Last day of presidential campaigns, electoral debate

(12 Apr 2002)

April 12, 2002
1. Various of final day of campaigning by presidential candidate Francisco Xavier Do Amaral
2. Amaral on stage
3. Supporters applauding
4. Set up of Francisco Xavier Do Amaral, presidential candidate
5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Francisco Xavier Do Amaral, presidential candidate:
"You can say the Timorese are ignorant, but please don't try to consider them as stupid. Just to force them to choose when there is no way to choose. So that is why I brave myself to candidate for the presidency, at least there are two candidates for the elections."
6. Mid shot of supporters
7. Close up of little girl
8. Amaral on stage
9. Close up of chest with t-shirt bearing Amaral's picture
10. SOUNDBITE: (English) Francisco Xavier Do Amaral
"If I win I will be grateful I'll have my work I'll have my people to do whatever they want. If Iose also I have not to be angry with my people because I gave them democracy and I want to flourish the democracy. So I think there is no way for being angry or for being completely satisfied. If they choose us to serve them, OK I am ready to serve them."

April 11, 2002
11. Pan of supporters listening to one of Amaral's campaign managers
12. SOUNDBITE: (Tetum) Celeseino Dos Santos, Amaral supporter:
"I want to vote for Xavier because he is a Timorese. He was born here and he is the founding father of East Timor. Only Xavier was he founding father of independence for East Timor and no one else."
13. Amaral hugging Xanana Gusmao at joint debate
14. Various of audience at debate
15. Pan of debate
16. Amaral at podium
17. Shot of posters for two candidates
18. Two shot of Amaral and Gusmao at debate
19. Gusmao speaking at podium
20. Pan of audience
21. Close up of woman in audience fanning herself
22. Amaral speaking
23. Wide shot of debate

April 12, 2002
24. Tilt from boys to posters of Gusmao
25. Wide shot of boys leaning against wall covered in posters of Gusmao
26. Wide shot of campaign stage
27. SOUNDBITE: (English) Jose Garcilo, Gusmao supporter:
"He was fighting for 24 years, he was in the prison, he gave up freedom for the people. All the people here know who is the Xanana. All the people in East Timor, they know Xanana is a good teacher for the democracy."
28. Children on campaign stage in front of posters of Gusmao

STORYLINE:

East Timor's rival presidential candidates entered their last day of campaigning on Friday ahead of elections scheduled for Sunday.

The favourite, Xanana Gusmao, has pledged to open the country to foreign investment and work for reconciliation with former pro-Indonesian militiamen.

Gusmao once led a guerrilla army fighting Indonesian occupation.

His sole challenger, former president Francisco Xavier do Amaral, is widely expected to get trounced in the elections.

Do Amaral, who for a brief period in 1975 was East Timor's first president before Indonesia invaded the former Portuguese colony, said he was only running to provide voters with a choice.

The two candidates met for a face to face debate on Thursday.

During the 90-minute session Do Amaral agreed with most of Gusmao's comments and the two men twice embraced.

Thousands are expected to attend Gusmao's final rally later Friday.

The presidential elections are occurring just ahead of East Timor achieving full independence on May 20, when it will become the world's newest nation.

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