THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 25, 2010
Statement by National Security Council Spokesman Mike Hammer on Ethiopian Elections
We acknowledge the conclusion of Ethiopia’s parliamentary elections on May 23, 2010. We commend the people of Ethiopia for their civic participation and note that the voting proceeded peacefully.
We are concerned that international observers found that the elections fell short of international commitments. We are disappointed that U.S. Embassy officials were denied accreditation and the opportunity to travel outside of the capital on Election Day to observe the voting. The limitation of independent observation and the harassment of independent media representatives are deeply troubling.
An environment conducive to free and fair elections was not in place even before Election Day. In recent years, the Ethiopian government has taken steps to restrict political space for the opposition through intimidation and harassment, tighten its control over civil society, and curtail the activities of independent media. We are concerned that these actions have restricted freedom of expression and association and are inconsistent with the Ethiopian government’s human rights obligations.
As voting concludes and the results are announced, we call on all parties to reject violence. We await the final assessments of the electoral process from independent observers, and encourage the government to address in good faith and impartially any concerns and disputes that are raised.
Ethiopia and the United States have a multifaceted relationship and share a number of important interests. We urge the Ethiopian government to ensure that its citizens are able to enjoy their fundamental rights. We will work diligently with Ethiopia to ensure that strengthened democratic institutions and open political dialogue become a reality for the Ethiopian people.
41 thoughts on “White House speaks out against the unfair election in Ethiopia”
Too late. The only thing I regret most is voting for Obama during the primary and November 4. I thought he will be the one helping check African dictators. He failed me big time. I feel sorry for those around Virginia, Maryland, DC, and other places who worked tirelessly for Obama to win and see such neglect from him. I have learned my lesson not to vote, in any way, for Obama and his associates. I wish others will follow suit!!
This is another blunder from the White House. All along, Ethiopians have been pleading infront of the WH for respect of human rights in Ethiopia. You kept silent, at the 11th hour, you came up with this PR work. It seems a face saving strategy. That won’t help the reality. What you can do is put REAL pressure on the government you fully support. Withheld the dollar, withdraw your diplomatic support. Then, we will know that you mean it. Otherwise, Press Releases won’t help the Ethiopian people. My fellow Ethiopians, we shall look in to what WE can do this time around.
****የትግል ም ዕራፍ አንድ፤መራራው ይጀመር።*****
ተቃዋሚዎች በጋራ በአንድነት የከፈሉትን የሰላም ትግል በመቀጠል በምርጫ ለለውጥ የተጠማው ሕዝቡ ድምፁን ስለተሰረቀ ታዛቢዎች የምርጫውን ሂደት ብልሹነት ያረጋገጡ በመሆኑ ፤የዓለም አሕጉራት ለውጤቱ ዕውቅና እንዳይሰጡ የጋራ መግለጫ ሊያወጡ ይገባል፤ወደፊት ይህ የወያኔ ቡድን የመንግሥትነት ስልጣን ከያዘ በኋላ የጀመረውን ጥፋት ከመቀጠልና ከማሳደድ አይመለስም።
ድል ለኢትዮጵያ ሕዝብ።
አቢይ ኢትዮጵያዊ
yes very late we are all sad with the unfair election outcome , it is a prof that dictators still can get away with what they want in africa only after receiving a media criticism , what can we say now to the rebels who are trying to use force to remove the Ethiopian dictators , can we honestly tell them there is a democratic way, I tell you now they will get big time momentum and topple the ruling party in a very very short time and that will be big democracy set back in africa.
Who wouldn’t regret voting for Obama, man. Now, coming back to White House’s reaction, only a fool would think the US and EU had or have a good intention or best interest for Ethiopia and its people. The half baked US/white house or the EU reaction is nothing but to add an insult to the Ethiopian people intelligence in general and the diaspora ones in particular. When countries like Ethiopia being held down and sink down under their chosen dictators like Meles, free resources and the uninterrupted rich nations expensive life style is a sure thing. That’s the bottom line!!!! The time is for less talk and for more action. It’s time to put our money and mind behind EPPF and talk the only language Wayane understand: Bullet!!!!
