Dili, 17/02/2022 – 12,600 bottles of electoral ink and Personal Protective Equipment

(PPE) handed over from The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to

Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs) for the upcoming elections, with support from

the Government of Japan and the Government of Timor-Leste.

On Thursday, February 17th at STAE Office in Dili, UNDP handed over 12,600 bottles of

electoral ink and PPE to the EMBs, consisted of the Secretariado T cnico de

Administra  o Eleitoral (STAE) and the Comiss o Nacional de Elei  es (CNE). This

equipment, essential for the upcoming elections in order to ensure transparency and

COVID-safety at Timor-Leste’s elections starting from March this year, was procured by

UNDP under the COVID-Resilient Elections in Timor-Leste (CORE-TL) project, funded by

the governments of Japan and Timor-Leste.

The CORE-TL project procured 12,600 bottles of indelible ink in cooperation with the

Government of Timor-Leste. The use of the ink was agreed by the EMBs and political

parties at ink testing sessions held in December 2021. Meanwhile, eight items of PPEs for

EMB staff, namely 60 gallons of disinfectant, 6,000 bottles of sanitizer, 30 pump machines,

660 sets of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), 5,800 pieces of KN95 Masks, 8,000

boxes of disposal masks (400,000 pieces in total), 1,600 thermo scanners, and 2,900

pairs of gloves, were supplied with the financial support from the Government of Japan.

The handover event was attended by H.E. Mr. Masami Kinefuchi, Ambassador of Japan to

Timor-Leste, UNDP, CNE and STAE. “Using these PPEs in a correct way is a critical

protocol to carry out the elections safely under the COVID situation. These PPEs not only

secure the public health physically, but also relieve voters’ hinderance or fear to

participate in elections in crowds. Following the protocol of covid safety measure is an

initiative to protect citizens’ lives and also conduct democratic and inclusive elections in

this county” expressed by Ms. Munkhtuya Altangerel, UNDP Resident Representative.

Also Mr. Acilino Branco, General Director of STAE stated “the indelible ink use has been

an effective security feature to avoid voters casting multiple ballots during election times

since Timor-Leste’s independence. The electoral ink will certainly contribute to securing

transparency of the upcoming elections cycle and strengthening the right to vote and

democracy.”

“During the upcoming elections, Timor-Leste will face a challenge it has not experienced

in the previous elections, namely the spread of COVID-19 virus. In light of the recent wave

of pandemic, we hope that these PPEs will help ensure COVID-Resilient and democratic

elections. We strongly hope that elections will be carried out smoothly as it has been in

the past” addressed by H.E. Mr. Masami Kinefuchi, Ambassador of Japan to Timor-Leste.

UNDP CORE-TL project is conducted with support funds from the Government of Japan

with $4 million and the Government of Timor-Leste with $360 thousand. Through the

strong partnership with the Government of Japan, the Government of Timor-Leste, CNE

and STAE, the CORE-TL project strives for COVID-Resilient, informed, and inclusive

elections at the national and municipal levels, and ultimately, democracy in Timor-Leste.

For further details, please contact the Press Council and UNDP’s official in charge at:

1. Noimar Chosta – Communication Department, STAE: 76157177

2. Mariano Redondo – Communication Specialist, UNDP CORE-TL Project: 77566742

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