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CNRT Outlines Fretilin’s Continual Abuse of Power During ‘Caretaker’ Mode

Dili – 26th June 2007

After five years of ineffectual government, unable to deliver basic services to its citizens and unerringly arrogant in its approach to the people, the Fretilin government has demonstrated yet again its unfitness to govern and a complete lack of moral compass in the lead up to the legislative elections.

This week Fretilin announced in a media release that; ‘FRETILIN has become the only political party in Timor-Leste to enter into written agreements with local communities providing government funding of up to US$100,000 per year for local development upon re-election.’

Dionisio Babo Soares, Secretary General of CNRT said, “Fretilin recently announced their thoughts on decentralisation, they said it was a recipe for waste and corruption. They have taken no action in the past five years to distribute cash to districts for priority spending or to educate local sucos and districts in procurement; except in the dying days of their government, where they are handing out money like candy. Such actions are not part of their ideology of established practice. The only conclusion is that their latest plan is another Fretilin attempt of cash for votes.

“The reason Fretilin is the only party to enter into written agreements with promissory notes of payment is because it is morally and ethically corrupt to enter into contractual premised agreements during an election for pecuniary interests in return for votes. Not to mention that it is a violation of their own amended electoral laws. I am proud that CNRT and the other political parties in Timor-Leste acknowledge such practice as morally bankrupt.  It is a disgrace for the governing party to engage in such corrupt practice, such activity has no place in a progressive modern day democracy.

“It is one thing to promote policy and present budget allocations which reflect the nature of your political platforms, but to enter into written contracts to provide funding upon re-election, especially when it has no affiliation to your current policy or protocol, is incomprehensible. There is no transparency or accountability in these so-called contracts with the districts and sucos, or established procurement procedures to distribute or track the progress of such payments. It is not within the rights of a government, whilst in caretaker mode in the lead up to a general election, to make such promises.  

“Any leaders know that the international norm concerning the formal legal electoral period, has to be one where the government adopts a caretaker mode, and does not commit money, open major programmes or make major appointments.  Fretilin claims that caretaker mode does not apply to Timor-Leste, which demonstrates beyond doubt, their lack of the intellectual and moral ability to govern. This absolute lack of a moral compass is a sad reflection of the past five years of Fretilin governance.”

This announcement comes after days of stunning revelations that Fretilin abused their role in government by promising cash payments to various interest groups and changing several key laws in the electoral code, whilst in care taker mode.

Babo-Soares continues, “This is the reason CNRT campaigned on principles, because we were not going to campaign on promises of money in return for votes. We have proudly campaigned on the values of re-establishing a government with checks and balances, creating a parliament that is accountable and transparent. A democratic and transparent Government would not be able to make the promise of several millions of dollars on a whim, without established protocol and procedure.

“Fretilin has made a mockery of this election as they have become more and more desperate to cling to power. This is just another display of their abject ineptitude in democratic process and it has to end. The people of East Timor have tasted the sweetness of their first victory in the name of democracy, electing His Excellency, The President José Ramos-Horta, their second victory will be electing CNRT to parliament, we will be elected by the people, for the people.”

Ends.

For Further Information
CNRT Media Contact
T: +670 735 8696
E: cnrt.media@gmail.com
W: www.cnrt-timor.org

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