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Welcome to Election 2005 Special Coverage.

Here you will find news about Ethiopian Election 2005. Discuss about the election. Don't forget to check our news section where up to the minute news about the election will be updated in real time.

GONDAR, Ethiopia, April 8, 2005 (ENA) -- The opposition United Ethiopian Democratic Forces (UEDF) complained that its candidates contesting in the May elections in various woredas of North Gondar zone, Amhara State, were being harassed by administrative bodies and the 'cadres of the ruling party'.

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, Apr 4, 2005 (AP) -- A senior European Union election observer monitoring Ethiopia's third democratic ballot has quit after the authorities accused him of bias, an Ethiopian official said Monday.

March 31, 2005 | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia --
Ethiopia ordered the expulsion of three Americans who were helping prepare the Horn of Africa country for elections in May, alleging Thursday that they entered the country illegally.

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, Mar 28, 2005 (AP) -- Children as young as three have been registered to vote, the head of Ethiopia's election board said Monday, adding those behind that and other abuses would be prosecuted

These were some of the headlines about the upcoming election in Ethiopia. Do you expect the election to be free and fair?

We invite you to discuss about the election in this special section by posting your messages. You must register to post messages.

A new website has been launched by National Electoral Board of Ethiopia. You can check Press releases and other materials at
http://www.electionsethiopia.org

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As of April 2005 there are 547 MPs in Ethiopian House of Peoples’ Representatives.
The largest party is Oromo peoples’ Democratic Organization with 183 seats.

1. Oromo peoples’ democratic organization OPDO 183
2. Amhara Nation Democratic Movement 146
3. Southern Ethiopia Peopls’ Democratic Front 112
4. Tigray People Libration Front 40

With just 40 seats in the House of Peoples' Representative TPLF has a firm control in power.

Are OPDO, ANDM and SEPDF "Hodams"? Clearly if any of these parties withdraw from EPRDF, TPLF will be in big trouble.

Discuss it. Whether you support TPLF or others, you are welcome to comment on the upcoming election here.

Source: http://www.ethiopar.net/English/hopre/politi.htm

[newvisitor]

No matter how incredible it sounds don’t forget that they are under the muzzle and if they walk away there will be others who are waiting on the sideline who will step into their shoes, because it is a lucrative job that pays good money. Most probably politics comes second, and even if it is demeaning to be dominated by such a small group who could be armed to their teeth, people can put up with much worse humiliation just to be gainfully employed, and it had happened at the time of the Derg, which was not very much different from what’s happening now. The solution would have been to find a means of disarming these gorilla fighters who were straight out of the woods and see them go back to where they came from. But there is a worse, even a dangerous political ambition in the country that has to be monitored by a neutral force, which makes us think twice before we start muddying TPLF and if it had been the other way around it would have been great, where the citizens were more responsible, but they are not unfortunately, although it could change eventually. We are hoping that whoever might win the election would not be an agent to these ambitious forces who are very much ethnocentric.

And the role of the armed personnel will have to be studied thoroughly in the future, because it is the civilian administration who is arming them and who will end up being victim whenever they become ambitious and want to grab political power and in our case look what they have abandoned us to. Wherever this kind of power takeover takes place, they are always found to be ill prepared and they will have to learn on the job, which is costly to any nation.

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You may have heard about a bill introduced in US congress by Congressman Mike Honda of California.
The full bill in PDF is linked below
http://www.govtrack.us/data/us/bills.text/109/h935.pdf
Or text here
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/query

The bill is:
To urge the Government of Ethiopia to hold orderly, peaceful, and free
and fair national elections in May 2005 and to authorize United States
assistance for elections-related activities to monitor the Ethiopian na-
tional elections.

Sponsor of the bill
Rep. Michael Honda [D-CA] http://www.honda.house.gov/default.asp
These are the co-sponsors and date signed

Rep Royce, Edward R. [CA-40] - 2/17/2005
Rep Sanchez, Loretta [CA-47] - 3/17/2005
Rep Frank, Barney [MA-4] - 3/17/2005
Rep Scott, David [GA-13] - 3/17/2005
Rep Lee, Barbara [CA-9] - 3/17/2005
Rep Burton, Dan [IN-5] - 3/17/2005
Rep Woolsey, Lynn C. [CA-6] - 3/17/2005
Rep Clay, Wm. Lacy [MO-1] - 3/17/2005
Rep Lofgren, Zoe [CA-16] - 3/17/2005
Rep Sanchez, Linda T. [CA-39] - 4/5/2005
Rep Cardoza, Dennis A. [CA-18] - 4/5/2005
Rep Green, Al [TX-9] - 4/5/2005
Rep Leach, James A. [IA-2] - 4/12/2005
Source:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:h.r.00935:


Call your represenative to support the bill.
To find out your represenative
http://www.house.gov/ Enter your zip code and search

Post your comments

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Below is the mission of EU election observation team

http://europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/projects/eidhr/calls-for-proposals-2005/call-for-proposals-elections-ethiopia-tor_en.pdf

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The Carter Center, invited by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and welcomed by the National Election Board, will observe Ethiopia’s national elections May 15th. The 50-member delegation will be led by: former U.S. President Jimmy Carter; his wife, Rosalynn; former Botswana President Sir Ketumile Joni Masire; former Tanzania Prime Minister Judge Joseph Warioba; and Carter Center Executive Director John Hardman.

http://www.cartercenter.org/doc2074.htm

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The National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) said Tuesday it has decreed that no political party or independent candidates shall campaign at market places as market places are business areas.

