AAP General News (Australia)
04-05-2007
Fed: Calls for calm on ETimor voting day by Aust delegation
DARWIN, April 5 AAP - The head of an Australian delegation that will visit East Timor
on polling day has called for a calm and fair process.
Northern Territory MP David Tollner will lead the official Australian parliamentary
group, which will arrive in East Timor on April 7, two days before the nation's first
presidential poll since the country was granted independence from Indonesia in 2002.
Also in the group is Queensland Senator Claire Moore and officials from the Australian
Electoral Commission and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Recent campaigning has deteriorated into occasional violence in Dili, with police firing
warning shots and tear gas to disperse fighting between supporters of rival political
parties across the capital.
As most of the eight candidates vying to become president in next Monday's poll wound
up their election campaigns ahead of the Easter break, Mr Tollner today said it was important
that voting was conducted in a democratic manner.
"I would like to call on all sides to support free and fair elections on 9 April, and
to participate in a peaceful manner to allow citizens to vote without fear or intimidation,"
he said.
"These elections are another important step in the development of East Timor's democracy
and electoral institutions, and I am delighted to be able to play a role in support of
this important event."
While the voting was in progress, Mr Tollner said the Australian delegation would visit
the district of Liquica, stopping off at a number of polling centres before leaving the
following day.
"The presidential elections and subsequent parliamentary elections provide an excellent
opportunity for the East Timorese to resolve their differences and address the many challenges
facing the country," he said.
AAP tr/cp/mn
KEYWORD: TIMOR AUST DELEGATES
2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.
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