted in East Timor in 1999 around a UN-administered referendum for independence, which the tiny nation chose following 24 years of occupation by neighbouring Indonesia.
Militia gangs, which the United Nations says were recruited and directed by Indonesia's military, killed about 1,400 people and destroyed much of the infrastructure in the former Portuguese colony.
Commission member Olandina Cairo said many East Timorese were open to the amnesty idea after the plan was discussed recently at public forums.
"The people of East Timor are open to forgiveness, so (the commission) hopes the rights violators will confess to the killings and clarify where the bodies were buried," said Cairo in Kupang, West Timor.
Cairo said most of those involved had been part of the pro-Indonesian militias, and were now living on the Indonesian side of Timor island.
A commissioner from Indonesia, Anton Sujaka, said the commission "may recommend amnesty to rights violators and rehabilitation to victims."
Sujaka told journalists here the commission - which aims to establish the truth about the violence - was currently verifying testimony given at its hearings.
The 10-member commission, which Indonesia and East Timor formed in 2005, plans to collect testimony from 70 people by June after hearings started in February. Indonesia's president at the time, BJ Habibie, has given evidence.
An Indonesian rights court set up to try military officers and officials for atrocities in East Timor was widely condemned as a sham for failing to jail any Indonesians.
The impoverished state held its first presidential vote since independence on April 9. A run-off vote with two leading candidates will be held next month.
Ramos Horta demands probe into election 'passes'
Agence France-Presse/ABC - Tuesday, April 17, 2007. 11:13pm (AEST)
East Timor Prime Minister Jose Ramos Horta has demanded an investigation into revelations government officials were given access-all-area passes during this month's presidential election.
Dr Ramos Horta, a candidate in the election, said officials from his office were among those who received the passes for restricted areas while the poll was being conducted.
"The Prime Minister decided that this serious matter must be investigated in order to find out on what grounds the passes to the polling areas were issued and who requested them," a statement from his office said.
The Nobel Peace laureate added that he and his chief of staff were unaware his office had requested the passes, which are against poll regulations.
The statement raises further fears about the credibility of the April 9 poll, the first since the tiny nation gained independence in 2002, amid concerns of voting irregularities and claims of intimidation at polling stations.
Dr Ramos Horta and ruling Fretilin party candidate Fransisco "Lu-Olo" Guterres are set to contest a run-off vote in the election next month.
Neither of them gained more than 50 per cent of the vote on April 9.
The passes were revealed in local newspapers and also contained in an election report from an EU monitoring team which said 88 had been issued, describing it as an "inappropriate practice."
The passes allowed the holders access to areas run by the Technical Administrative Electoral Secretariat, where vote collecting and counting could have been taking place.
Dr Ramos Horta said an investigation was urgently needed to preserve the integrity of the election and the credibility of those who conducted it.
Although the election was peaceful with a high voter turnout, some candidates have demanded a recount over the the irregularities.
One district with 100,000 eligible voters had produced three times as many votes, a discrepancy that officials later put down to a technical error.
Election officials also said they were re-examining other votes already counted amid concerns they were not filled in properly.
Foreign peacekeepers and police were guarding polling booths on election day.
International troops have been in East Timor for nearly a year to ensure stability after gang violence in May left 37 people dead and sent 150,000 more fleeing their homes.
Vergonhoso. Vale tudo na caça ao voto. Horta utiliza autoridade de PM em campanha eleitoral.
Agence France-Presse - April 17, 2007 11:11pm
Hunt for Reinado called off
From correspondents in Jakarta
The prime minister of East Timor today said he was calling off the hunt for a fugitive rebel leader blamed for last year's unrest to lure him back to the negotiating table.
“The military operation on Major Reinado has to be stopped to give a chance for the attorney general, Reinado's lawyers and the (East Timor) bishops to resume dialogues,” Jose Ramos Horta said.
“The president will meet parties involved today and tomorrow to stop the military operations,” he said.
Major Alfredo Reinado, a renegade soldier, has been on the run since crack Australian troops attacked his mountain hideout earlier last month in a failed bid to capture him.
His refusal to surrender cast a long shadow over impoverished East Timor's landmark presidential election this month, although he said he would not disrupt the poll.
Five of his armed supporters were killed during the raid on his hideout, which triggered rowdy protests.
Major Reinado has been a persistent problem for East Timor's Government and is said to have a band of armed followers and to enjoy support from disaffected youths and the backing of an ethnic group living in the nation's west.
The fugitive was criticised for his role in unrest last year that killed at least 37 people, displaced 150,000 and led to the dispatch of Australian-led international peacekeepers.
East Timor to halt hunt for army rebel - PM
By Tito Belo
Dili, April 17 (Reuters) - East Timor's government will resume talks with an army renegade accused of involvement in last year's bloody violence and halt a military operation to arrest him, Prime Minister Jose Ramos-Horta said on Tuesday.
Last August, Alfredo Reinado escaped from a prison where he had been held on charges of murder during an army rebellion in May.
Australian troops, dispatched to East Timor to restore order, launched a major manhunt to apprehend Reinado after government efforts to negotiate with him failed.
Five of Reinado's followers were killed during an operation to capture him last month.
Ramos-Horta told a news conference the government had decided to resume talks with Reinado because he did not disrupt the April 9 presidential elections.
"Government authorities have held discussions with Alfredo Reinado's lawyer in order to establish dialogue," he said, adding that talks would also take place on halting the military operation with international troops.
"We have received a letter from Alfredo Reinado's lawyer. We will give an opportunity to the church and his lawyers to persuade Reinado to come down and establish dialogue," he said.
The prime minister said that the government would guarantee the security of Reinado and his followers.
Ramos-Horta is one of eight candidates running in the presidential elections.
He is set to face the candidate of the Fretilin party, Francisco Guterres, in a run-off poll on May 8 after neither won an absolute majority in the first round ballot.
Some analysts said Ramos-Horta's popularity had been hurt because of his decision to arrest Reinado, who enjoys support from many in the impoverished country.
"I think if he reverses his decision to pursue Alfredo, he has the chance to win the second round," Joao Saldanha, director of the Timor Institute for Development Studies, said last week.
Ramos-Horta became prime minister after his predecessor, Mari Alkatiri, quit following last year's violence.
The violence, triggered by Alkatiri's sacking of 600 rebellious soldiers, killed more than 30 people and displaced more than 150,000 people.
The chaos led to the deployment of an international peacekeeping force.
East Timor voted in a 1999 referendum for independence from Indonesia, which annexed it after Portugal ended its colonial rule in 1975. The country became fully independent in 2002 after a period of U.N. administration.
