CNE urges parents to not allow their children to get involved in political campaigning

The National Commission for Elections (CNE) made an appeal to all parents to not allow their children to follow the political rallies taking place all around the country because they are putting their children’s wellbeing in jeopardy.

“The regulations are clear and they state children cannot be present in locations where political campaigning is taking place,” saide CNE Commissioner Arif Abdulah Sagran (05/06) from his office in Kintal, Dili.

According to Commissioner Sagran CNE already made a regulation that bans children from political campaigning and he hopes all political parties will respect this regulation.
Meanwhile the Commissioner for the National Commission for the Rights of the Children (KNDL), Adalgiza Magno, said children also have an interest to take part in the campaigns to learn about the programs being promoted by the leaders.

“This issue is not just about political parties using children during political campaigning but about a political right that is upheld in this country. But this is for adults rather than for children,” said Commissioner Magno.

She urged everyone to continue to look after children who attend political rallies, during this month of political campaigning, to avoid the children getting themselves into trouble.

Commissioner Magno added that providing protection for children is not only the responsibility of the State but everyone’s duty in the community, including parents who have the most responsibility.

“If the child accompany’s the parents [to a political rally] there isn’t a problem. But if a political party uses children like for example gives them T-shirts and tells them to jump on the back of a truck to scream; this I believe is not right because children should not be doing that,” said Commissioner Magno.