Dili, January 22, 2025 (Média Democracia) – Representatives from the Ministry of Public Administration (MAE) Deputy Minister of MAE handed over materials to be submitted to local governments, so that on January 24 they would be distributed to voting centers in 70 sub-villages. This activity was held at the MAE office in Caicoli, Dili, on Tuesday.
According to the Deputy Minister of MAE, Jacinto R. G. de Deus, MAE together with other related parties on January 21, 2025, carried out a term for the handover of sensitive and non-sensitive materials to the 18 voting villages which are currently still in process.
“Today, January 21, 2025, the materials are submitted to the Municipalities so that on January 24 they will be distributed to the votation center in 70 existing sub-villages. We are doing more of this democratic action as a step towards the election, this is nothing new for us. We hope that these materials from all parties can be well guarded so that they can reach the votation center to hold elections in 18 villages smoothly and successfully. These sensitive materials are important for the election process, therefore they must be processed and controlled properly so as not to cause conflict, confusion in the community.” Said the Deputy Minister of MAE
He emphasized that MAE places full trust in STAE, the apparatus, security, villages and all parties involved in the election process so that it can run well and smoothly to show the public that everything is running with dignity.
He added that he believed that the Municipalities STAE together with PNTL had sufficient capacity to oversee the voting process in 18 villages until completion, therefore this voting was for 18 villages only but some in 70 sub-villages, so with this MAE and STAE only provided assistance and supervision.
As the Chairman of the National Commission, José Belo said that this election provides an opportunity for the people of Timor-Leste even though we only have small villages and sub-villages that hold elections, but what is important is how to continue to disseminate preparations so that they run well so that they can continue to be a commitment of this country.
“We have now entered the stage of distributing sensitive and non-sensitive materials, but previously, the President of authority together with the Postal Leaders, especially at the National level, together with us, the Commissioners, felt that in the process of distributing candidates, there was already a dynamic of harmony between them, especially from one sub-village to one village, where the cultures and customs are different.” Said the Chairman of the National Commission.
He explained that this is why all parties are coordinating with CNE to be able to overcome these processes so that candidates can complete their participation in the election.
“So far, CNE and the national STAE and also Municipal STAE have coordinated well with each other, so that villages that are running in the general election also conduct civic education with a little practice explaining the simulations that must be carried out, so that if they become a village they know what their rights, obligations and responsibilities are.” He said.
He added, although CNE and STAE did not directly participate, they always support with authority and assistance at the municipal level. That is why every year the quality of the election always increases because it is in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
On the other hand, according to the Director General of Regional Government Development MAE, Antonio Agusto Guterres, that in 2025 they will be placed together to distribute election materials, both sensitive and non-sensitive, to be transported to each municipality.
“I am sure that in this election we all speak up, in order to ensure so anyone will not protest like in previous years, even though only a few villages, but still ask for technical and maximum support so that the results are good, especially services to the community before they come to the election center to exercise their right to vote,” he said.
He emphasized, continue to ask the President the authorities to collect technicalities to provide support to the country, continue to accompany what is still lacking in the center so that it can be resolved immediately starting from internal coordination and immediately contacting technicalities at the central level and in the field. If something happens, immediately coordinate with the security forces to act based on the provisions of the laws related to the implementation of elections by the election organizers. Everything has been done now, it remains to be distributed, hopefully later it can bring all of this from here to each region to run calmly, orderly and directed until the results return to the MAE.
Director General of the National STAE, Elviru Fernandes Moniz said that based on government decree number 5/202526 dated December that together with 18 villages will take part in the election of village organs, this will take place on January 25, 2025. To inform more on the purpose of the material for the distribution ceremony of the election organs of 18 villages in 2025.
From the 18 villages, 87 council members will be elected, inaugurated by 18 village heads, 14 traditional leaders, 14 young men, 14 women, 9 sub-villages heads and 9 delegates, therefore in this election there are 24,126 voters who will exercise their voting rights on January 25, 2025.
“The ongoing election stages have submitted 55 candidates to the village head, consisting of 52 men and 3 women. Based on Law Number 9 of 2016 and Government Regulation Number 14 of 2014, the authority of the election organizing institution is to provide support and assistance to the Municipal authority, especially to village institutions, the assembly sub-villages and the council villages in the process of compiling the composition table, submitting candidates, the election process, counting votes and ratification. We are all present to assist in the process of handing over materials consisting of sensitive and non-sensitive materials such as 552 ballot papers to the village head, each book containing 50 sheets and 74 ballot papers to the sub-villages head, with details of 46 books for male youth, 36 books for female youth and 105 books for voters,” said the Director General of National STAE.
He added, for that, his party will also distribute minutes along with forms and other items that can facilitate the process of counting votes and also counting votes. These materials will be distributed to 70 hamlets that will hold elections so that on January 24, 2025, sensitive materials will be distributed to polling stations and on January 25, 2025, village voting will be held and on January 26, 2025, the results will be announced on how many hamlets have been elected and how many candidates must advance to the second round.
Total of village is 18 which will held election on January 25, 2025 as follows, Hurai Raco village of Aileu Vila, Aileu, Karahili village of Remixion, Aileu, Builai village of Baucau Vila, Baucau, Caibada Macasae village of Baucau, Baucau, Ueru-mata village of Laga, Baucau, Poetete village, Ermera, poetete lodudu village, Ermera, Poetete villa, Ermera, Koaliate Leten village of Hatulia A, Ermera, Assui-lau village of Letefoho, Ermera, Buduro village, Lautem, Laku mesak village of Laclo, Manatuto, Ili-huli village, Manatuto, Tahu-bein village of Alas, Manufahi, Mone Meco village of Pante Macassar, RAEOA, Cutete village of Pante Macassar. RAEOA, Macadique de Baixo village of Uatulari, Viqueque, and Macadique Uaitame of Uatulari, Viqueque.
Reported by : Tomas
Picture by : Tomas