ADDIS ABABA (Ethiopian Reporter) — Political parties started discussion on the draft code of conduct prepared by the National Electoral Board (NEB) yesterday and decided to continue the discussion on the coming Tuesday.

The draft code of conduct contains major articles of immunities of candidates, purpose of campaigning activities, period of campaign activities, freedom of campaigning, right of using the mass media, obligation of government organs, places forbidden to campaigning activities and code of conduct during campaigning.

According to the draft code, the Board would issue the directives in consultation with independent candidates, political parties, the mass media and concerned groups.

The draft code of conduct said that political parties and independent candidates should have access to the mass media by way of freely obtaining airtime on the radio and television and columns in the print media. “The activities of the government and party must clearly be separate,” the draft code of conduct indicated.

It added that “government organs and officials at any level shall have the obligation to promote equal access to candidates in respect of such facilities as radio and television stations, assembly halls and newspapers under their respective authority.”

It is to be recalled that the proclamation which was issued and came into effect in January providing for the amendment of the electoral law of Ethiopia stipulated that the mode of utilization of the media should be in accordance with the allocation made by the Ministry of Information jointly with the NEB.