LOWER TURNOUT BUT TECHNICALLY IMPROVED ROUND TWO VOTING

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DILI 000185

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP/MTS,IO,DRL,R
PACOM FOR POLAD AND JOC
TOKYO FOR KLEMM
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KDEM KPAO PREL PGOV ASEC UN TT
SUBJECT: LOWER TURNOUT BUT TECHNICALLY IMPROVED ROUND TWO VOTING


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1. Summary: The second round of East Timor's presidential
election concluded May 9 without incident. There were visible
improvements compared to the first round with regard to
logistical preparations. The Embassy will urge all parties to
use established legal mechanisms for filing complaints, to wait
for results to be finalized, and will stress that the results of
an election that is free and fair and reflects the will of the
people should be peacefully accepted by all parties. End
summary.


2. Voting in the second round of East Timor's presidential
election concluded May 9 to select between current Prime
Minister Jose Ramos-Horta and Fretilin party leader Francisco
"Lu'Olo" Guterres. East Timor generally has been calm today and
the election proceeded without significant apparent security,
logistical, or political problems. Participation based on
anecotdal observation appeared to be slightly lower than in the
April 9 first round of 81.7 percent of registered voters, but
likely will be still high by international standards. Many of
the logistical problems of the first round, such as late arrival
of ballots and materials, appear to have been resolved.


3. Some polling officials enforced limits on the number of
international observers allowed in at one time and there was
confusion at times about the access international observers were
permitted. There were some unconfirmed allegations that parties
bribed voters to vote for their candidate or purchased voter
identification cards in order to manipulate the vote. Voters
and citizens will have 24 hours to file complaints about the
voting and counting process. Post will monitor this process as
well as encourage Timorese to use established legal mechanisms
for lodging complaints.


4. The U.S. Mission sent nine teams of observers throughout East
Timor to monitor the vote. All are reporting in regularly and
coordinating with the DCM and RSO. Preliminary results will not
be available until later this week. U.S. Mission observers will
monitor the counting and tabulation process. The U.S. Mission
will coordinate with UNMIT and other diplomatic missions to urge
continued calm and responsible behavior as the results are
tabulated and announced.


5. Suggested press guidance follows.

Begin text.

---We congratulate the people and institutions of East Timor on
organizing the final round of their presidential election.
Initial reports from Embassy and international election
monitoring teams indicate that today's presidential election
proceeded peacefully with active turnout by Timorese exercising
their right to vote. It is still too early to judge the extent
or effect of any irregularities.

--- We understand that the tabulation of election returns will
take several days. We join the international community in
reiterating that the results of an election that is free and
fair and reflects the will of the people should be accepted by
all parties. Any concerns regarding electoral misconduct should
be pursued through the dispute mechanisms established by
Timorese law and regulations.

--- We will continue to monitor the situation in East Timor as
the country welcomes its new president and looks ahead to the
June 30 parliamentary election. We will be coordinating with
UNMIT and encouraging the Timorese electoral authorities to
carefully investigate any allegations of voter intimidation or
manipulation of the vote and will urge parties to use the
established dispute mechanisms.

End text.

Background:

East Timor held the second round of its presidential election on
May 9. Prime Minister Jose Ramos-Horta and President of the
Parliament Francisco "Lu'Olo" Guterres competed. The presidency
is a largely ceremonial position, but it does possess important
veto powers. Moreover, the elections could serve as an

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indicator of public opinion in advance of the June 30
parliamentary election.

The U.S. Government has provided over $1.2 million of technical
assistance through USAID to support the elections and the
development of democratic institutions in East Timor in areas
such as support to domestic election monitors, media training,
political party training, and assistance to the National
Electoral Commission (CNE),the independent oversight body for
the electoral process.
NAGY