Dear Friends of Timor-Leste,

ETAN would like to know if you and others are interested in being involved in an international solidarity election observer delegation to Timor-Leste for the 2012 elections. We are considering an observer project that would be active between April and August, with volunteers committed for a minimum three-week period, to observe the election preparations, campaigning, voting, counting, as well as to help prepare follow-up reports

March 17 has been announced as the date for the presidential election, with a second round, if needed, tentatively scheduled for the third week in April. A date for the parliamentary election has not been announced, but it is likely to be in late June at the earliest. Given that tight timeline, ETAN will focus its energies on the parliamentary election, which will be much more critical to Timor-Leste’s immediate future direction and development.

ETAN is still seeing if it can gather the human and financial resources necessary for a successful election observer effort. Your response will help us make the decision. If you are interested in volunteering your time as an observer, please let us know, and answer the following questions:

·        Are you available for a minimum of three weeks, but ideally longer, between April and August 2012?

·        Do you have experience and knowledge about Timor-Leste from your solidarity work, and perhaps past election observing in Timor-Leste, that would help you to offer the longer-view perspective that effective election monitoring requires?

·        Can you support your participation financially, either personally or through organizational affiliation/s?

Timor-Leste NGOs are currently focusing on women's participation - especially as potential candidates - and the role of youth. The National NGO Forum has told us it may support international participation in the electoral process and has indicated it is looking for guidance on how to engage in the larger process, not just election day observation.

We know that elections are but a small piece in the picture. Too often, democracy is narrowly and exclusively equated with elections. That said, many Timorese colleagues have expressed the need for international observers to assist the still new country in having fair and honest elections next year.

ETAN members have observed every vote in East Timor (Timor-Leste) since 1999. During the 2007 presidential and parliamentary elections, we played a major role in organizing for Solidarity Observer Mission for East Timor (SOMET), supporting 75 volunteers from as many 10 different countries. SOMET volunteers observed pre-election campaigning, election day voting, vote counting, and its aftermath. SOMET participated in a joint press conference after the election with several Timorese organizations.

If you are interested in being involved, should a delegation be organized, please let us know by e-mailing etan@etan.org. Please share request with others who might be interested in being involved. The more information we get now from those interested, the sooner we can plan and make a decision.

In solidarity,

Executive Committee
East Timor and Indonesia Action Network (ETAN)