Isabel Ermelita – The Chief of the Election Observers Mission Australia-Timor-Leste, Professor Damien Kingsbury said the Early Election 2018 was different compared to elections of previous years that were marked by peace.
He added the early election this year was tense between political parties' leaders and their militants.
"This year was less friendly, with high political pressure and aggressive talk during the time of the campaigns between political leaders and militants," said Kingsbury at Hotel Esplanada, in Dili.
He said the two previous general elections (Presidential and Parliamentary) held in 2017 were successfully organized, peaceful and very positive.
He acknowledged that there was a technical problem in last year's election but that this is normally and can happen during a general election.
He hoped that the militants, including the political leaders of the bigger parties' respect and accept the results of election.
He added there are currently 100 international observers from Australia, half the size of the group of 200 Australian observers that observed the 2017 Elections. "This year we have 48 groups and last year we had 80 groups," he informed.
The reduction in the number of observers is due to some having other commitments and other work. He added observers come voluntarily, pay their own way, and they had just been in Timor-Leste for the previous election some 10 months ago in 2017.
He said the observers have been placed across most municipalities except in Viqueque and in the special administrative region of Oe-Cusse-Ambeno. "We have 4 [groups] in Lospalos, 2 in Covalima, 7 in Bobonaro, 4 in Dili and in other municipalities," he said.
Meanwhile, International Observer from Vitoria University-Australia, Professor Michael Leach said political pressure during the campaign could lead to conflict and create instability within the country.
"I think there was a lot more tension during the campaigns this year, verbal attacks between the leaders of the bigger parties and between militants on the ground, on media including social media. Sharp words were said to one another," he said.
He said for example in Viqueque and in in Laga, Baucau municipality, the militants of the bigger parties attacked each other. "Whatever is the result of this election, it is important the people of Timor are happy," he added.
However, he said the early election this year has been very positive for the two state election bodies, the National Commission for Elections (CNE) and the Electoral Administration Technical Secretariat and that they have done a great job.
"Even with a limited budget, but they have performed very well throughout the election process," he said.
He added the observers are paying close attention at the voting centres, to the ballot boxes, the voting cabins, and the whole voting process.
He hopes that attacks during the campaign period will not impact on the process and on the results of the election.
Meanwhile, a national observer from RONETIL group, Caetano Alves said the general situation at the voting centres in Dili and at the voting centre at school 10 de Dezembru is well-organized and peaceful.
"There is no problem or conflict until now. Everyone is calm and taking part in the election," he said. He hopes everything is well-organized and successful until the end of vote.
There are over 400 national observers in total from RONETIL group placed in all municipalities, including all voting centres in the capital Dili.