All opposition parties in Ethiopia have decided to boycott the off-term elections that is scheduled for the end of this month. The elections will be held to fill vacant seats in the rubber-stamp parliament and regional assemblies, according to Ethiopian Review sources.
Medrek, a coalition of 8 opposition parties, informed the election board, which is controlled by the ruling party Woyanne, that it will not participate in the elections since the outcome is predetermined as in the previous elections.
Voter registration has also been minimal, prompting the election committee today to extend the deadline for registering by one more week.
Meanwhile, a Medrek official (who wishes to remain anonymous for his safety) told Ethiopian Review that he is dismayed by the U.S. diplomats’ assessment of the opposition parties in Ethiopia. A U.S. diplomatic cable that is released to Wikileaks.org describes the Ethiopian political opposition as “weak , disunited, and out of touch with the average Ethiopian.” [read here] The Medrek official argued that the opposition parties in Ethiopia remain weak primarily because of the brutal repression they are subjected to by Meles Zenawi’s regime that is getting over $1 billion in assistance and loans from the U.S., EU, IMF and World Bank.
Indeed the U.S. and EU support to Meles Zenawi, one of the most blood thirsty and corrupt dictators in the world, is a great injustice against the people of Ethiopia. The Meles regime is the kind of dictatorship that steals 9 million kilograms of coffee (valued at over $100 million) and says let’s forget about it, as shown here.
8 thoughts on “Opposition parties in Ethiopia boycott off-term elections”
it is not the uS that said the opposition is weak but the Euroopean countries with france and Germany leading the assessment.
I think every Ethiopian inside the outside the country should read this article, if posssible it should be picked up by ESAT and other opposition raido stations and broadcast in every language so people know who the real enemy is.
This is a classic western designed and financed way of operating puppet nations, they ALLOW so called PEACEFUL opposition parties that are easily manipulated by the brutal regimes they control, they have security files on the “leaders” of these “weak opposition parties”, use them as “legitimate” oppositon every 5 years to make their puppet dictators look like they were elected by the people. They make sure these “weak opposition” never succeeds.
This article should be presented to Ethiopians, debated on and discussed in public and family settings, so Ethiopians are informed. Only an informed and united public can affect change, it is high time for Ethiopians to focus on the central theme of REGIME CHANGE and hammer home the truth until their tormentor is chased out of power by the people.
Of course the goon in Arat kilo palace is imposed upon us by the west. Don’t think for a minute that they like those leaders who think good for the people and the country called ethiopia. They want someone they can manipulate yes-men.
Even though it is a right thing to do it’s a little to late they were
suppose to do this on election 1997 during KINJET but what they
did instead joined KEDETU AYALEW and joined the parliament
witch was still fake then let the KNIJET leadership end up in prison and collapse the ethiopian people dream {The right to vote} that is why i said it’s too late even the ethiopian community
in side the country will not forgive them ever . any way for meles
will find another paid opposition people to fill the open seat and
they are there with out a doubt this is how ethiopians are and meles knows this very well . that is why he is still in power…
This is a clear case of immorality of Western leaders sustaining in power the brutal Meles regime at the expense of their taxpayers.Shame!
They are right. That is their real analysis behind doors. Why not the opposition starts looking into their weaknesses rather than complain. I think that is a correct analysis. They haven’t talked about the brutality of the tplf regime. It is about the opposition.
1) They said… It is not a unified opposition. What is wrong with that? It is clear that the opposition is divided.
2) They said…. Opposition parties are weak. Is it not right? what does opposition party’s finances look like? Is that strong? How many active members do oppositions have in their list? what strong actions are being taken by the opposition parties right now? Ofcourse there are few brave young opposition members here and there.
3) They said… oppositions are out of reach. I consider myself as an average Ethiopian. What we are saying to oppositions from the begging till today is come together and form a unified opposition struggle. Unify the entire opposition struggle. Who is listening? No one is the simple answer. There are many reasons being given because of this and that. Stop it please. Look into your problems. There may be million reasons for this and that, but the fact is true regardless of the reasons being given by oppositions. I remember TPLF head speaking about weakening a political opponent. Yes, TPLF is working to weaken you, but what are you doing to overcome it is the main point here. If you do me that, I will be strong is not a solution. Don’t cry like a baby!
Eyasu is right. The opposition must unite to win.
To justify the theft of the election,it was weyanes who said the opposition were weak.