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The Ministry of State Administration and Territorial Management (MSATM) is the branch of Government responsible for the local and national administration, public service, territorial management, supporting to elections, and publicizing and preserving public documents. The MSATM website provides public access to information about the work of MSATM, public documents and current news.
Suco Elections
On Friday 9 October hundreds of thousands of Timorese citizens were expected to vote for Community Leadership Elections in each of the 442 Sucos, from 7am to 15pm.
Last Community Leadership Elections took place in 2004 and 2005. Today, the candidates are standing for positions as suco chiefs and members of suco council, for a six years mandate.
These elections are important as Suco Council is very important to resolve disputes and find solutions to community problems which are often solved through community leaders.
Read Full Press Release Online (English)
Spanish Government provides support to to STAE in electoral activities
The Spanish Government through the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation and Development (AECID) held a ceremony on 01 October 2009 at Technical Secretariat for Electoral Administration (STAE), which is under the Ministry of State Administration and Territorial Management, regarding the support provided for the strengthening of the voter education activities taking place in preparation for 2009 Community (Suco) Leaders Elections in Timor-Leste.
Read Full Press Release Online (English)
Ceremony of delivery of electoral ballot papers to STAE district coordinators and to PNTL commanders
Today, Ballot Papers were handed to all STAE District Coordinators and PNTL District Commander at a Ceremony held at Gráfica Nacional.
The Ceremony was opened with the remarks of Dr. Dr. Florindo Pereira Secretary of State Administrative Reform, Mr. Longuinhos Monteiro General Commander of PNTL, Dr. Faustino Cardoso CNE President. All the above participants underlined the importance of Community Leadership Elections 2009 as a key step for the development of democracy in Timor-Leste.
Read Full Press Release Online (English)
Japanese Government provides funds to support STAE in the electoral activities
The Government of Japan held a signing ceremony on 24 September 2009 at Technical Secretariat for Electoral Administration (STAE) for the Project for Strengthening Voter Education Activities for Community Leaders Elections 2009 in Timor-Leste.
Read Full Press Release Online (English)
UNCDF Executive Secretary reaffirms commitment during visit to Timor-Leste
From 7 to 9 August, Mr. David Morrison, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), visited Timor-Leste for the first time since he joined UNCDF in July 2008.
Read Full Press Release Online (English | Tetun) - or - Download PDF (Portuguese)
Fatuhada receives new village office
On 23 July the population from the village of Fatuhada celebrated the opening of their new village office.
At the inauguration were present the Minister of State Administration and Territorial Management, Dr. Arcangelo Leite, the District Administrator from Dili, Mr. Rubem Braz, the village chief, Mr. Justino Monis G. Leite and more than two hundred people that are currently living at the village among teachers and NGOs members.
Read Full Press Release Online (English)
Fact Sheet on the Government's Plan to Establish Municipalities
In 2009, the Government is planning to prepare districts to become municipalities. This process is decentralization, or moving some work from the central level to the local level. The process will begin after the National Parliament approves laws that will regulate how to establish a local government system. The government has been working since 2003, however to prepare the nation for the decentralization process, and will continue to work to ensure that the municipalities, in the future, are a strong mechanism for development in Timor-Leste. Read the fact sheet: (PDF: Tetun Only).
Same Market Inaugurated by MSATM Minister
Vendors in the Same Market in Manufahi were presented with a new market building on Friday, February 20, during a ceremony attended by Minister of State Administration and Territorial Management Arcângelo Leite. The building was officially handed over to the Same Market Management Committee from the Manufahi District Assembly, which voted to build the new market as part of Manufahi’s 2008 budget for the Local Development Programme.
Read Full Press Release Online (English | Tetun)
- or - Download PDF (English | Tetun)
Council of Ministers Approves Law Proposals on Local Governance
The Council of Ministers agreed after a long discussion on February 18, 2009, to submit law proposals on the establishment of local government to the National Parliament. The Council of Ministers had already approved last week a law proposal on Administrative and Territorial Division and yesterday approved two more law proposals on Local Government and Municipal Elections. Together, these three law proposals are an important step in the decentralization process and establishment of municipalities.
Read Full Press Release Online (English | Tetun)
- or - Download PDF (English | Tetun)
Download the law proposals submitted to National Parliament  (Portuguese Only):
Local Government -- Municipal Elections -- Territorial and Administrative Division
** Please note: These law proposals are not approved legislation. Only National Parliament can approve the final laws on local governance.
2009 Local Development Fund Announcement
On the 2 February 2009, the Minister of State Administration and Territorial Management, Dr. Arcângelo Leite, confirmed the Government’s commitment to decentralization through the announcement of the funds allocated to the Local Development Programme (LDP) in 2009.
Read Full Press Release Online
- or - Download PDF
Decentralization in TImor-Leste
Throughout 2008, MSATM is preparing the legal framework for the decentralization of the Government. The current Government proposal is to create Municipalities at the current district level, and through the formation of local government increase the efficiency and accountability for government services at the local level. Depending on the approval of the proposed laws in National Parliament, the decentralization process could begin as soon as 2009....MORE