Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DILI604
2006-12-19 12:12:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Dili
Cable title:
AFTER SLOW START, PARLIAMENT RUSHES THROUGH ELECTION LAW
how-toVZCZCXRO8717 PP RUEHPB DE RUEHDT #0604 3531212 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 191212Z DEC 06 FM AMEMBASSY DILI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3177 INFO RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0764 RUCNARF/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE RUEHXX/GENEVA IO MISSIONS COLLECTIVE RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 0831 RUEHLI/AMEMBASSY LISBON PRIORITY 0733 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 0559 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 0593 RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON PRIORITY 0671 RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 0455 RHHMUNA/USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RUEHDT/AMEMBASSY DILI 2516
UNCLAS DILI 000604
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/MTS
PACOM FOR POLAD AND JOC
NSC FOR HOLLY MORROW
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM UN TT
SUBJECT: AFTER SLOW START, PARLIAMENT RUSHES THROUGH ELECTION LAW
REF: DILI 600
UNCLAS DILI 000604
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/MTS
PACOM FOR POLAD AND JOC
NSC FOR HOLLY MORROW
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM UN TT
SUBJECT: AFTER SLOW START, PARLIAMENT RUSHES THROUGH ELECTION LAW
REF: DILI 600
1. The National Parliament in a press release issued late
yesterday announced passage of the draft parliamentary election
law drafted by the ruling Fretilin party. In contrast to last
week's deliberations (reftel) which addressed the first 16
articles one at a time, the remainder of the legislation was
voted on in chapters instead, allowing the quick passage of 61
additional articles with little discussion among the Members of
Parliament present. The final document was then approved as a
whole with 49 votes in favor, none against, and one abstention.
This reflects an absence of 38 MPs out of the 88 member
legislature. Many of these were opposition representatives,
including those of the largest opposition party, the Democratic
Party (PD),who have boycotted all electoral law deliberations,
declaring the draft unconstitutional. Eight MPs from small
opposition parties were present, however. It will now be
returned to committee for editing in preparation to be sent to
President Xanana Gusmao for signature.
2. Discussions on the law had commenced on December 11 and the
initial article-by-article review had resulted in some
compromises departing from the original draft. However, the
absence of many opposition MPs in the deliberations already
undermined prospects for a consensus law to emerge. The rushed
manner in which the remainder of the law was approved,
reportedly with only a few minor changes, may further call into
question the law's fairness.
3. Post will report on the substance of the law septel once the
text becomes available.
GRAY
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/MTS
PACOM FOR POLAD AND JOC
NSC FOR HOLLY MORROW
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM UN TT
SUBJECT: AFTER SLOW START, PARLIAMENT RUSHES THROUGH ELECTION LAW
REF: DILI 600
1. The National Parliament in a press release issued late
yesterday announced passage of the draft parliamentary election
law drafted by the ruling Fretilin party. In contrast to last
week's deliberations (reftel) which addressed the first 16
articles one at a time, the remainder of the legislation was
voted on in chapters instead, allowing the quick passage of 61
additional articles with little discussion among the Members of
Parliament present. The final document was then approved as a
whole with 49 votes in favor, none against, and one abstention.
This reflects an absence of 38 MPs out of the 88 member
legislature. Many of these were opposition representatives,
including those of the largest opposition party, the Democratic
Party (PD),who have boycotted all electoral law deliberations,
declaring the draft unconstitutional. Eight MPs from small
opposition parties were present, however. It will now be
returned to committee for editing in preparation to be sent to
President Xanana Gusmao for signature.
2. Discussions on the law had commenced on December 11 and the
initial article-by-article review had resulted in some
compromises departing from the original draft. However, the
absence of many opposition MPs in the deliberations already
undermined prospects for a consensus law to emerge. The rushed
manner in which the remainder of the law was approved,
reportedly with only a few minor changes, may further call into
question the law's fairness.
3. Post will report on the substance of the law septel once the
text becomes available.
GRAY