INDONESIA: XANANA GUSMAO WINS LANDSLIDE VICTORY IN EAST TIMOR'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
Record ID:
646547
INDONESIA: XANANA GUSMAO WINS LANDSLIDE VICTORY IN EAST TIMOR'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
- Title: INDONESIA: XANANA GUSMAO WINS LANDSLIDE VICTORY IN EAST TIMOR'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
- Date: 17th April 2002
- Summary: (W3) DILI, EAST TIMOR (APRIL 17, 2002) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. LV/SLV OF UNITED NATIONS PRESSER (2 SHOTS) 0.08 2. SOUNDBITE (English) CHIEF ELECTORAL OFFICER CARLOS VALENZUELA: "Xanana 301, 634 thousand votes, that is 82.69 percent of the total valid votes cast, Francisco Xavier do Amaral, 63,143 votes, thats 17.31 percent of the total votes cast" 0.35 3. SV OFFICIALS APPLAUDING 0.38 4. SV EAST TIMOR PRESIDENT ELECT XANANA GUSMAO AND OPPOSITION CANDIDATE FRANCISCO XAVIER DO AMARAL WALKING ARM AND ARM OUT OF ELECTION HEADQUARTERS (2 SHOTS) 1.02 5. SLV XANANA'S CAR LEAVING 1.11 6. SV GUSMAO AND UN SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE TO EAST TIMOR SERGIO DE MELLO ENTER ROOM, SHAKING HANDS 1.20 7. SV OF PRESS 1.23 8. SV GUSMAO LAUGHING WITH DE MELLO 1.25 9. MCU DE MELLO PAN TO GUSAMO 1.43 10. SV OF PHOTO OP AND PRESS 1.46 11. LV STREET SCENE IN DILI 1.53 12. SV/MCU YOUNG EAST TIMORESE READING NEWSPAPER (2 SHOTS) 2.02 13. CU NEWSPAPER HEADLINES "GUSMAO SWEEPS TO VICTORY IN HISTORIC PRESIDENTIAL VOTE" 2.06 14. CU PHOTOGRAPH OF XANANA GUSMAO IN NEWSPAPER 2.10 15. SV OF PRESS CONFERENCE 2.15 16. MCU (English) PRESIDENT ELECT XANANA GUSMAO SAYING: "With this position of president I will promote a kind of open Presidency. This way my Presidency will be a voice for the concerns of our people. I will use all means through a democratic way and through civil society to ensure that all methods are open for our government to respond to our people's concerns" 2.48 17. LV NEWS CONFERENCE 2.52 18. MCU (English) PRESIDENT ELECT XANANA GUSMAO SAYING: "No, if independence stays we are united in one goal.... to serve the interests of our people, and of the small difference I think they are a very healthy means to promote more involvement and participation in our society" 3.18 19. CU JOURNALIST MAKING NOTES 3.21 20. SV GUSMAO WALKS OUT 3.31 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 2nd May 2002 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: DILI, EAST TIMOR
- Country: Indonesia
- Reuters ID: LVACHTOC3H0IWFK2KK8RROEOKL7B
- Story Text: Independence hero and former guerrilla leader Xanana
Gusmao has won a landslide victory in East Timor's first
presidential election, the final step in the territory's long
and bloody road to nationhood next month.
Gusmao celebrated a widely expected success, winning
82.69 percent of Sunday's vote to 17.31 percent for less
charismatic rival Francisco Xavier do Amaral, according to
Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) results announced on
Wednesday (April 17).
The United Nations (U.N.) chief in the territory Sergio
Vieira de Mello was quick to congratulate Gusmao, adding he
implicitly trusted his ability to govern the nation.
The United Nations has been overseeing the tiny territory
since it overwhelmingly voted to break free from Indonesia in
August 1999, releasing an orgy of violence by pro-Jakarta
militia until foreign peacekeeping troops moved in the
following month.
Thanking all the people of East Timor, the national hero
who has long made it clear he was a reluctant presidential
candidate said he was well aware of the tasks facing the
war-racked nation.
Gusmao told reporters he would use his position to help his
people: He said: "With this position of president I will
promote a kind of open Presidency. This way my Presidency will
be a voice for the concerns of our people. I will use all
means through a democratic way and through civil society to
ensure that all methods are open for our government to respond
to our people's concerns", he said.
Chief Minister Mari Alkatiri, who has often sparred with
the new president, warmly welcomed the outcome and sought to
allay fears his ruling Fretilin party would be a source of
conflict for Gusmao's new administration.
Gusmao told reporters "if independence stays we are
united in one goal....to serve the interests of our people,
and of the small difference I think they are a very healthy
means to promote more involvement and participation in our
society".
East Timor's new constitution outlines a semi-presidential
system of government where an elected president can dismiss
the prime minister and veto legislation, but in a framework of
strong checks and balances that makes cooperation critical.
East Timor, once a Portuguese colony but invaded and taken
over by Indonesia in 1975, will formally become the world's
newest nation on May 20 when the United Nations hands over
administration to the new government.
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