ADDIS ABABA, Aug 10 (AFP) — The Ethiopian government on Wednesday warned the opposition over its threat to fight the results of disputed May elections, saying any move to “undermine” legal institutions would be punished.
Information Minister Berekat Simon said the government would not tolerate any action that could destabilize the country after Tuesday’s long-delayed release of official returns from the May 15 polls showing a ruling party victory.
Following protests and deadly clashes that erupted after the release of similar preliminary results in June, Berekat said the opposition was free to pursue complaints of massive electoral fraud in court but not outside legal boundaries.
“As long as they don’t try to undermine the judiciary, it is within their constitutional right to do so,” he told AFP. “Those who want to do otherwise had better refer to the constitution wisely before they make any move.
“The constitution does not allow any act that will undermine any institution established by law and the constitution has no room for disobedience or similar activities as they are illegal,” Berekat said.
His comments followed the opposition’s rejection of the official results and vows to challenge them in court and possibly through protests, strikes and a campaign of civil disobediance.
Hailu Shewal, chairman of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD), accused Prime Minister Meles Zenawi’s Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) and the national election board of “burglary” in the “most illegitimate process ever.”
“It is the most illegitimate process I have ever seen in my life, even in a beginning democracy, where the winner is declared the loser and the absolute loser is declared the winner,” he told AFP.
“It is not rigging as some call it, it is simple burglary,” Hailu said. “Meles’ government has lost the election and we are not going to accept the results declared by the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia.”
On Tuesday, the board released official election results giving the EPRDF an absolute majority in the 547-seat parliament, confirming the preliminary returns that led to the violence.
At least 36 and as many as 40 people were killed in Addis Ababa in June when police opened fire on crowds during demonstrations against alleged electoral malfeasance.
The violence was followed by a widespread crackdown on alleged troublemakers in which thousands of people, many of them opposition members and supporters, were rounded up.
Authorities have said they regret the loss of life but have defended the tactics of the police saying they were necessary to keep the peace.
Hailu said the opposition was committed to non-violence and that any action it took would respect the constitution but stressed he could not speak for the government.
“Our action will be within the limits of our constitutional rights,” he said. “If the ruling party wants to turn it violent, it could be, but as far as we are concerned it will be a peaceful one to protest against injustice.”