Fed: Aust to send official election observers to East Timor =2

AAP General News (Australia)
08-17-2001
Fed: Aust to send official election observers to East Timor =2

Mr Rudd said it would be his fourth visit to East Timor in two years.

During his most recent visit in June, he visited Australian Electoral Commission officers
there, helping with preparations for the vote.

"I was advised they were well in hand," Mr Rudd told AAP.

"This is the single most important event in the new democracy which is East Timor -
that is to ensure the elections are free and fair."

The largest areas of difficulty had been voters' lack of familiarity with the large
number of parties contesting the election and with the low level of literacy among the
people.

"Our job (as observers) is to do what we can to ensure that the ballot is free and
fair and to provide confidence that it is so for the East Timorese."

AAP kjp/was/de

KEYWORD: TIMOR OBSERVERS 2 CANBERRA (REOPENS)

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