The European Union’s chief election observer Mr.Tijis Berman’s comments have confirmed other reports coming from Ethiopia that the national elections held on Sunday, May 23rd were neither fair nor free. During a press conference in Addis Ababa, Mr. Tijis Berman stated that last weekend’s poll was conducted on an “uneven playing field” that favored the party of the Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. Mr. Johnnie Carson, the Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs in the State Department told the House Foreign committee, “we note with some degree of remorse that the elections were not up to international standards…the government has taken clear and decisive steps that would ensure that it would garner an electoral victory.”
Dr. Merara Gudina, leader of Mederek, the largest opposition coalition, stated in an interview that the Ethiopian 2010 election “doesn’t look like an election even by African standards.” Dr. Negasso Gidada, another Mederek leader added, “…some of his party’s observers had been blocked and arrested in northern Ethiopia, and others had been intimidated.” Similar stories of massive intimidation and harassment of opposition candidates, activists and observers have been heard from most of the leaders of the opposition parties who took part in the elections, including Ato Hailu Shawel, the leader of AEUP, signatory and party to a code of conduct agreement with the ruling party few months ago.
A resident of Addis Ababa told Human Rights Watch “Intimidation to register and to vote for the ruling party is everywhere, if the local administration is against you; they’ll be after you forever. They can come and round you up at will.” Human Rights Watch also reported, “that during April and May, officials and militia (known as tataqi in Amharic) from the local administration went house to house telling citizens to register to vote and to vote for the ruling party or face reprisals from local party officials such as bureaucratic harassment or even losing their homes or jobs…” Human Rights Watch ended its report on the 2010 election by stating, “Ethiopia is an authoritarian state in which the government’s commitment to democracy exists only on paper, the question is not who won these elections, but how can donors justify business as usual with this increasingly repressive government?”
Advocacy for Ethiopia (AFE) and Ethiopian American Civic Advocacy (EACA) reject the results of the 2010 elections in Ethiopia. The ruling regime EPRDF, by claiming to have a so -called “landslide” election victory with a margin of over 96%, has put itself in line with other dictators including Mengistu Haile Miriam and Idi Amin of Uganda who all boasted landslide wins of more than 90% votes. Several advocacy and human rights groups have previously expressed their profound concern about the lack of conditions necessary to conduct free and fair elections in Ethiopia. The ruling TPLF/EPRDF has once again failed Ethiopia, Africa and the international community.
With overwhelming evidences of election irregularities as indicated by European elections observers, AFE and EACA therefore, reject a process and outcome that fails far short of being free and fair by all accepted international standards, principles, and norms of holding free and democratic elections. Moreover, Birtukan Mideksa, the leader of UDJ and thousands of other political prisoners still languish in EPRDF’s jails.
AFE and EACE call on the international community to reject the results of the 2010 elections and boycott the charade to crown a brutal dictator for another five years. AFE and EACA call on all who believe in human rights, the rule of law and democracy to be reenergized and intensify the struggle for freedom by charting in unison a national platforum that is inclusive of all those striving for democracy, human rights and the rule of law to prevail in Ethiopia.
Advocacy for Ethiopia
PO Box 892, El Segundo, CA 90245-0892 USA
AdvocacyForEthiopia.org
Tel: 202-386-3037
One thought on “Consolidation of a one-party dictatorship in Ethiopia”
Has Meles not been telling the world since 2005 that there was a lesson learnt by his One-Ethnic regime from the 2005 election and the violence the followed? Hasn’t he? This is it. What he meant by ‘ a lesson learnt’ is this: We will harass, intimidate or even kill the living daylight of the opposition leading to and up until the election day!!!. Was it not just what happened? EU knows it and my ‘Most Reverend and Anointed President’ here should have understood it very well about it. And they cannot do anything about it now. As long as those gooks creatures by the name Al Shabab keep wreaking havoc in Somalia, he is the only viable and united force that can keep check on those extremists. Also, his opposition forces are so fragmented and therefore weakened by their own choice, he and his goons will keep winning elections by landslides in many many ‘elections’ to come. And you, some of you, who think Obama should do something about it are as wrong as Herman Cohen himself. Nowadays, everyone in the western world is busy fixing its own domestic economic calamity. Think about it! I know Brother Elias would also agree with me on this. Even if the Obama Administration decides to put its full diplomatic support(economic also), which one should he go with. Just take a look at the list of the opposition parties and groups. They are in their hundreds. That is just those back in Ethiopia. Then if you include those groups that claim to operate of at least exist overseas, you will just run out of numbers. They are all fragmented, weak and most of them don’t even have the capability to express their mind not let alone having any written program. Pathetic and so sad !!!! OLF, ONLF, EPRP and this one is right out funny – EPRP(Democratic), SNLF, MEISON, Ginbot &, Medhin, Let me catch my breath folks please…Andinet…Sorry to those I left out. I just exhaust myself counting. But when they look at TPLF or EPRDF they find them cohesive and united. Once during in the mid 90’s one of the supporters of Meles had told me this – The opposition groups want to send us back to our places of origin of Northern Ethiopia. But we have nothing to go back to and will never starve and be neglected to death again. We will stay in power in Addis as long we want and share the wealth of the country. That is how far they are blinded by their own fear and commitment. And they are armed to the teeth. And lately, they are lucky with the emergence of radical religious terrorism in the area. If they think that the opposition is going to win the election and take power, they will leave Addis, Adama, Dire Dawa, Dessie and Jimma and Bishoftu smoldering. If not mine alone, it won’t be yours either. This is the mother of all despair and sheer fear. Enver Hoxha please rise up!!! Mao please stand up!!! You will be very proud of the seed you sowed before your demise.