Only two options left on the table for Ethiopia. Either shut up and spend a life of servitude under Tigrains rule, or grow balls and pick up a gun, or help out those who already doing the dirty work for you, to restore your lost god given dignity in this 21st century back!
I am not sure how this can be interpreted as “speaking out.”
Let us not fool ourselves.
I do not hold the Obama Administration responsible for what is going on in Ethiopia and Africa. If we are fair, things went bad long before he came to his present position. There is no quick fix for the problem accumulated for almost 130 years, example Ethiopia. Although, The USA is not the only Super Power to influence by itself. Now a days the Chinese Administration and others also are mostly in play. It’s very sad , but they support the Meles’ Government in all its entrepreneurs. From the US and European Union side, I think it’s still not too late to act and support the voiceless. We have to let them know that the Ethiopian people are on hold-up by the TPLF government. All is in their (TPLF) hands. They(TPLF=EPRDF) can accuse, imprison and kill . As once the Prime Minister of Ethiopia said “It’s we who will decide”, it seems that the Ethiopian people live at TPLF’s will, not at God’s will as it used to be. Everyone is strictly scrutinized from top down to one man method. That is why people cannot express themselves. For these and other reasons we request the US and the world to support the Ethiopian people in their struggle against this repressive regime.
Thank you.
Kiros
Same old story!
The EU and US are always against EPRDF only on paper.
Kedir,
I entirely share your sentiments. Obama will most unlikely get my vote next time as well. The gap between his flowery speeches and the reality of his practical policies towards a brathen African dictator like Meles is simply too much.
I agree with Kedir..and i share his idea..we had made a big misteak on Obama…in the contrary…the opp.parties were jack assss…..they went to the election knowing what will be the final outcome..any ways they should know that the only way to get sweep away the ethiopian Junta is through ARMED struggle and any means except “election” including assassination of TPLF AND EPRDF officials and following the foot step of birhanu’s Ginbot 7 style…..
Ya, Ya, Ya five years late. Thanks for nothing.
The White House National Security Council has nothing to say about Ethiopian political affairs. Although I am not a staunch sysmpathiser of the current regime, I hate this whole lot of lamentation by the US regime.
The US sends congratulatory message through its Embassy to the ruling party men in Ethiopia, on one hand, and they criticize through a certain department, on the other hand.
The Ethiopian people are peace-loving people. They shall not make street fights like other countries. It is their cultural behaviour.
Of course, the election day was quite and peaceful.Because it was controlled entirely by security personel.
I guess the US will grant Trillion dollars to facilitate one party dictatorship in Ethiopia.
We will be surprised in the coming weeks.
This is not uncharacterisitic of TPLF-EPRDF. We know all along that it is a mafia group. This is exactly how they kiked out the OLF some 19 years ago.
The west know it but they did not care. But now, the tyrant Zenawi is trying to act like little Sadam Hussien or Ho Chi Minh and started biting the hand that feed him.
Thus it came to the point where west can not look otherways no more. This is nothing other than self interest as usual. Had it been for the interest of humanity, democracy and justice, the TPLF gang would not have been emboldened, with the tutelage western world of course.
I feel sorry for my nation who is under the control of TPLF mafia group.
Jib kehede wousha cheohe !. This is too little to late. Paying lip service to appease the Ethiopian people won’t work.We will remember in November!!
DJ
Mafia gang, not government, that rules Ethiopia. Meles is an absolutely corrupt mafia leader. Now, we are totally convinced that election does not work. Meles has come to power by gun, we have to do it the same way- that is the language that Meles understands. People like Elias Kifle have been preaching armed struggle for a long time. It is time we listen to people like Elias Kifle and Neamin Zeleke.
THANKS
HAHU
Meles is an evil man obssessed with fear. Killing people is his life. He is people butcher. He massacred thousands of innocent people. He has to be brought to justice. He is robbing the country left and right.
I sometimes think it is our own fault that TPLF is still on power. Here for example the White House’s main point is “strengthening” its ties with TPLF. But reading the title, one has the false view that infact the White House was against the obviously choreographed “election” if it ever can be called that.
