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Stichting Vrij Oost Timor (Free East Timor Foundation)
Endie van Binsbergen,
International Observer,
Ref. No. IEC 0446
28-08-2001
For those who read an earlier report from Stichting Vrij Oost Timor, we wish to inform you that our Accreditation Ref. Numbers have been changed. Due to data failure at the IEC office in Dili, our initial observer badges (numbers 0400 and 0401) have been replaced by badges with the numbers 0446 and 0447, on August 25th.
Places visited since 15-08: Beobe, Raitahu, Beacu, Viqueque Town
At the end of the campaign period, it may be concluded that campaigning in Viqueque District has been peaceful. The question is how well the parties have been willing or able to actually inform people on the process and the Constituent Assembly, as numerous people in the district said not to know what the parties want to settle in the Constitution. It has been observed and reported that many parties inform people on the party programs as such, but pay little attention to the possible contents of the Constitution that they wish to work on.
It has been observed and reported by several people that some parties have been speaking in a discrediting manner about candidates of other parties. This makes it hard to copy stories told, as it is difficult to identify whether the reporting person is an actual witness of intimidation or is discrediting a rivalling political party. What is clear, is that many people in the district have been confused by rumours on intimidation and therefore fear that harm could be done to their property or themselves.
Example:
A person reported to me that members of FRETILIN said
in Ossu that they will station their own security
guards in and around the polling stations, to check on
people?s votes. This could well mean that the party
members were speaking of the party agents that all
parties were able to appoint to witness the polling
procedures, and that the witness misinterpreted the
message. The question is then whether this is
(un-)intentionally. It could also well be possible
that mentioned party members used the term of party
agents to intimidate people with their presence in the
polling station. I did not witness mentioned campaign
myself.
Also, many people (in several sub-districts) have said to fear for violence after the elections or after the outcome, now that there are so many parties competing eachother.
Bubulita
On August 21st, Januario Soares (FRETILIN district
candidate) reported that people in the sub-village
Bubulita told him that they are afraid that their
houses will be burnt by members of RDTL who live in
Uaibobo (Ossu), which is nearby. The people of
Bubulita are Makadiki people, and will therefore have
to vote in Makadiki (Uato Lari). This will take them
all day, although there is a polling centre closer by
in Ossu-subdistrict. I assisted Januario in reporting
this to CivPol.
Boromatan
32 families (272 persons) from Boromatan are still
housed at the school building inside the Viqueque Town
Church premises. These are victims of the house
burning during the last March violence outburst in
Viqueque Town.
Uato Lari
Local observers reported that several political
parties did not show up at the date they were supposed
to campaign. According to the local observers, youth
groups in Uato Lari did not allow these parties to
campaign in the area.
On August 22nd, Ramos-Horta visited Viqueque. He inspected the area of Boromatan where houses were burnt during the outburst of violence last March. At UNTAET Head Quarters, Ramos-Horta spoke to village chiefs of Viqueque District. The main topic was the importancy of peaceful elections and he stressed that the village chiefs would discuss this with their people. He also stated to be embarrassed by the sight of the houses in Boromatan and the fact that this could happen in independent East Timor.
About political parties he stated that they must not encourage violence or threats in any way, nor discredit eachother. After the elections, who ever wins will have to work together with other parties as the capacity of intelectual people in East Timor is still small and the country will need all of them, in order to come up with a good Constitution. Ramos-Horta stressed that the names of East Timorese leaders should not be used by the political leaders to impress people.
Ramos-Horta also paid attention to the role of women in society and politics. He stressed that in case of violence, women usualy suffer most eventhough they are not the ones committing this violence. He suggested that formation of womens parties could come up with neccesary solutions.
In the afternoon, he held a closed meeting with the political party leaders. After this, Ramos-Horta visited the Boromatan people that are still housed in the school at the church premises and listened to reports of victims still living there.
Local observers reported complications in their activities as observers, due to lack of transportation and the fact that they are tied to the polling station were they have been appointed to. IEC stated that national observers may vote first in line, which is already quite helpful to the situation. However, in the present situation, local observers are still hardly able to pick a choice on where observations in the morning are preferable. We are trying to link up international and national observers as much as possible.
Sensitive material
August 24th, I witnnessed the arrival of sensitive
electoral material. As far as I was able to observe,
all material was taken into the police station of
Viqueque Town and well secured.
Training of local polling staff
I witnessed the training of local polling staff in
Karau Balo, Viqueque Town on August 28th. As far as I
was able to observe, thing were going well. Both the
DEO and the staff showed enthousiasm to the training.
***END OF REPORT***
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