USAID Electoral Support Activities In Full Swing In Anticipation of Election Season
As Timor-Leste gears up for general elections, tentatively scheduled for May 2007 pending the President’s announcement of the final election date, USAID’s electoral support activities are now in full swing. A coalition of domestic election monitors called KOMEG was launched today, 23 January, in Timor-Leste’s capital Dili with the public signing of a national pact to guide election monitoring. The coalition is made up of 13 local organizations, including women’s groups, religious groups, and other NGOs, and is open to additional member organizations willing to adhere to the pact. USAID is funding KOMEG, along with other donors led by the Japan Bishops’ Conference. Meanwhile, a total of 104 political party leaders have participated to date in the intensive electoral campaign training being conducted in the districts by USAID through its partner, the International Republican Institute. The official candidate registration process will open as soon as the President announces the dates for the presidential and parliamentary elections. (Jan. 23, 2007)

Printer Friendly Version