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Quiet poll for troops
By Cpl Corinne Boer

Edition 1164, April 19, 2007
 
Show of hands: Pte Anthony Price (front) and Pte Patrick Day (back), 1RAR soldiers with the Anzac Battle Group, get a vote of support from children as they patrol the streets of Fatu Hada in Dili in the lead-up to the presidential elections. The Battle Group’s presence helped ensure orderly elections.
Photo by PO Damian Pawlenko
ANZAC Battle Group soldiers encountered cheerful rallies and whistle-blowing locals dancing in the streets of Dili in the lead-up to the presidential elections in Timor-Leste on April 9.

The troops adopted a low-key approach to ensure that the people were able to vote unhindered, according to CO Anzac Battle Group Lt-Col Andrew Gallaway, who also commands 1RAR.

Lt-Col Gallaway said election day was quiet and residents waited in long, orderly queues to vote.

“People wanted to get out there and vote. We didn’t see any incidents of intimidation in polling lines and booths in the city itself,” he said.

The troops helped the United Nations Police (UNPOL) provide a secure and stable environment for the presidential elections.

“On the day that the five presidential candidates were in town, I went out on the streets where some of the rallies were being held. I would describe it as a carnival-like atmosphere as people were fairly jovial,” Lt-Col Gallaway said.

Despite the pleasant atmosphere, the troops remained on guard and were poised to assist in case violence flared.

They set up vehicle check points on key entry points to the city when the five presidential candidates were in Dili.

“The purpose of those VCPs was to screen the traffic entering the city and to conduct random searches and searches of vehicles of interest to remove weapons” Lt-Col Gallaway said.

“On that particular day we removed over 30 traditional weapons and a pistol.”

He attributed the smooth running of the elections to a combined effort.

“I would be presumptuous to say that we deserve all the credit. There are a lot of players involved here – UNPOL and the UN in general did an outstanding job in running the elections,” he said.

“And the people of Timor-Leste deserve credit for their excellent approach to exercising their democratic right to vote.”

Presidential run-off elections between the top two candidates are likely next month after no clear winner emerged from the ballot.