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The Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) Kinijit has released list of all candidates for the House of People's Representatives
http://www.kestedemena.org/pressreleases/houserep.pdf

You can learn more about CUD at
http://www.kestedemena.org/

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Ethiopians living abroad and love Ethiopia but could not participate in the coming election by voting to make a difference to your country, alert your families and relatives back home to support and vote for Kinijit and be part of the struggle!!


http://www.kestedemena.org/

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State Department Question and Answer on Ethiopia Democracy Demonstartions in Washington DC
Taken Question
Office of the Spokesman
Washington, DC
April 27, 2005
Question Taken at Daily Briefing of April 27, 2005


Ethiopia Democracy Demonstrations


Question: What is the U.S. response to today’s demonstration outside the Department of State for free and fair elections, the restoration of democracy, and return of various NGOs and election monitors to Ethiopia?


Answer: The United States continues to urge the Government of Ethiopia to hold free and fair elections with full participation by the opposition. It is vital that members of the opposition be given the opportunity to campaign without reprisal. We are aware that the Government of Ethiopia has increased access to radio and television ads to members of the opposition. The Government has also issued invitations to international observers. These are important steps and we urge the Government to continue to create a transparent electoral process.


The United States places democracy and human rights in the forefront of its engagement with all governments.

2005/448


Released on April 27, 2005

Source: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2005/45277.htm

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Read this article

The Forthcoming Ethiopian Elections By Getachew Melke, Washington DC

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Oppositions complain of widespread abuses ahead of elections

Ethiopia's third-ever democratic elections have been marred by random killings, mass arrests, torture and intimidation, five main opposition groups alleged on Wednesday.

The groups said two opposition members had been shot dead, hundreds rounded up and imprisoned, while dozens had disappeared less than three weeks ahead of the 15 May legislative elections.

Bereket Simon, Ethiopian information minister and spokesman for the ruling party, dismissed the allegations as "baseless". The Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front, he said, had provided a code of conduct to its 600,000 members to prevent abuses.

"This is an absolute lie and pure fabrication," Bereket told reporters on Thursday. "Our members would be prosecuted if found to have taken part in abuses. Any diversion from this code of conduct would make our members accountable."

"We believe that the ruling party is enjoying its finest years and has enhanced credibility across the board," he added. "So why do we need to take part in such unethical practices when we are going to win the election with a landslide?"

The five opposition groups, the Oromo Federalist Democratic Movement (OFDM), the United Ethiopian Democratic Forces (UEDF), the Coalition for Unity and Democracy, the Ethiopian Pan Africanist Party and the United Ethiopian Democratic Party-Medhin, said the attacks took place over the last month.

"As election day approaches, opposition parties are facing extreme difficulties such as random killings, imprisonment and disappearances," Mesfin Nemera, OFDM spokesman told reporters in the capital, Addis Ababa.

Government militia, Mesfin added, had opened fire at opposition rallies to disperse crowds, while candidates and voters had been forced to hand over voting cards.

Beyene Petros, vice-chairman of the UEDF, said the violence threatened the pledge of "free and fair" elections. He added, however, that opposition parties would not boycott polling.

"If the government wants to stop this they can," he said at a press conference that was also attended by diplomats and election observers.

Beyene also criticised the National Election Board (NEB), who are running the campaign. "We have been writing letters every day to the NEB but I don't think they have the desire to intervene," he said.

The NEB said it was not aware of the allegations. "We are not aware of these allegations formally," Kemal Bedri, the NEB chairman, said. "But we will investigate allegations, and if we are satisfied these things have happened we will ask for steps to be taken against alleged perpetrators of these crimes." (IRIN)

More than 25 million of Ethiopia's 71 million people have registered to vote in the upcoming elections. Some 35 political parties will vie for seats in the 547-seat Council of People's Representatives, according to NEB.

Voters will also elect representatives in nine regional state parliaments that appoint members of the 112-seat Council of the Federation, the upper house. The governing party and affiliated parties hold 519 of the current 547 seats in the federal parliament.

Source: The Reporter
http://www.ethiopianreporter.com/displayenglish.php?id=2196

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ADDIS ABABA, May 2 (Reuters) - Some 320 foreign observers are expected to monitor Ethiopia's May 15 parliamentary poll, an electoral official said on Monday, but opposition parties said intimidation and rights violations are already widespread.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L02355663.htm

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Addis Ababa - As many as 27 000 Ethiopian voters have to be re-registered in areas where minors were registered to vote and others were issued more than one voter's card, the national election board (NEB) chair said on Monday.

http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/News/0,,2-11-1447_1698505,00.html

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ADDIS ABABA, 4 May (IRIN) - Ethiopia's high court on Tuesday overturned a controversial law that had effectively banned thousands of local observers from monitoring the country's 15 May national election.

Judge Brehanu Teshome said the new ruling, introduced last month by the country's National Election Board, "contravened" the laws of the country.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/1f2170ededb6677b8a31b91afad07a4b.htm

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ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi warned that a victory for the opposition in May 15 elections could lead to Rwanda-style bloodshed, accusing his opponents of trying to foment ethnic hatred.

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20050506/wl_nm/ethiopia_election_dc_1

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Ethiopians living abroad and love Ethiopia but could not participate in the coming election by voting to make a difference to your country, alert your families and relatives back home to support and vote for Kinijit and be part of the struggle!!

CUD/kinijit
http://www.kestedemena.org/contact.htm

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Over million residents of Addis hold rally in support of EPRDF
Walta
http://www.waltainfo.com/EnNews/2005/May/07May05/May07e1.htm

Discuss this

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[url=http://www.nazret.com/php/uploadnews/search.php?misc=search&subaction=showfull&id=1115429269&archive=&cnshow=news&ucat=6&start_from=&]
Countdown to Election Day in Ethiopia and Counting out the Chances of a Free and Fair Election
By Fekade Shewakena[/url]

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Same walta reported 1.2 million for CUD.

http://www.waltainfo.com/EnNews/2005/May/08May05/May08e6.htm

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secrete behind EPRDF's rally turn out can be read in:
http://www.waltainfo.com/EnNews/2005/May/08May05/May08e6.htm

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I heard on Amharic radio in Washington DC that, the mayor of Addis Ababa has called on residents who are building a condo in the city to come to the city hall on the same day the rally for CUD was to take place, May 8. Is it true or mere accusation by the opposition?