11th April 2002

Warning by EU Chief Observer on election allegations

The European Union’s Chief Election Observer, John Bowis MEP. , today issued a warning that the credibility of the Presidential election was being at risk by reports of elements that were encouraging voters to spoil their ballot papers.

“It is entirely up to each individual whether he or she votes and how he or she votes. I have no quarrel with anyone who decides intentionally to abstain. What is quite wrong is to fool people into thinking they can validly vote for both candidates. Such a vote would be invalid. It would not count; it would be entirely wasted. Equally wrong is to suggest the election is unimportant and that people should not take it seriously or vote at all.”

“This is the final vote before Independence can be declared. East Timor has struggled for the democratic right to self-determination. It has voted democratically and in large numbers for Independence; it has voted democratically and in large numbers for a Constituent Assembly; now it must vote democratically and in large numbers for a Head of State. My team of European Union Observers – the largest team and the only one covering every district of East Timor – has reported to me their concern about attempts to confuse voters into spoiling their votes.

“That would be harassment of and undue pressure on people and, if such a campaign were to be successful, I should find it very hard to give EU endorsement to the result. I hope very much that these fears will prove unfounded. The message must be: You have one vote; don’t let anyone persuade you to waste it; use it in support of whichever candidate you believe should be President of your Country, as it moves to Independence.”