At its regular meeting, the board said it has passed the decision as it found election campaigns at market places detrimental to public peace and stability, adding that election campaigns should be conducted 200 meters away from market places.

http://english.people.com.cn/200504/20/eng20050420_181851.html

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Ethiopian NGOs to sue electoral board over restrictions on local observers

Over 30 nongovernment organizations (NGOs) and civil society organizations (CSOs) working in Ethiopia announced Tuesday they are to sue the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) over a new directive, excluding some of them from sending domestic observers.

Full Story

http://english.people.com.cn/200504/20/eng20050420_181846.html

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Ethiopia to strengthen geographical information system for election observers

The National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) said on Monday that it will harness efforts to strengthen its geographical information system (GIS) capacity.

The GIS department is providing services to foreign observers by identifying and locating constituencies and polling stations, said NEBE Chairman Kemal Bedri at the graduation of the trainees who had been trained for a year by the NEBE and the United Nations Development Program.

Full Story
http://english.people.com.cn/200504/19/eng20050419_181699.html

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ADDIS ABABA, April 19 (Xinhuanet) -- The Metropolitan Police Commission in Addis Ababa said Tuesday it will not tolerate illegal attempts vent on obstructing the May 15 national electionsin Ethiopia.

The commission said in a statement that it would take the necessary measures on those groups who will try to hamper the elections.

More ...
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-04/19/content_2850264.htm

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Dear Fellow Ethiopians?

Where does EPRP stand on the upcoming election. Could anyone update us on EPRP where they stand, what their agenda is?
This forum is setup to discuss anything about the upcoming election.

[newvisitor]

I found this article posted on a website and I thought it might make the EPRPs defend their position, because it is stated somewhere that they are very secretive, they don't have leaders or nobody knows who they are anymore, they have, of course, joined hand with Coalition of Democratic Forces (CUD) and they are out in the field engaged in an arm struggle.



[b]A Party That Should Have Been Disbanded Long Ago! [/b]


By: Ethiopian Netter


I read the opinion of an Ethiopian with interst. He wrote about [url]EPRP's anti-unity and anti- Ethiopianness.[/url] While I admire him for his courage and outspokenness, I am also discouraged by the number of people who still believe that EPRP is a party worth of talking about. I may be wrong but let me ask the Ethiopian netters about EPRP. Let me first make clear that I am not belonged to any political party or affiliation. I am almost as old as EPRP, meaning I am about 29 years of age. After the overthrow of 'Derg' , what has EPRP been doing? Whose interest are they (members and leaders of EPRP) are representing? Are they democrat, meaning do they believe in multi-ideas and visions? Are they selfish and sort of ' we know all' ? Are they corrupt, meaning squandering naﶥ Ethiopians contributions? I want answers from all Ethiopians who happen to believe EPRP is a genuine party.

To the best of my understanding ,I may be wrong, but I will add my perception about EPRP for the last 11 years, leaving alone the contribution of EPRP in red terror and inter-party fighting with MESON and forming Tamirat Laynie's Movment.

1. EPRP defames individuals if it thinks that person made a difference in that political party. For instance, AAPO and EMDP( Medihin Party) party leaderships in early 90's.

2. IN so many occasions EPRP leaders agree to work together with other political parties just to control damage or to know more about others, but later on they always come up with their dictatorial ideas that EPRP has more experience than others, and therefore they need to be on the forefront. If others disagree EPRP starts its own version of the story that divide all other parties. For the record, EPRP established EUF( Ethiopian Unity front) to antagonize the Patriotic front in mid 90s.

3. Now EPRP started again with EDP by discrediting its leadership.

4. EPRP misused all the money contributed by patriot Ethiopians who thought their contribution helps improve the political situations in Ethiopia. I witness this in Kenya and Uganda. For instance, to corrupt local police in those countries to harass Ethiopians who either criticize EPRP or belonged to other opposition parties.

They just do not like to be over run by events. They count only the length of time that EPRP came to existence if we believe they serve Ethiopian interests. I doubt that is the case. EPRP leadership are either knowingly facilitating the demise of Ethiopia or unknowingly prolonging the suffering of Ethiopian masses by obstructing the road of common front that shorten 1000s of time the life of anti-Ethiopian forces.

