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| Disputed election results heighten tension in Ethiopia | |||
By Abebe Gelaw The National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE), Chaired by Ato Kemal Bedri, who is also President of the Federal Supreme Court and President of the Council for Constitutional Inquiry in the upper chamber of parliament, the House of Federation, has officially declared the ruling party winner of the May 15th elections amidst accusations and counter accusations. The news was greeted with indifference and melancholy, as this was a widely anticipated outcome even before the elections were held. There was no televised victory party or live interview with the unpopular Prime Minister who has added five more years to his life in the heavily fortified but opulent Grand Palace. Opposition leaders were quick to reject not only the official election results but also the NEBE, which they accused of complicity with the ruling party in vote rigging. Chairman of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD), Hailu Shawel, accused the EPRDF and the NEBE of daylight robbery in the "most illegitimate process ever." "It is the most illegitimate process I have ever seen in my life where the winner is declared the loser and the absolute loser is declared the winner," he told AFP. Dr. Merera Gudina, Chair of the United Ethiopian Democratic Forces, added to the chorus of condemnations saying the NEBE proved itself to be a vassal for the ruling party and any election results it issued were null and void. Dr. Merera has made it clear that his party will continue its struggle through all peaceful and non-violent means until the will of the people is respected. He called on the government to reconsider the opposition’s proposal for the establishment of an interim government, mandated to call a fresh general election, as a viable option to end the serious political crisis facing the nation. The ruling party ignored the complaints of the opposition and issued a statement through the mass media reiterating its desire to form federal and state governments. It warned opposition parties that “anti-constitutional” moves would not be condoned and rejected the call for an interim government. Though the opposition parties are considering to take legal actions, the likelihood of succeeding in overturning NEBE’s announcement is extremely remote. Last June the Federal Supreme Court, presided by chief justice Kemal Bedri, overturned a ruling of the Federal High Court that accepted the illegality of NEBE's announcements of disputed and unverified election results. In the absence of an independent judiciary, suing NEBE is not only costly but also a futile exercise. The ruling elite and the opposition appear to have failed to come up with a common framework that can bring about a peaceful end to the bitter political disputes. Under the current circumstances, the formation of a new government by the ruling elite adds another twists and turns in Ethiopia’s uncertain future. On the opposite ends of the political spectrum, the EPRDF and the opposition have already expressed their irreconcilable differences heightening tension and uncertainty in Ethiopia. The ruling party feels that as long as it has a monopolistic command over the military, the police, the security, the mass media and the national treasury the struggle of the opposition to resist its rule will be ardous and testing. Despite all that, the power of civil disobedience cannot be underestimated given the massive public support that the opposition command. |
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| By MR.E denver colorado Posted @ 10 Aug 2005 08:54 pm |
| MELES and EPDRF are like diapers. They both need changing regularly and for the same reason. |
| By Kebede Ali Posted @ 10 Aug 2005 09:29 pm |
| Dear Honest! You are entitled to your opinion, I admire your civility. Thank you |
| By uglly meles Posted @ 10 Aug 2005 11:54 pm |
| the shiftas will get meles and his ugly bereket simon.i am series the shiftas of gojjam will hung this bandits. |
| By Kassa Posted @ 11 Aug 2005 12:02 am |
| Kemal Bedri is a drug addict who eliesmeles for his addiction. Crack head who smokes marijuana, sniffles cocaine, and eats chat. He needs treatment. |
| By Beka Beka Posted @ 11 Aug 2005 02:56 am |
| Correction on the above posting the past 2 years, should be read as 14 Years Thank you |
| By Ato Hailu Posted @ 11 Aug 2005 05:35 am |
| