By Douglas Mpuga | VOA
A former top U.S. official on Africa says Ethiopian opposition parties failed to get equal access to the media in the run-up to Sunday’s parliamentary elections.
Former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Herman Cohen (1989-93) said, “This time opposition media and opposition groups were not given fair time on the media and opposition media tends to be suppressed and in that sense I don’t think it was a fair election.”
He added, “In contrast to the 2005 election, this seems to be rather peaceful and administratively ok, so I think it is an improvement,” said Cohen, a specialist in African and European affairs.
He expressed doubt opposition complaints and their call for a new vote would amount to anything, but added “If the opposition rejects [the election] then it makes it difficult to consider the election legitimate.”
Cohen said despite the flaws it was important for the opposition to have taken part. “I always tell the opposition that if they do not participate then there is no reason for the government to commit fraud, so they should always participate and if there is fraud everyone will know.”
He said unlike the 2005 election, it is unlikely there will be violence.
“In 2005, they (government) reacted to violence with lethal force and I think the opposition groups have a vivid memory of the results,” he said.
Also, the current top U.S. diplomat for Africa, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson, said Tuesday the Ethiopian government took “clear and decisive steps” that ensured it would win the election.
Ethiopia’s ruling party claimed a landslide victory this week in the first vote since a brutal crackdown in 2005, but some observers and human rights groups say the election was heavily tilted in favour of the government. After the election results were announced on Tuesday, thousands of government supporters rallied in the streets of Addis Ababa, celebrating the victory.
Ethiopia’s opposition leaders are sceptical of the official results. One of the top opposition leaders, Hailu Shawel, said the election was “ridiculous” because it was completely controlled by the ruling party. He told reporters Wednesday intimidation and fraud influenced Sunday’s elections.
One thought on “Difficult to consider May 23 election legitimate – Herman Cohen”
I have witnessed at minimum, about ten election campaigns, here in the United States. I have participated in its democractic freedoms. I never been threatened to vote for incumbent with employment, terminations, nor with being killed with my children, if I vote to anyone else. Nor I have heard farmers, losing government benefits if vote for anyone. No single welfare recipient get assaulted if the vote for whoever they feel like. Infact, the incumbent party does not force, go house to house, asking citizens, who they will vote for next election, and level, threats against those visited. I do not remember a single American was killed by any incombent. I never recall, where, the whole USA army, police, became a servitude of incombent and used to vote only for incombent. Further more to bring in 5 to ten voters for incumbent or lose the post he she holds. I never witness in the USA where the highest posts were given to one group, such as to Black Americans, or White Americans, which ever holds all key government at the time of election. I never heard Ronald reagan threatening the democratic party opposition with open threats, post election, Bush Herbert, Clinton, Nor wlaker Bush.
Power elections In the United States always went free off the above corruptive measures.
The Judges are free off the incumbent manipulations and are free to try any disputes.
Police is the peace-keeper, not the weapons of the incumbent.
Army is free to vote for their own party and have no rights to enforce the ruling party’s corruptions.
Public is free to vote to any party with no controls, or harassements imposed on them.
Then we come to see the Ethiopian elections, all of the revese sides of elections in the USA have taken place. Most of all the victims of elections related are surpass million lives, but western media parrot out only one or two reported killings. Ethiopia is one million light years away to even hold lejit elections.