PARTIDO DEMOCRÁTICO APPLIES FOR PARTY REGISTRATION

The newly formed party Partido Democrático submitted an application for registration to the Independent Electoral Commission today, 29 May, in order to present candidates to the elections for the Constituent Assembly. This is the ninth party to submit an application. All party registration applications are available for public inspection at the Independent Electoral Commission headquarters in Dili for two weeks after having been submitted. Any person eligible to vote who has documents to support their claim may file an objection to an application. The objection can be based only on the premise that the items in the application are deficient or inaccurate, and must be supported by documentary evidence.

PPT FIRST PARTY TO SUBMIT NAMES OF CANDIDATES

The party Partido do Povo de Timor (PPT) yesterday submitted its nomination of candidates for election as district and national representatives to the Constituent Assembly. PPT has nominated 71 candidates for the national level and 12 for the district level. This is the first party to nominate candidates. All party nomination applications are available for public inspection at the Independent Electoral Commission headquarters in Dili for two weeks after having been submitted. Any person eligible to vote who has documents to support their claim may file an objection to an application. The objection can be based only on the premise that the items in the application are deficient or inaccurate, and must be supported by documentary evidence.

ROAD TRAFFIC REGIME APPROVED BY NATIONAL COUNCIL

The East Timor National Council today approved two regulations designed to enhance road safety, establishing a Regime Governing Road Traffic and a Motor Vehicle Office responsible for registration of motor vehicles, the issuing of vehicle registration cards and license plates. On 24 January, the East Timor Transitional Cabinet agreed to a policy to establish a national road traffic regime, replacing the Indonesian traffic laws. The new regime provides a unified system governing traffic rules. This will support the work of police and traffic wardens. The regime will respond better to the post-conflict environment of East Timor than the current, complex mix of Indonesian laws, which apply under UNTAET Regulation 1999/1. Furthermore, all the Indonesian institutions that supported their traffic laws, such as driver licensing, insurance, vehicle registration, no longer exist.