VZCZCXRO9749
RR RUEHPB
DE RUEHDT #0185/01 1291016
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 091016Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY DILI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3511
INFO RUCNARF/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0951
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP
RUEHLI/AMEMBASSY LISBON 0901
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1010
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0752
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0692
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 0836
RUEHROV/AMEMBASSY VATICAN 0140
RUEHDT/AMEMBASSY DILI 2874

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DILI 000185 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EAP/MTS,IO,DRL,R 
PACOM FOR POLAD AND JOC 
TOKYO FOR KLEMM 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KDEM KPAO PREL PGOV ASEC UN TT
SUBJECT: LOWER TURNOUT BUT TECHNICALLY IMPROVED ROUND TWO VOTING 
 
 
DILI 00000185  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1. Summary:  The second round of East Timor's presidential 
election concluded May 9 without incident.  There were visible 
improvements compared to the first round with regard to 
logistical preparations.  The Embassy will urge all parties to 
use established legal mechanisms for filing complaints, to wait 
for results to be finalized, and will stress that the results of 
an election that is free and fair and reflects the will of the 
people should be peacefully accepted by all parties.  End 
summary. 
 
¶2. Voting in the second round of East Timor's presidential 
election concluded May 9 to select between current Prime 
Minister Jose Ramos-Horta and Fretilin party leader Francisco 
"Lu'Olo" Guterres.  East Timor generally has been calm today and 
the election proceeded without significant apparent security, 
logistical, or political problems.  Participation based on 
anecotdal observation appeared to be slightly lower than in the 
April 9 first round of 81.7 percent of registered voters, but 
likely will be still high by international standards.  Many of 
the logistical problems of the first round, such as late arrival 
of ballots and materials, appear to have been resolved. 
 
¶3. Some polling officials enforced limits on the number of 
international observers allowed in at one time and there was 
confusion at times about the access international observers were 
permitted.  There were some unconfirmed allegations that parties 
bribed voters to vote for their candidate or purchased voter 
identification cards in order to manipulate the vote.  Voters 
and citizens will have 24 hours to file complaints about the 
voting and counting process.  Post will monitor this process as 
well as encourage Timorese to use established legal mechanisms 
for lodging complaints. 
 
¶4. The U.S. Mission sent nine teams of observers throughout East 
Timor to monitor the vote.  All are reporting in regularly and 
coordinating with the DCM and RSO.  Preliminary results will not 
be available until later this week.  U.S. Mission observers will 
monitor the counting and tabulation process.  The U.S. Mission 
will coordinate with UNMIT and other diplomatic missions to urge 
continued calm and responsible behavior as the results are 
tabulated and announced. 
 
¶5. Suggested press guidance follows. 
 
Begin text. 
 
---We congratulate the people and institutions of East Timor on 
organizing the final round of their presidential election. 
Initial reports from Embassy and international election 
monitoring teams indicate that today's presidential election 
proceeded peacefully with active turnout by Timorese exercising 
their right to vote.  It is still too early to judge the extent 
or effect of any irregularities. 
 
--- We understand that the tabulation of election returns will 
take several days.  We join the international community in 
reiterating that the results of an election that is free and 
fair and reflects the will of the people should be accepted by 
all parties.  Any concerns regarding electoral misconduct should 
be pursued through the dispute mechanisms established by 
Timorese law and regulations. 
 
--- We will continue to monitor the situation in East Timor as 
the country welcomes its new president and looks ahead to the 
June 30 parliamentary election.  We will be coordinating with 
UNMIT and encouraging the Timorese electoral authorities to 
carefully investigate any allegations of voter intimidation or 
manipulation of the vote and will urge parties to use the 
established dispute mechanisms. 
 
End text. 
 
Background: 
 
East Timor held the second round of its presidential election on 
May 9.  Prime Minister Jose Ramos-Horta and President of the 
Parliament Francisco "Lu'Olo" Guterres competed.  The presidency 
is a largely ceremonial position, but it does possess important 
veto powers.  Moreover, the elections could serve as an 
 
DILI 00000185  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
indicator of public opinion in advance of the June 30 
parliamentary election. 
 
The U.S. Government has provided over $1.2 million of technical 
assistance through USAID to support the elections and the 
development of democratic institutions in East Timor in areas 
such as support to domestic election monitors, media training, 
political party training, and assistance to the National 
Electoral Commission (CNE), the independent oversight body for 
the electoral process. 
NAGY