By the way, I would like to take my opportunity to ask readers to remember those who lost their dear life in the name of Ethiopia under EPRP to this day without knowing that they are promoting the cause of Shabia, Woyannie and other foreign imperialists for a moment.

Otherwise, to me, forgive me I may be wrong but EPRP is a spent force with no clear goal. I am afraid if we do not withdraw our support for EPRP , it will be the worst party to come to power, Ethiopia ever had and will ever have. Can you imagine, if EPRP treats those who dissent on how to accomplish a 'similar goal with it' like this, what guarantee do we have that EPRP will not be worse than Woyannie if ,God forbids, it comes to power? Let's stop it together or if I am wrong I am ready to learn about EPRP's agenda for Ethiopia while at the same time I remind people that EPRP's action and history tells everything more than anybody else. For those who would like to argue that we should not dwell in the past, I heard this about 10 years ago 100 times.

Netter in search of the true colour of EPRP.


[Opinions in this article are solely that of the writer.]

[zena markos]

Regarding eprp, I had a discussion with a friend of mine about the effect of eprp on ethiopian politics and our common consensus was that they are a failed party and need to let it go. They have been around for decades with no achievements except creating a phyco-confused ex-members who are now creating an incredibly negative influence in Ethiopian community especially in the Diaspora. They induce their political affiliation to a civic organization, most think ridiculously irrational, abusive parents and a negative citizen.

Regarding the upcoming election, my take is that EPDRF will win the election. Even though I am finally convinced that there are opposition parties worth contesting election, they are still work in progress. We have such a short memory about the state of our nation during derg and the somehow peaceful state we are in EPDRF reign. As a kid I remember when young boys get searched inside a kitchen, Gotera( food storage) for military and put in harms way without enough training and mental readiness and eventually vanished. I remember myself my sisters and brothers starring at the hall way between the jail to the torcher room to see when my dad passes via that hallway(mind you my dad gave a decade military duty to protect the now state of Eritrea in HS reign and my bro in the Ugaden ), I remember the cring moms and dads and stabbing their body when the derg took their loved once….. I can go on and on….

Do I believe the EPDRF is good, no no and again no. But I believe there is a window of opportunity to use this reign as a transition to liberal democracy. And every citizen need to contribute towards this promising journey. Wasting our time and money in bashing the current reign is not going to do any good. Instead we need to get in involved in a civic service, isolate the political parties who do not have a spirit of unity and democracy(eprp), empower the good once on moral support, money(look the effect of money in America politics), rational criticism, and be patient. Freedom is not free and it cant be a chieved via short goals. It’s a process and takes time and its worth waiting. We have a venue to achieve it. I won’t argue much that EPDRF is using the sugar coating democracy to legelmetize itself through debates, private press, and I won’t hear you but you can scream freedom and its smart manipulation of the international observers and by holding a free and fair so called election after making sure the winner. I think there are a lot to benefit from this, the society will learn what a liberal democracy is (I don’t care what you think about Meles but I think he is absolutely right that we are not ready for liberal democracy).

I can assure you, if the opposition party has a major objective it should be making sure winning the next election fair and square. Trust me, another five years will bend us bad but won’t brake us. Lets be honest with us, Ethiopia needs a responsible citizen before any move to liberal democracy. I am saying this because I have seen and met people supposable western educated having a conversation full of criticize of the current reign and do not have a fraction of knowledge about the current state of Ethiopian politics. Now, if there are a lot in the educated Diaspora who are just flag wavers and only word of mouth knowledge, imagine the state of citizens at home. Liberal democracy is harder than it seems fellows, and we are in a good tranzition period. Lets have unequivical faith to win the election 2010 fairly and squarely and with a great confident that we can say FREE AT LAST.

God Bless

[newvisitor]

“Doro mata… indemibalew” for some, seeing TPLF/EPRDF in office for another five years could be as good as drinking “kosso” and one of the reasons why they have to do it is to keep parties like EPRP at bay, because if they gain power, they will be the most devastating and disliked party ever to assume power, simply because they have grudge with every major ethnic group in Ethiopia, including the Shoa Amaras who had tried to annihilate them at the time of the Red Terror. Therefore, it might be good to hear what constructive things they have to say to see if they had repented. Otherwise, for some reason, the once popular party is definitely defunct even if there is a rumor that they could be mobilizing, which is a terrifying news and EPRDF will have to do everything possible to retard their uprising.

[brook]

the election this year is better than the previous two, but however far to say its either fair or free. we have a long way to go and i don't think 15 years is enough to have democracy in a nation like ethiopia. what we need to see is that as a result of the pervalence of elections, poltical oppeness, debate bet. opposition and the government, free speech and multiparty system, albeit not perfect, our country seems to stay away from violence and that can not be bad for our people. but to sustain the relative peace things must get better than the present and the next election has to see at least an independent election board.