The Practice of Money Politics in the 2012 Presidential Election

Fundasaun Mahein, 28 March 2012 Press Release Mahein’s Voice 32 is a debate on the practice of money politics in the recent 2012 presidential election. The practice of money politics
in Timor-Leste began in 1975 when political parties began receiving
support in money, weapons as well as other materials from foreign
countries. These forms of support from foreign countries significantly
influenced the political situations in Timor-Leste which eventually
led to the internal conflict of civil war and the Indonesian military
invasion of 7 December 1975.

In this article, FundasaunMahein (FM) questions some of the legal process undertaken by STAE which we consider violates the universal
principal of suffrage. Also, FM in this article would like to highlight the issue of money politics that is prevalent during the campaign period of the first presidential election right up to polling
day. Essentially, FM is of the view that this practice of money politics, during the first round of presidential election, is the direct consequence of having an electoral law that requires citizens
to vote at a place where he or she is registered.

In the case of the recent presidential election the practice of money
politics include the practice, by some political parties, of providing
transport, free of charge, to students and some community members who
wishes to return to their districts and participate in a voter
registration at a referred party secretariat. Through this article,FM
would also like to state that 21.80%, of the total 626,503 eligible
voters, did not participate in the first round of the presidential
election.

As such, the view of FM is that the practice of money politics will
weaken the democratic process and will destroy some of the democratic
principles, such as liberty and impartiality. In any case, the effect
of the practice of money politics is that it will taint the image of political power.

As such, FM would like to recommend that:

1. CNE profoundly investigate some of the practices of money politics
that were committed during the first round of the presidential
election.

2. The government weigh the options between changing article 40 of the
presidential election law and providing transport for citizens to
travel to their respective Sucos to vote.

3. The government annul article 40 of the presidential election law.

4. The government create a law on money politics in order to regulate
party or individual support in terms of money and materials.

5. In cases of national or foreign support by political parties or
political persons that have political influence, CNE needs to
supervise and investigate the origin of the support, as well as its
type, and accordingly make a public announcement either through CNE or
STAE.

6. The government create a strong law for CNE and STAE that allows
them to apply penal sanctions.

For further information regarding this article please contact
Nélson Belo,
Director of Fundasaun Mahein
www.fundasaunmahein.org
Email: nelson@fundasaunmahein.org
Tlp +670 737 4222


Fundasaun Mahein, 28 Marsu 2012

Komunikadu Imprenza

Pratika Money Politika iha Eleisaun Prezidensial 2012

Mahein Nia Lian no. 32 halo debate klean konaba pratika politika osan
(money politics) iha Eleisaun Prezidensial 2012, foin lalais ne’e. Iha
istoria Timor-Leste pratika Money politika hahu husi tinan 1975,
partidu politiku balu hetan apoiu osan, material hanesan kilat no bens
sira seluk husi rai liur. Apoiu sira ne’e influensia makáas situasaun
politika Timor-Leste, ikus mosu funu maun-alin no invazaun militar
Indonezia iha 7 Dezembru 1975.

Liu husi relatoriu ne’e, Fundasaun Mahein (FM) kestiaona konaba
prosedementu legais husi Sekretariu Tekniku Administrasaun Eleitoral
(STAE) ne’ebé konsidera viola prinsipiu sufrajiu universal ka direitu
hili ne’ebé universal. No tuir observasaun FM nian nota durante
kampañia eleitoral to’o loron antes votasaun akontese pratika money
politika. Pratika ida ne’e akontese tanba konsekuensia husi lei
eleitoral nian ne’ebé koalia konabá eleitor sira obrigatoriu vota iha
fatin ne’ebé sira nian kartaun eleitoral rejistu ba.

Relatoriu ne’e mos identifika konaba problema fundamental sira ne’ebe
mos iha eleisaun prezidensial mak hanesan partidu politiku balun
aplika pratika money politika hodi foti inisiativa fo apoiu transporte
bá estudante no komunidade balun ne’ebé hakarak fila bá sira nia
distritu atu tuir votasaun rejistu iha Sekretariadu Partidu refere.
No, FM mos sita konaba sidadaun barak mak ladun partisipa iha
eleisaun prezidensial hamutuk (21.80 %) husi total eleitor 626.503 la
partisipa iha eleisaun prezidensial primeiru volta.

Nune’e mos relatoriu ne’e mos mensiona katak pratika money politika
ne’e sei hafraku prosesu demokrasia no sei hamate prinsipiu demokrasia
iha ámbitu liberdade no imparsialidade, inklui mos sei hafo’er imajem
poder politiku husi povu iha estadu direitu demokrátiku.

Ho ida ne’e Fundasaun Mahein (FM) hakarak rekomenda bá:

1). CNE presiza halo investigasaun profundu bá pratika Money politika
ne’ebé komete husi partidu politiku iha prosesu eleitoral ne’ebé liu
dadauk.

2). Governu presiza tetu opsaun partisipasaun sidadaun nian entre
alterasaun lei eleisaun Prezidenti Repúblika artigu 40 no apoiu
transporte bá sidadaun sira bá iha nia suku atu tuir vota.

3). Rekomenda bá governu tenki anula tiha artigu 40 lei eleisaun
Prezidenti Repúblika.

4). Governu presiza halo lei kona-bá pratika Money politika atu
kontrola apoiu osan ka bens ruma husi pesoal ka partidu politiku.

5). Karik iha apoiu ruma husi rai laran ka rai liur bá partidu
politiku no pesoal politiku ne’ebé iha influensia politika, CNE
presiza halo supervizaun no investiga apoiu ne’e mai husi ne’ebé deit
apoiu ne’e ho forma saida ka ho osan ka sasan persiza deklara ba CNE
no STAE.

6). Governu presiza halo lei ne’ebé fo forte bá CNE no STAE atu halo
sansaun penal.