Trust me, if Eritrea did the same thing as what TPLF did, they will be called all kinds of names. Same with Zimbabwe. I say let us stop giving people false hope. It is much better to deal with realty than fiction.
IMF and WORLD BANK will soon give TPLF Billions of Dollars and turn around the TYRANT was responsible for economic growth that was the result of this aid. Then they tell us infact it was because the TYRANT is growing the economy of Ethiopia that they will tolerate him. It is convoluted but nonetheless that is their opinion and stand.
It is very cruel and stupid to pick words just to keep the people sedated. There is a reason that God has created the emotion called “Anger.” Let it build. Don’t sedate the people by giving them false hope.
the problem is not obama i think the next president also will do the same becouse its the sistem which leads them to do what they have to do!and we have to blame our self unable to stand together!
Kedir, yes, let us blame Obama for global warming, US economy, Iraq, lack of oxygen in Pluto, hangovers etc. And why is the moon so far away? Must be something Obama did!
Oh and Bush was not a dictator. He just did things his way. Democratically of course…
Can you list the “African dictators”, you racist moron. Zenawi won fair and square.
Enough is enough !!! The white house should start to support opposition groups in Ethiopia. Otherwise it means nothing to criticize a regime in Ethiopia at the same time fund their activities. EPRDF won’t even stay one more day in power with our active support of its donors.
Thanks,
Daniel
I am also one of those who is disappointed by Obama administration and secretary Hilary Clinton. Why is it always after the fact? I am sure the CIA are aware and know everything about Meles and all the abuses Ethiopians are enduring by Meles’ regime. I donated for Obama’s Presidential election and voted for him. In order for me to vote for him again, I have to wait and see what his administration is going to do about this fraud election in Ethiopia and what Obama is going to do about all the political prisoners rotting in Woyannee prison, if not Obama has lost my vote.
In my opinion, the statement did not go far enough to persuade the tyrant to do anything differently – THE FATE OF ETHIOPIA IS IN THE HANDS OF THE PEOPLE OF ETHIOPIA – IT IS THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO RISE UP AND SAY ENOUGH IS ENOUGH AND DISMANTLE TIGRE TYRANNY AND BRING THE MURDERER TYRANT LEGESSE ZENAWI TO JUSTICE!
RISE UP THE PEOPLE OF ETHIOPIA!!!
Where is Obama’s promise? The promse that he would not keep silent on those who put their strong fist on people to silence the disdents inorder to cling on power.
Is Obama admnistration fighting terrorsts using another terrorst? Terrorsts are always friends and Meles well understands that the existence of other terrorists around him has a vital inportance for his own existence. Thus, he never wants their absolute extnction.
USA is currently using chemical to neutralize the oil spill in the gulf of Mexico; “they say fightiing toxic with a toxic”. Neither of the two toxic help the live in the see. The Ethiopian people can do more for America than the current forged Ethiopian government. The Ethiopian people is a loyal friend to the USA than the opportunsit murderer regime of Ethiopia. It is better for the USA
Let us stop blaming Obama or any other outsider for not solving our problem. Let us first be able to come to terms with ourselves. Let us try to bring different oppositions with different aspiration that have common goal of crushing Woyane together. Stop condemning one another because of differences in aspirations, philosophy or approach (election or gun) and try to work as meaningful, strong and viable force together. Then we will earn the respect of others and our people. Reaching our goal will become more closer than ever before.
When we are pulling and undermining one another how do we think the West or some other force will take us seriously as an alternative?
I regret voting for Barack Obama.
Too late, Too late!!!
The importance of Ethiopia for US and other counties in the world is minimal. The west is always protecting its own interest. The interest that US have on Ethiopia is almost nothing. The policies of TPLF have contributed a lot to this. TPLF made Ethiopia to close its doors for everything. Why should they worry about us?
They make their decision according to their books. The democrats or Obama does not write their policy books. It is there since the beginning. Therefore, they made their judgement based on their book. No surprise at all.
This is a very encouraging news! Thank you Mr. Obama for finally breaking the U.S. SILENCE! Better late than never.
yeah yeah, we know what you are trying to say.No vote Obama 2012,please. let us vote for Sahara Palin, eventhough she does not know that much about Africa, I hoping she will crack them down, like she do on Obama adminstration.
