U.S. Supports Four Timorese Election Observation Missions

The U.S. Embassy in Dili, Timor-Leste is pleased to announce that the United States Government is supporting four separate missions to observe Timor-Leste’s parliamentary election. These efforts will facilitate the training and participation of nearly 1,700 Timorese and international election observers.

USAID’s Fostering Meanin…gful and Responsive Representation Project, implemented by the International Republican Institute (IRI), provides training to domestic observers from the local NGO Church Observatory for Social Affairs (OIPAS). Under this program, it is expected that two domestic observers will be deployed to every polling station across the country. Additionally, IRI is supporting an International Observer Team of 23 people led by Frank Wisner, former U.S. Ambassador to Egypt, India and the Philippines. They will examine voting preparations, campaign strategies, and other pre‐electoral activities as well as directly observe the parliamentary election. The project also focuses on voter and civic education, including giving voters information on Timor-Leste’s electoral law and election-day procedures.

As part of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Electoral Observer Initiative, the United States is sending two distinguished observers, Ralph Cossa, President of the Pacific Forum Center for Strategic and International Studies and Phillip Rapoza, Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Appeals Court. Both Mr. Cossa and Judge Rapoza have previous experience with Timor-Leste and look forward to supporting these democratic elections. They will join representatives from several other ARF member countries. This mission was approved at the ministerial level by the ARF during its meetings in Bali last year and is a key initiative under the ARF’s focus on preventive diplomacy.

Further supporting regional coordination, the United States is supporting the East-West Center as it sends seven election observers from the United States, Palau, the Philippines, and Papua New Guinea in a program focused on supporting democracy in Timor-Leste and in the Pacific islands. The delegation will be led by Sandra Pierantozzi, former Vice President and Minister of State of Palau.

Finally, the U.S. Embassy will deploy 44 American, Timorese, and third country observers throughout the districts, continuing and expanding upon our observation efforts during the presidential election.

“2012 is a momentous year for the Timorese people. The free, fair, and peaceful presidential elections earlier this year demonstrated the strength of Timor-Leste’s vital, vocal democracy,” said U.S. Ambassador Judith Fergin. “In supporting four diverse observer groups, the United States hopes to contribute to the success of the parliamentary elections. Americans stand proudly by the Timorese people as they exercise their constitutional right to select their government.”

(Source: facebook.com)