Three days after the start of the official campaign period for August 30 elections, the Timorese Democratic Union (UDT) became the first party to publish an advertisement in the East Timorese press.

"Of the people, with the people and for the people" is the slogan featured in the full-page ad dominated by the UDT party symbol and carried in the Wednesday edition of the Timor Post. The text in the territory's lingua franca, Tetun, does not appeal for votes but rather to "God, to give clarity to all the parties" so that they conduct "a good electoral campaign, freely and in peace".

A Timor Post employee told Lusa that a full-page ad in the paper costs USD 500. Voters in East Timor will on August 30 elect members of an 88- member assembly whose main duty will be to draw up the future national constitution. Sixteen political parties are contesting the ballot.

[An identical advertisement also appeared in the Suara Timor Lorosa on July 19 - James Balowski.]