Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07DILI156
2007-04-18 13:14:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Dili
Cable title:  

CNE CONFIRMS LUOLO VERSUS RAMOS-HORTA RUNOFF

Tags:  PGOV KDEM TT 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO9290
PP RUEHPB
DE RUEHDT #0156/01 1081314
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 181314Z APR 07
FM AMEMBASSY DILI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3453
INFO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0919
RUCNARF/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RHHMUNA/USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 0978
RUEHLI/AMEMBASSY LISBON PRIORITY 0869
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 0666
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 0720
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON PRIORITY 0804
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 0519
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEHROV/AMEMBASSY VATICAN 0114
RUEHDT/AMEMBASSY DILI 2816
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DILI 000156 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP/MTS, DRL, IO
USUN RICHARD MCCURRY
TOKYO FOR HANS KLEMM
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM TT
SUBJECT: CNE CONFIRMS LUOLO VERSUS RAMOS-HORTA RUNOFF

REF: DILI 151

DILI 00000156 001.2 OF 002


UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DILI 000156

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP/MTS, DRL, IO
USUN RICHARD MCCURRY
TOKYO FOR HANS KLEMM
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM TT
SUBJECT: CNE CONFIRMS LUOLO VERSUS RAMOS-HORTA RUNOFF

REF: DILI 151

DILI 00000156 001.2 OF 002



1. Summary: Defying worries that the national tabulation might
stretch on for days, the National Election Commission today,
April 18, announced at a late afternoon press conference that it
had completed the tabulation and announced the provisional
national results, reaffirming that Francisco "Lu'olo" Guterres
and Jose Ramos-Horta would face off in the runoff election
scheduled for May 9. According to the CNE's final count, Lu'olo
gained a total of 27.89 percent of the valid votes while
Ramos-Horta gained 21.81 percent. Runner up Fernando "Lasama"
Araujo was less than three points behind with 19.18 percent.
Turnout was calculated to be 81.7 percent. Although
considerably lower than originally reported from the districts,
the percent of votes deemed invalid or blank still stood just
above five percent. CNE today officially posted the provisional
national tally, leaving 24 hours for any disputes to be lodged
with the Court of Appeal. The Court will then address any
appeals lodged and formally validate the results. Recommended
talking points are contained in paragraph 5. End summary.


2. At a late afternoon press conference, following a
caffeine-fueled 24-hour marathon session, CNE Chairperson
Faustino Cardoso announced the results of its tabulation,
confirming that Fretilin candidate Lu'olo and independent
Ramos-Horta occupied the first and second places respectively.
Of a total of 522,933 registered voters, 427,712 voted,
reflecting a voter turnout of 81.79 percent. Of these, 403,941
were judged to be valid votes, leaving 23,771 or 5.5 percent
discounted as either blank or invalid votes. The breakdown of
the results is as follows, in order of percentage of votes
received:

CANDIDATE VOTES PERCENTAGE

1. Francisco "Lu'olo Guterres 112,666 27.89

2. Jose Ramos-Horta 88,102 21.81

3. Fernando "Lasama" Araujo 77,459 19.18

4. Francisco Xavier do Amaral 58,125 14.39

5. Lucia Lobato 35,789 8.86

6. Manuel Tilman 16,534 4.09

7. Avelino Coelho 8,338 2.06

8. Joao Carrascalao 6,928 1.72


3. In the statement read at the press conference, Cardoso
provided an overview of the process and detailed some of the
challenges CNE had encountered in reconciling inconsistencies
and omissions in some of the district results (Reftel). He noted
the tabulation had been completed on April 15, and that CNE then
used the additional 72 hours allotted by law to prepare the
minutes, including completion of the review and finalization of
decisions on invalid and challenged votes. He noted that CNE
had requested specific authorization from the Court of Appeal
during this latter period to proceed with opening ballot boxes
for which there were inconsistencies. The Court's opinion was
that the CNE had the authority to take all necessary measures to
complete an accurate tabulation.


4. Post understands that at the completion of the reading of the
results statement in both Tetum and Portuguese, the CNE's
provisional national results were deemed to be officially
posted, after which a 24 hour period began during which disputes
of the results could be lodged with the Court of Appeal.
Following the expiration of the 24 hour period, if no disputes
are lodged, the CNE will formally convey the national
provisional results to the Court for final verification. The
Court will have four days to complete the verification. Should
any dispute be lodged, the Court has an additional 24 hours up
front to make a decision.


5. Recommended talking points:
-- The USG congratulates the CNE for completing the national
tabulation process and posting the provisional national results.
This process was carried out transparently and methodically
despite many challenges.
-- We urge that any complaints received by CNE be adjudicated
quickly and fairly.
-- We will continue to monitor the situation in East Timor as
the country concludes the Presidential election and looks ahead

DILI 00000156 002.2 OF 002


to Parliamentary elections on June 30.
NAGY