STAE calls for detention of its staff members

Independente, March 8, 2012 language source: Tetun - Director for the Technical Secretariat for Electoral Administration (STAE), Thomas Cabral affirmed he would authorise the Timorese National Police (PNTL) to detain any staff members found to participate in political campaigns. "It is a crime if STAE staff to participate in political campaigns and this is outlined in the Penal Code and therefore the police have an obligation to detain them," he said. Cabral made the statements regarding the recent statements of the president of the National Election Commission (CNE), stating there were some staff members of STAE participating in political campaigns to support some presidential candidates.