Concern that political tensions in East Timor could lead to more violence is the driving force behind a new IFES project that seeks to teach citizens about the laws that govern peaceful political transition.

The young democracy was rocked by street clashes last year, after results from a parliamentary election showed a close race between the then ruling Revolutionary Front of Independent Timor-Leste, or FRETILIN, and the opposition National Congress for the Reconstruction of East Timor, or CNRT. FRETILIN had a slim 5 percent lead, but CNRT was quick to form an alliance with another party and a coalition, creating the Parliamentary Majority Alliance, or AMP.

The parties continued a month-long stalemate over who would lead the next government, with each party favoring different interpretations of the constitution. In August, President Ramos Horta proceeded to appoint Xanana Gusmao, a member of the AMP, as prime minister. FRETILIN reacted by issuing a statement that called the new government illegal and unconstitutional. Almost a year later, political tensions remain high in the country. 

Mike Clegg, an IFES specialist in constitutional law, wrote a paper that described the president’s role in the process according to the constitution.  It illustrates how the president’s decision was indeed constitutional. Parts of that paper now form the basis of IFES’ civic education project that was launched on February 25.

The project design took into account that more than 40 percent of East Timor’s population is illiterate. In addition, it needed to explain a complicated topic like constitutional law in a way that could be easily understood by average citizens.

Participants at an IDP camp act out political parties joining together to form coalitions.

The solution was to design an information booklet with colorful illustrations and large visual charts that represent concepts such as proportional representation and political alliances. The booklet is being used by local educators, trained by IFES, who are conducting face-to-face awareness sessions through April 25.

The civic education campaign already is underway in the districts of Dili and Baucau, two of the largest population centers in East Timor and flashpoints for election-related violence. The campaign directly works with young people attending university or high school, among others. The median age in East Timor is 21 years old.

Educators conduct trainings in the students’ classrooms, with the hope that many students will return home and share the booklet and lessons with their families. The IFES campaign is designed to reach 18,000 people, including local leaders and people internally displaced by factional violence over the last two years.

Mary Lou Schramm, IFES’ chief of party in East Timor, said she hopes the civic education campaign will help citizens better understand how their votes determine who will be in parliament and who is constitutionally entitled to form the government after a national election.