12,600 bottles of electoral ink and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) handed over from UNDP to Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs)
Electoral Ink and Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) Handover Event
February 17, 2022
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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