Ethiopian Review
August 3, 2005
CUD’s regional representatives through out Ethiopia are coming to Addis Ababa for consultation with the party leadership. The meeting will take place this coming Saturday, August 6. CUD spokesman Dr Hailu Araya told Ethiopian Review today that 150 – 200 representatives are expected to participate in the meeting, which will address the election-related crisis and what course of actions CUD needs to take. Dr Hailu also said that CUD has launched a series of town hall meetings with prominent citizens on the same topic. In the first of such meetings that was held yesterday, prominent Ethiopians such as General Jagama Kello, Ato Abebe Workie, Ambassador Getahun Bekele and others were present.
As the last chapter of the ongoing election crisis is unfolding in Ethiopia, CUD is turning its face to the people and its members. It seems that all diplomatic avenues through the EU and US have been exhausted without any result. When it comes to Ethiopia, the EU and the US governments have proven themselves to be the biggest hypocrites by siding with a corrupt dictator that commits mass murder against unarmed civilians. The head of the EU delegation, Ambassador Tim Clarke, in particular, turned out to be a disgrace to the countries he is representing. It’s hard to believe that the European Union that has just recently issued a strong resolution condemning the anti-democratic measures taken by the Meles regime would approve what Ambassador Clarke is doing in Ethiopia, unless he is misinforming them. It’s about time that the opposition parties demand his recall.
Tim Clarke letter to Propaganda Minister Bereket: “… I was surprised at the EPRDF decision to put out a statement at the time of signature of the Code of Conduct on Friday afternoon, calling into question the integrity of the opposition parties. I had no idea, nor did the opposition leaders, that the agreement reached the previous night in the presence of PM Meles would in some way qualified, breaking the confidence and trust that needs, as you know, at this very difficult time, to be nurtured, reinforced and deepened.”