International   

Runoff poll in East Timor peaceful

P. S. Suryanarayana

SINGAPORE: The run-off presidential poll in East Timor on Wednesday was held in a general ambience of peace and "great deal of enthusiasm." An official of the United Nations said this was an encouraging sign of the tiny state's growing "commitment to democracy."

In pockets of the capital Dili and a few other places, the polling was marked by a near-festive atmosphere away from the booths. And, as the balloting ended and counting began at the polling centres during the first stage of a three-step process, the authorities started scrutinising the allegations about "isolated" cases of voter-intimidation. Preliminary results are expected by Friday, and an official announcement will be made only after the Court of Appeal pronounces on the follow-up complaints, if any.

Disqualified candidates

East Timor has an eligible electorate of over half a million. The run-off in the first presidential poll since independence was necessitated by the failure of any candidate to secure the mandatory minimum in the voting in early April. Prime Minister Ramos Horta, a Nobel Peace laureate, and Francisco Guterres, leader of Fretilin, the key campaigner for the independence from Indonesia, had then made it to the run-off stage. Mr. Guterres secured more votes than any other candidate in the April polling. Subsequently, however, several disqualified candidates pledged to support Mr. Ramos Horta in the run-off.

Top U.N. Representative Atul Khare told The Hindu over the telephone from Dili that the polling reflected a commitment to democracy among the people and the leaders. He said the it instilled "confidence" that East Timor was now "moving towards being a country of peace and stability from being a post-conflict state."

The leader will succeed Xanana Gusmao, hero of the country's independence's struggle. After retiring as President, Mr. Gusmao intends to run for the post of Prime Minister, a more powerful executive position, in the context of the proposed parliamentary polls.

AP reports from Dili:

Both candidates are confident of victory. Mr. Horta said, ``If I win the election, I win a ... huge responsibility. But if I lose, I win my freedom to do whatever I want, to be a writer, to be an academic, to be a tourist, to travel.'' r. Guteress said, ``I will become the Timorese President to serve the people, resolve the crisis and establish peace and democracy. I want to win with dignity, but if I lose, I will also accept that with dignity.''

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Pakistan Supreme Court issues code of conduct
Defence cooperation may figure in Boucher's talks
High Commission van recovered
Runoff poll in East Timor peaceful
Wife of July 7 bombings mastermind arrested
Thaksin "abused" power

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu