East Timor - 2001 - Constituent Assembly Election
In 1999, the people of East Timor voted in a UN-organized referendum for independence from Indonesia. Following the referendum, the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) was established, serving as both an interim civil administration and a peacekeeping mission while the new nation took shape.
In 2001, UNTAET organized elections for a Constituent Assembly, allowing the local population to elect an 88-member body tasked with drafting East Timor's first constitution. The mixed electoral modality saw 13 district members of the Assembly being elected in single-member districts, and the remaining 75 being elected through a proportional representation system. After months of preparation, the elections were successfully held in August 2001. By April 2002, the country had approved its constitution and elected its first president, officially becoming the newest member of the United Nations that year.
The Electoral Commission of 2001 was an internationally led body, with key decisions made by UN international staff (UNTAET). However, for the Presidential elections in 2002, the body transitioned to a Timorese-led institution, with international support.
In the recording, Deryck Fritz reflects on his experience working within UNTAET’s electoral component as Area Manager for East Timor's eastern districts. He was responsible for preparing the electoral operational plan, which was instrumental in the successful execution of the elections, as well as building the capacity of local election officials and creating a template that has since been used for future elections worldwide.
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