Introduction

In the lead up to Timor-Leste’s second set of national elections in 2007, IFES experts provided orientation and training on specific procedures to all 15 members of the National Election Commission (CNE) as well as for the 52 CNE officers assigned to the districts.  Assistance focused on: the oversight of vote counting, results reporting systems, an election complaints system, campaign finance and reporting, candidate registration, seat allocation and media skills.  IFES also helped the CNE develop its media center for the elections.   

IFES programming specifically addressed political tensions surrounding the 2007 elections by strengthening election conflict resolution mechanisms and resources. IFES trained and funded seven Timorese lawyers who worked on complaints adjudication for the CNE. IFES international legal advisors provided explanations to concerned stakeholders on seat allocation for Parliament and clarified potentially dangerous ambiguities in the Constitution pertaining to the formation of government. IFES trained civil society organizations in EVER methodology to monitor and report on elections violence. After the elections, when these monitoring initiatives warned of escalating tensions, IFES programming countered misinformation about election outcomes with timely and targeted civic education campaigns.

After the 2007 national elections, IFES was invited to support National Parliament in its efforts to review and improve the country’s legal framework for future national elections (expected in 2012) and potential municipal elections. Through October 2009, IFES engaged in an intensive process of stakeholder consultation, comparative legal review, legal drafting, and translation to present National Parliament with improved drafts of national electoral laws as well as analyses supporting the recommended changes to the country’s legal framework for elections. Drafts were presented in English, Portuguese and Tetum to improve MPs’ access to the information.   Among other changes, the draft revisions would curtail use of state resources in campaigns; protect voter registration in the laws with clear provisions; simplify aspects of election operations; reduce the number of candidates required on party lists to contest parliamentary elections; and, clarify the laws in areas of previous inconsistency or ambiguity.

Electoral Context

Elections have played a central role in Timor-Leste’s path to nationhood and sustainable governance. In 1999, the Timorese electorate overwhelmingly voted to reject a proposed Indonesian special autonomy plan for Timor-Leste, choosing instead to separate from Indonesia. Post-election violence by anti-independence militias (supported by the Indonesian Military) exacted a heavy price in terms of human life and suffering. Administered by the UN Transitional Authority for East Timor (UNTAET) until its formal independence in May 2002, Timor-Leste turned its focus to building democratic institutions.

Early confidence in the new country’s progress was badly shaken in 2006, when the dismissal of 594 petitioning members of the nation's security forces triggered a chain of events resulting in casualties and large-scale displacement. The ensuing polarization of political forces and emergence of ethnic strife led to a tense pre-electoral period for the country’s second set of national elections. The 2007 national elections became both a necessary step in returning stability and also a potential flashpoint for more politically-charged violence.  The elections were conducted successfully with minimal levels of violence. Increased cases of political violence after the elections subsided after issues surrounding the formation of government were addressed by the President, media and civic education.