NO VOTE OBAMA 2012!!!!
unfair world!!!
how we work for fair?
so sad!
What one can expect from a country such as Ethiopia that never had a history of democracy? Nothing new; it has been like that for centuries-killing field.So stop blaming others for things that your culture produced. Instead you must face it. Meles in not the cause, but Ethiopia itself is the cause for all this misery. If you are a fair minded human being get ready to making over the killing house-Ethiopia.
To: Zenawi won,
I am not blaming Obama for everything you stated, but, at least he should responsibly give American tax money to those leaders who do not abuse their citizen and do not lead their citizens on the opposite way of American foreign policy principles and values. No body told Obama to declare his foreign policy targets as soon as he assumed power, but himself. To be credible, he should mean and practice it. Otherwise, it will be categorized as a cheap talk. No body wants Obama to fight for Ethiopia, but only Ethiopians themselves. However, Obama shouldn’t finance the abuse and maladministration.
For those who think Meles will look towards China to replace America and Europe, you are 100% wrong. China has no capital capability, at this time, to offer any single nation at a level of Europe and America. The chinese may give low interest loans, but no aid money or free money. Instead they are bringing cheap labour to work on projects financed by the west, IMF, World Bank and the likes. They are cheap to employ, but never fool to give a penny for free. Who can tell me that China has given or donated 200 million dollars to Ethiopa in a single year or 5 years as compared to American’s donation of about 2 billion dollars in a single year!!!
I agree that this is not the Obama’s administration problem. It is ethiopian’s failure. The US and other super powers do not care about ethiopian democracy if thier foriegn policy is not at risk.
So, we need to stand up and help those who are fighting on our behalf. We need to make financial contribution to the armed struggle.
It is very sad and heart breaking to read so many Ethiopians wanting the US or other superpower nations to fix their problems. Have you not learn from history, no one cares. True solution can only come when all Ethiopians come together and resolve their issues. If Eritrea can do it, their should be no reason you can. Unity for the common good of all is the solution. Stop dreaming and get to work. As the eritrean saying, work towards “Awet n’hafash”. As Eritrean, we want to have unitied and peaceful Ethiopia. I know it will take time to heal the ignorance many Ethiopians have towards Eritrea, however we will continue to build our nation and hope to be good example to Africa.
peace:)
Every time something happens in Africa we either blame the US or the EU. Is AU dead?
The Decline of Western Influence on the Woyane Regime in Ethiopia
Wednesday, 26 May 2010 21:16 Ogaden Online Editorial
The verdict is in. While the people of Ethiopia have not spoken, the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF) regime currently in power in Ethiopia certainly has. The message from TPLF to those Western democracies that have been coddling and cajoling it is this: any leverage they thought they might have had on the TPLF regime no longer exists.
For nearly two decades, Meles Zenawi, the TPLF head, has been on a deliberate, and sometimes provocative, strategic path to get to where he and his junta are today. His goal whether stated explicitly or implied has all along been to reach a point where it, the junta, would effectively be immune to any pressures that could be brought to bear by Western democracies.
An astute student of African politics, Meles knew he took over an Ethiopia heavily dependent on foreign aid and that reality meant that the providers
of that aid, mainly the West, had considerable leverage which could be brought to bear should they choose to exercise that power. The global war
on terror came as a timely gift to Meles’s TPLF regime. It bought him time; time he used wisely to consolidate power while forging new relationships with undemocratic powers that would have no incentive in using their aid to pressure his regime to institute democratic reforms or respect human rights.
The elections of 2005 happened before the complete implementation of this strategy and the violence that followed was a test for Western democracies. They did nothing and to Meles that was a clear signal that security cooperation gave his regime a carte blanche to continue consolidating his power and to squash any form of dissent while pursuing a genocidal campaigns in places such as Ogaden, Oromia et al.
Five years later, Ethiopia is still heavily dependent on foreign aid from the West. However, the type of aid Ethiopia receives from the West is primarily humanitarian- the type of aid that is politically and morally problematic to cut given that the people of Ethiopia continue to be impoverished. Meles knows full well this undeniable fact.
