by Amina Said

12 April 2007

Dili, Timor-Leste: As voters in Timor-Leste prepare for a second round of voting in the presidential elections, UNV volunteers are contemplating a new set of challenges but also a job well done. 

With 70% of the votes now counted from Monday’s poll, three of the eight candidates are emerging as contenders in the second round:  ruling Fretilin Party candidate Francisco Guterres, Nobel Peace Prize winner and Prime Minister Jose Ramos-Horta and Democratic Party candidate Fernando de Araujo each have about 21% of the votes so far.  Official results are expected by 16 April.

Since a 50% majority is required to rule, a run-off between the top two candidates will be necessary to determine the winner.  Analysts hope the prospect of a second round of voting will not trigger violence, but similar fears of unrest during the first round mostly proved unfounded.

After months of hard work, the relatively calm course on election day was welcomed by more than 300 UNV volunteers serving in Timor-Leste with the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT), as part of UNV’s efforts to support inclusion and participation in partnership with governments and UN agencies.  Some 200 UNV volunteers are providing direct support to the electoral process as advisors in voter education, electoral monitoring and electoral legal issues, while 100 others are providing technical assistance to support the UNMIT operation.

Deputy Chief Electoral Officer, Andres del Castillo, was enthused by the first poll, “We would like to congratulate all our electoral UNV volunteers for a magnificent job during the presidential election. We are really proud of them and we want to thank them and colleagues at UNV Headquarters for their unending support.”

UNV Executive Coordinator Ad de Raad commended the personal sacrifice and professional service of the UNV volunteers at this crucial point in time, saying, “The election earmarks yet another milestone for this fledging nation as it takes another important step along its path towards new presidential and parliamentary leadership.”

This is the second presidential election in the tiny nation (population 1 million) since it gained independence from Indonesia in 2002 and is considered key to ensuring peace and longer-term stability and resolving political tensions and instability.  More than 2,000 national and international election observers monitored the voting in 504 polling centres nationwide, reporting peaceful procedures and no major disturbances or obstacles.  Turnout was high, signalling the motivation of the East Timorese to take part in the democratic process they had been deprived of for so long.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon praised the vote, saying he was "heartened that the election was conducted in a general atmosphere of order and calm," and that initial indications showed high voter turnout.  He thanked those involved for their efforts in organising an orderly election.

UNMIT is mandated through Security Council resolution 1704 to support all aspects of this year’s presidential and parliamentary electoral process, including providing technical and logistical support and electoral policy advice.

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