15 Mar 2012

TIMOR-LESTE / ELECTION PREPS

Voters in Timor-Leste are due to go to the polls on 17 March to elect a new president. Thirteen candidates, including two women, have been approved to run in the election. UNMIT

Posted at: March 15, 2012 3:50 pm

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Available in: SD

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STORY: TIMOR-LESTE / ELECTIONS
TRT: 2.34
SOURCE: UNMIT
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / TETUN / PORTUGUESE / NATS

DATELINE: RECENT - TIMOR-LESTE

SHOTLIST:

14 MARCH 2012, DILI, TIMOR LESTE

1. Wide shot, Emiliano walking in street
2. Close up, Emiliano's voter ID
3. SOUNDBITE (Tetun) Emiliano A.F. Pereira, Timorese: 
"I feel proud and a little scared because this is the first time for me to vote".

RECENT 2012, DILI, TIMOR LESTE

4. Wide shot, school uniformed students in street
5. Wide shot, street scene with traffic
6. Wide shot, Timorese flag

13 MARCH 2012, DILI, TIMOR LESTE

7. Various shots, elections staff loading boxes with ballots onto pick-up

RECENT 2012, DILI, TIMOR LESTE

8.  Various shots, voting

09 MARCH 2012, DILI, TIMOR LESTE

9. Wide shot, Andrés del Castillo with another elections staff
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Andrés del Castillo, chief technical advisor, United Nations Electoral Support Team (UNEST): 
"It is a very important time for the Timorese authorities because this is the first time where almost all the process is conducted, organized, prepared by the national authorities. The role of the United Nations now is a backing support. We are in the back supporting very specific areas while the national authorities are mostly conducting all the electoral process."

RECENT 2012, DILI, TIMOR LESTE

11. Wide shot, aerial view of remote area in Timor
12. Pan left, village

13 MARCH 2012, DILI, TIMOR LESTE

13. Med shot, elections staff unloading ballot boxes in village
14.SOUNDBITE (Portuguese) Tomás Cabral, Director-General Technical Secretariat for Electoral Administration (STAE):
"The process to get to the polling centers and its transportation on election day is difficult because it has been raining all over the country. But the most difficult districts are in the north and central areas".

RECENT 2012, DILI, TIMOR LESTE

15. Med shot, street scene

15 MARCH 2012, DILI, TIMOR LESTE

16. Med shot, Balbina Mendonça Côrte-Real at her home with family
17. SOUNDBITE (Tetun) Balbina Mendonça Côrte-Real, 92:
"I think this is very important for the future of Timor-Leste".
18. Pan left, Balbina and her home with family

STORYLINE:

Emiliano is anxious for March 17. That is when this young Timorese man will vote for the first time.

SOUNDBITE (Tetun) Emiliano A.F. Pereira, Timorese:
"I feel proud and a little scared because this is the first time for me to vote".

In Timor-Leste, voting is an option for all citizens above the age of 17. The Southeast Asian country has a population of just over one million people. On Saturday (17 Mar), more than six hundred thousand registered voters can exercise their right to vote. Ballots papers have already been delivered to the 630 polling centers throughout the country.

This is the third time Timor-Leste will hold presidential elections since gaining their independence.  Andrés del Castillo is the chief technical advisor for UNEST, the United Nations Electoral Support Team in the country.

SOUNDBITE (English) Andrés del Castillo, chief technical advisor, United Nations Electoral Support Team (UNEST): 
"It is a very important time for the Timorese authorities because this is the first time where almost all the process is conducted, organized, prepared by the national authorities. The role of the United Nations now is a backing support. We are in the back supporting very specific areas while the national authorities are mostly conducting all the electoral process."

The country has organized the use of mobile polling stations to guarantee access in all 13 districts, including capital Dili and most remote areas. Some will reach hospitals and prisons. One of the electoral management bodies expects a major challenge.

SOUNDBITE (Portuguese) Tomás Cabral, Director-General Technical Secretariat for Electoral Administration (STAE):
"The process to get to the polling centers and its transportation onelection day is difficult because it has been raining all over the country. But the most difficult districts are in the north and central areas".

2012 is a milestone year for Timor. The nation also celebrates a decade of independence and legislative elections are expected by June. And no matter the age, Timorese will cast their votes. Ninety-two-year-old Balbina says she is ready.

SOUNDBITE (Tetun) Balbina Mendonça Côrte-Real: 
"I think this is very important for the future of Timor-Leste".

Thirteen candidates, including two women, have been approved to run in the election.