It is the other type of aid such as military and economic investments that could have true leverage on the TPLF regime; the type that supports oil
exploration and infrastructure development. This is the type of aid that yields high level exchanges between TPLF party loyalists and their counterparts in the West, for example. It is the type that trains engineers, doctors and civil servants. However, that aid comes mainly from
undemocratic nations such as China without any strings attached.
Meles knows this as well. It is why his regime had the audacity to claim that an election resulting in the ruling party obtaining 99% of the votes
cast is free and fair. It is also why Meles and his TPLF cronies such as Seyoum Mesfin, the foreign minister, expect no consequences from their
usurping of the Ethiopian democratic throne.
This assumption may sound irrational to the outside world. However, it is quite a political masterstroke for the TPLF junta. Given the events that
followed the 2005 sham elections, and given the fact that no Western powers have put any pressure on Meles and his junta in 2005, he and his
cronies have simply gone one step further from their 2005 election fiasco by simply stuffing the ballot boxes with their votes hence claiming their
99 % margin of victory in record time.
There are those who believe that it may be too late; that the West squandered the best opportunity to pressure Meles and his junta in 2005. From the TPLF’s current democratic pretentions and obscene behavior, it is quite clear that the regime inherently believes the West neither has the leverage nor the political will to reform the wayward TPLF regime in Addis Ababa. The belief is that the West simply waited too long. Even a foreign policy reform towards Ethiopia today from the current security focused framework to one that elevates development and democracy will do little because the window of opportunity has long passed. Meles fully knows this as well.
What is left is in Ethiopia today is a one party TPLF state that is heavily dependent on Western aid that is politically and morally problematic to cut. This one party, TPLF regime is continually forging new and deeper economic and military relations with undemocratic powers who have no interest in using their new found influence to promote human rights and democracy in Ethiopia. What is left is a strategic country taking full advantage of the time and favor the war on terrorism offered it to render itself practically immune to outside pressures to reform.
This is why the TPLF regime can have the audacity to not only jam the Voice of America Amharic broadcasts, but compare the broadcasts to those broadcast in Rwanda during the genocide without any consequences from America. It is the very same reasons why the TPLF regime can blatantly
refuse to implement the findings of the United Nations boundary commission on its border with Eritrea. It is also along the same reasoning why this
regime can commit war crimes and crimes against humanity in Ogaden while kicking out reputable international humanitarian groups without any fear
of a global backlash per se.
It is why the Ethiopian regime could kill thousands of innocent civilians following the 2005 election while awarding itself 99% of the vote in the 2010 election without any fear whatsoever of any consequences. This is why all independent media in Ethiopia can effectively be shut down while human rights groups are denied entry without the slightest worry of any international ramifications for such despicable actions. Furthermore, this is why even as Kenyan officials are individually threatened with sanctions for their roles in inciting violence in their country, the TPLF regime officials continue to operate with impunity with the certainty that they will not be similarly targeted.
The regime currently in power in Ethiopia has learned a valuable lesson throughout the years; a lesson on how to do what you want while you are not held accountable for it by the world’s major democracies. Now, it may be too late to bring to an end to this regime’s murderous reign. Too much
time may have gone by. We fear that the consolidation of power is now complete. This regime will not be reformed through the ballot box or through the courts because both have little real meaning in present day Ethiopia.
There is a lesson the Ethiopian opposition must also learn from this predicament. The years of lobbying, protesting and holding expensive meetings in the Diaspora have yielded no results and are likely to be even less fruitful given that those who they lobbied no longer have the leverage they once did on this TPLF regime. The opposition has been infiltrated, manipulated, divided and otherwise out smarted by this
regime.
Given that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result, the events leading up to and immediately after this so-called 2010 election in Ethiopia should be cause for the opposition to reflect, self examine, and, most importantly, to
look elsewhere for answers.
