Manipulation feared in East Timor polls

http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=142286&version=1&template_id=45&parent_id=25

Manipulation feared in East Timor pollsPublished: Saturday, 7 April, 2007, 08:34 AM Doha Time

DILI: Half the candidates in East Timor's presidential poll said yesterday they fear many attempts have been made to manipulate the election process ahead of Monday’s vote.

“We fear that there are a lot of attempts to manipulate the whole election process,” the candidates said in a joint statement.

“There’s been a lot of intimidation, a lot of violence, and a lot of threats. We fear that violence can occur on the day of the vote,” they said.

At least 32 people have already been injured in clashes this week in and around the capital Dili, although most of the two-week presidential campaign has been peaceful, the UN has said.

Violence has pulsed through the fledgling state since it gained independence in 2002 after a period of UN stewardship. Indonesia previously occupied the former Portuguese colony for a turbulent 24 years.

The candidates’ statement was read at a press conference by Joao Viegas Carrascalao, one of eight people seeking to replace President Xanana Gusmao in the election, the first since gaining independence.

Joining Carrascalao was Fernando “Lasama” de Araujo, chairman of the opposition Democratic Party, a strong contender to win the election. Two other candidates, Lucia Lobato and Fransisco Xavier do Amaral, were also present.

“We ask the UN to guarantee security and to be aware of all these attempts of manipulation,” Carrascalao said.

“We have in many cases made complaints to the proper authorities and so far we haven’t seen any measures taken.”

Carrascalao said the four candidates received identity cards for their own election observers only yesterday, leaving them insufficient time to prepare to oversee the voting.

They alleged the ruling Fretilin party got its identity cards some time ago from a government department, the Timorese Technical Secretariat for Election Administration (STAE), which is organising the ballot.

“The timing is premeditated,” Carrascalao said. “It’s a government department and we fear that the government is manipulating through this department.”

Fretilin yesterday asked its own supporters as well as those of other parties to act “with a high degree of tolerance and restraint” before and after the election. “Violence is a weapon of those who don’t want democracy,” Fretilin said in a statement.

Faustino Cardoso, the president of the National Election Commission, said he was aware of the identity card problem.

“We have been in contact with STAE. Most of the cards have been finalised. I strongly believe that everything is going to be ready for the election on Monday,” he said.

The UN said 2,000 East Timorese and 232 foreign observers would monitor the ballot. – AFP