Karen Michelmore, Baucau – Two people were injured when supporters of rival political parties clashed during campaigning in East Timor's presidential elections, a candidate said today.
Presidential candidate Fernando "La Sama" de Araujo, of the Democratic Party (PD), said 20 supporters of the rival Fretlin party threw rocks as he campaigned in regional Macadiqui, in East Timor's east, yesterday.
Final preparations are under way for next week's presidential poll, the first since East Timor was granted independence from Indonesia in 2002. Eight candidates are vying to replace independence fighter Xanana Gusmao as president.
The two week campaign has been marred by isolated incidents of violence and intimidation, including an attack during the campaign of Prime Minister Jose Ramos Horta where 21 people were injured last Thursday. La Sama today said one or two groups of young people threw stones at his supporters yesterday.
The presidential candidate today campaigned in another rival Fretlin stronghold Baucau. Tight security surrounded the outdoor rally, with UN police dressed in riot gear and more than 20 local police on hand.
More than 1,000 people braved light rain for the low key event, where La Sama urged young people to stop the violence. The event, peppered with cries of "viva La Sama", was peaceful except for a lone protester who was quickly bundled away by local police.
After the rally, La Sama said he was campaigning on a platform of national unity and peace. "I'm very sad by that incident yesterday," he said.
"I did deliver a good message to them. I said political parties shouldn't divide the people. Political parties should stop the violence."
He blamed supporters of Fretlin – East Timor's major party – saying they were scared of losing the Easter Monday poll.
"I think East Timorese know that this election is a moment for them to decide who they want as president," he said. "I'm confident more than 90 per cent – the majority – will come to the polling stations and vote. We have to start with peace in our hearts, I want people to revive their love."
The UN team overseeing the election warned in a recent report that it would have difficulty certifying the poll unless the security situation in the capital, Dili, improved significantly.
It warned the electoral process was "not proceeding satisfactorily", with delays in setting up the legal framework for the election and establishing the electoral authority "already having a serious impact on the process".
However local authorities today said they were confident the April 9 election would proceed as planned.
"The (UN) certification team has the highest standards, and we are doing our best to fulfil all those standards," said Electoral Technical Administration Secretariat (STAE) director Edgar Sequeira Martins.
"They are very useful to improve our work, our preparations, and we will do all we can to fulfil all that is necessary."
He said officials would begin distributing election materials to the districts over coming days.
There had been an improvement in security since last month, although there have been reports of sporadic violence and intimidation in the districts, Martins said.
"We hope there is no more trouble during these last few days during the election, especially on the election day," he said. "We are feeling confident there will be an election on April 9, even with all the limited resources we have."