The people of Ogaden have maintained a long held view that this regime cannot be reformed and thus, the only true leverage is for forces opposed
to this regime to develop the capacity to militarily change the facts on the ground. It is facts on the ground that will dictate the course of events in Ethiopia in the future and not outside leverage or pressures to reform. It is the ability to militarily impact facts on the ground that will stop this regime’s deliberate and clear march towards complete domination over all peoples and all politics in Ethiopia
It is important for foreign powers to know that an armed movement seeking to impact facts on the ground is not inherently a threat to their interests. A true movement, having widespread support and a true capacity to impact facts on the ground, can rather be a more sustainable partner in the Horn of Africa. It is this reality that diplomats of vision need to consider.
The current political dispensation in Ethiopia is simply not sustainable over the long run. It will collapse, and most likely, it will collapse violently. Cleaning up the mess will prove to not only be more difficult and more costly, but such a collapse will create a window of opportunity for radical elements, inspired by alien ideologies and misinterpretations of faith, to gain a foot hold in the country.
There are clearly two paths for the world’s democracies to choose from; there are also two clear paths for Ethiopia’s opposition forces to choose from. Both can maintain the current methods of engagement and be guaranteed a continuing slide in their respective standings and abilities to impact Ethiopia, or they can both choose a more deliberate and systematic approach, informed by past experiences and mistakes and still
be completely in line with their own interests.
Meles Zenawi and his ruling TPLF junta are hoping for more of the same from their Western allies and members of the opposition, because they know
that in the long run, they will prevail if they continue to be engaged in the current manner. What they are not hoping for from the opposition is an adoption of the strategies and methods of the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) and the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) as that would clearly
lead to the demise of the ruling junta. It is why they are now talking to the former Al Itihad members as a diversionary tactic. They are also not hoping for a true reform of Western policy toward Ethiopia such that it holds the regime, and in particular its key officials, to account for its gross violations of human rights and war crimes in Ogaden, Oromia et al as that would also constitute an exercise of true leverage on this regime.
There are times when strategic long term interests coincide with what is simply the right thing to do. As it relates to the current Ethiopian regime, that fact is now self-evident. It is no longer a question of what Western democracies and members of the opposition should do, but whether they have the will to do it. The TPLF regime is betting that they do not. It remains to be seen whether the TPLF regime will be proven right or wrong.
An Ogaden nomad was once asked by a nomad boy what the best way to defeat a lion was. He replied simply,” don’t let it grow beyond a cub.” He was then asked by the boy “what to do if it grows beyond a cub into a full grown lion?” He simply replied “then grow into a man yourself.” It is time
for all the Ethiopian stakeholders who have interests in Ethiopia and who engage with Ethiopia to realize that their policies need to mature and
develop if there is to be any hope for one of Africa’s most populous
——————————————————————————–
Ogaden Online Editorial
[email protected] This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
why don’t you guys stop blaming Obama. He is thepresidentof the united States not of Ethiopian. We as a people have to figure out something and do it on our own. Let stop blaming others for our problems. Did anybody remeber how the current regim come to power? in my poinion we should do the same.
P.S.
Mistakes of the opposition
• They quarrel each other
• They disintegrate like amoeba
• They join leftists like Bulcha Demeksa
• They are peaceful while Birtukan is in prison
So, do you think they can win?
EPRDF
• Were Intimidating people for the last 5 years
• Give chance of work for members only
• Give chance of continuation of school only for members
• throw you to the prison with the only reason that you are rich and not member
• only his members specially TPLF members are allowed to be wealthy
• divide the people into many poles
• Tries to widen the difference between people interims of religion, race, language
• Prepares false charges for an individual whom they want to throw in prison
• Always lies and pretends
EU and US
• Didn’t take anything /any measure while people were crying in 2005
Even they didn’t take an action for
So what do they expect by now
Let me tell you one thing:
We are four brothers in our home; our father advised us to vote for EPRDF, he make us to promise him to vote for EPRDF. Do you know why? His aim is to save us from killing/he fear that if we vote for the opposition, we may be killed by EPRDF.
So is that wrong to vote for EPRDF
Thanks
Yours Machasinas
we should stand for our right ourselves no need us or un or eu and allll parties they can never be trusted at all. let’s go and join to eppf now.
thanks.
We need to remember that Pres. Obama is a politician not a POPE,therefore He must lie in order to get our vote.All I can say is we shall see Him in 2012.