East Timor: effort launched to canvass public views on constitutional issues

The United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) today deployed polling experts throughout the territory to hold public hearings that will allow the population to express its views on constitutional matters.

"Each Commission will consist of between five and seven Commissioners, one Rapporteur - tasked with the recording of the information and preparing a report to the Transitional Administrator - and one Constitutional Advisor, who will answer questions by members of the Commission, provide analysis and answers raised by participants at the consultation," the UN mission said in a statement issued in Dili.

The data collected by the Constitutional Commissioners will be forwarded to the Constituent Assembly that will be elected on 30 August.

The 72 East Timorese Commissioners, 13 Advisors and 13 Rapporteurs were sworn-in on 26 May by Acting Transitional Administrator Jean-Christian Cady and have since undergone training on constitutional issues.

Chosen by an all-Timorese panel based on lists sent by each district, the Commissioners are now undergoing a preparatory phase in their sub-districts, UNTAET said.

The public hearings are expected to begin on 18 June and end on 14 July.