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