Thousands of people carrying banners and placards in Amharic, Oromigna, Tigrinya, English, and Arabic demonstrated in Addis Ababa Meskal Square to give moral support to EPRDF and its government’s Charter in early November.

Mulualem Abebe, administrator of Addis Ababa and EPRDF member said in is speech: “The skepticism of some who claim that the Charter will lead to the break-up of Ethiopia is based on ignorance exploited by some destructive groups to impede the democratic process going on in Ethiopia.”

The demonstration is seen as an EPRDF staged showcase by many, including the leader of the United Democratic Nationals Party, Ato Tsegaye Abiye. Tsegaye said that the EPRDF brought truck loads of EPRDF troops from around the city and its vicinity to act as demonstraters, realizing that Addis Ababa residents have now lost confidence in the Charter, and the EPRDF run transitional government.

A large number of the demonstrators demanded that former dictator Mengistu Haile Mariam be extradited from Zimbabwe, where he lives now, to face trial. They also insisted that former high officials such Legesse Asfaw, Tesfaye Wolde Selassie and others accused of crimes be brought to justice.