Janet Rice

Report on the VLGA Observer Mission to the Timor Leste Parliamentary elections

June 2007

Cr Janet Rice
VLGA Vice-President

Timor leste. An amazing country - my experience was of people who were so friendly and welcoming, determined to make a go of things.

And the election was an absolute delight to observe -I visited five polling booths in the district of Liquica, about 40 km west of the capital of Dili, and I saw thousands of people lining up peacefully, waiting to vote, voting calmly, determinedly, and the election being carried out exceptionally well. The following day we returned to Liquica to see some of the votes being counted. The count also was undertaken very transparently and scrupulously carefully.

Overwhelmingly the election was observed to be free and fair by international, national and party observers. Us being there was part of giving the election validity - so the population could have confidence that it was carried out properly so they are able to accept and trust the result.