Dispatch of an Electoral Observer Mission for the Presidential Election in East Timor

March 29, 2002

On March 29 (Fri), the Government of Japan decided to dispatch an electoral observer mission, in accordance with the International Peace Cooperation Law, comprising eight persons (four from non-governmental sectors and four from governmental agencies concerned, including two from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) for about ten days from early April to mid April, to assist fair implementation of the presidential election to be held in East Timor on April 14.
The United Nations requested Japan in January this year to dispatch an electoral observer mission for the presidential election. Efforts to establish a governing system towards independence on May 20 are under way, and the coming presidential election is significant as the final stage of this process.
Under the policy of extending the utmost cooperation for East Timor's independence and nation-building, the Government of Japan has provided various forms of assistance. A Self-Defense Force Engineer Unit is already dispatched, in accordance with the International Peace Cooperation Law. The decision to dispatch the electoral observer mission is also based on this policy, and preparations have been made, in accordance with the statement by the Chief Cabinet Secretary on February 27.
This is Japan's second dispatch of an electoral observer mission to East Timor, following that for the Constituent Assembly Elections held in August last year, and the ninth under the International Peace Cooperation Law.

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