Tuesday, 19 June 2007
UNMIT MEDIA MONITORING THE UN INTEGRATED MISSION IN TIMOR-LESTE DOES
NOT VOUCH FOR THE ACCURACY OF THESE REPORTS
National Media Reports
Greater Logistical Challenges Ahead of Parliamentary Elections
The UN Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) says the parliamentary elections
scheduled for June 30 will be logistically more challenging as a total of 14
political parties and coalitions present candidates for election.
Reiterating UNMIT's support for the national authorities charged with
running the elections, the Deputy Special Representative of the
Secretary-General, Finn Reske-Nielsen, said "UNMIT continues to work with
the national authorities to ensure that the upcoming election is free, fair
and transparent."
For this election, the number of ballot boxes and seals will increase to
three or four boxes per polling station instead of two. Other challenges
include the increased numbers of electoral material, polling stations and
polling staff.
"Preparations for the parliamentary elections are not an easy task and I
commend all those involved in the operation both from UNMIT and the
national auuthorities for their efforts in ensuring that the upccoming
elections will proceed smoothly," said the DSRSG.
As previously done during the run-off presidential elections last May,
the number of ballot papers produced will be 20% extra of the total number
of registered voters. A total of 652,000 ballot papers will be distributed
throughout the country in pads of 50s. At the district level, a reserve will
be kept to deal with contingencies.
The distribution of non-sensitive material (including ballot boxes and
voting screens) across Timor-Leste's 13 districts started last week with
UNMIT providing logistical support. The sensitive material (including
ballots and stamps) will be transported from Dili to the district capitals
from 26 June and from the district capitals to the 708 polling stations and
520 polling centers by helicopters, vehicles and horses with porters on 29
June.
At the end of polling, the electoral material will be retrieved from the
polling centers and moved to the District Counting Centers, where counting
will take place, as per the provisions of revised electoral law. The
reception and reconciliation of the electoral material will begin on the
evening of 30 June and counting will start immediately after. The counting
centers will operate from 7.00 am to 10.00 pm until the District Counting
Centers complete the process.
This time around counting is expected to take longer than 48 hours. Once
this is finalized, all sensitive materials will be returned to the CNE's
National Tabulation Center.
UNMIT is mandated through Security Council Resolution 1704 to "support
Timor-Leste in all aspects of the 2007 presidential and parliamentary
electoral process, including through technical and logistical support,
electoral policy advice and verification or other means." (TP)
Bishop of Baucau: "Alfredo's status must be defined by the law" In
response to Alfredo's case, the Bishop of Baucau, Mgr. Basilio do
Nascimento, said that even if Alfredo were a national hero, his case must
still be investigated. (TP and DN)
Chief of Australian Forces visits Timor-Leste
The Chief of the Australian Forces, Lieutenant General Peter Leahy,
visited Timor-Leste on Sunday (17/6) to meet with the Australian forces
serving in Dili and provide moral support. This is Lt. Gen. Leahy's second
visit to Timor-Leste since the Australian forces arrived in the country last
year.
"Australia is proud of the professionalism which you have shown in all
your actions," said Mr. Leahy. (TP)
Xanana and Horta extend their condolences to former Governor
Former President Xanana Gusmão and President José Ramos-Horta extended
their condolences to Abilio Soares, the last Indonesian Governor of East
Timor before its independence in 1999, who died last Sunday at the age of 60
after suffering from cancer. (TP and DN)
PDHJ received 23 cases of violence
At a press conference held by DN on Monday (18/6), Silveiro Pinto
Baptista from the Human Rights and Justice Provedor (PDHJ) informed that
PDHJ received 23 cases of human rights abuses committed by the ISF, UNPol,
PNTL and F-FDTL. (DN)
East Timor's Prime Minister will resume his role tomorrow
Prime Minister Estanislau da Silva will resume his role as Prime Minister
tomorrow after temporarily suspending it to participate in the political
campaigns in the districts. (DN)
International Media Reports
Indonesian envoy sends condolences over Abilio`s death
06/18/07 20:08
Antara News
Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara (ANTARA News) - Indonesian Ambassador to Timor
Leste Ahmed Bey Sofwan has sent condolences to the relatives of former East
Timor governor Abilio Jose Osorio Soares who passed away at the Prof. W.Z.
Johannes hospital here on Sunday.
Born in Dili, capital of Timor Leste, on June 2, 1947, Abilio was
survived by his wife and five children.
Abilio was appointed the East Timor governor in 1994 for a five-year
period. In 1999, he was re-elected the province's governor but stayed on the
post for two months due to pro-independence group's victory in the
UN-sponsored ballot on August 30, 1999, which led to the region's breakaway
from Indonesia.
Since then, he lived in Kupang, capital of East Nusa Tenggara province
bordering Timor Leste.
Abilio, along with a number of former East Timorese civilian and military
officials were accused of involvement in post-ballot human rights
violations.
He was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in jail by a district court.
He later appealed to the Supreme Court which later acquitted him of the
charges after serving jail term at the Cipinang penitentiary in Jakarta for
111 days. Copyright © 2007 ANTARA
NATIONAL NEWS SOURCES: Timor Post (TP) Radio Timor-Leste (RTL) Suara
Timor Lorosae (STL) Diario Tempo (DT) Diario Nacional (DN) Semanario
Televisaun Timor-Leste (TVTL)
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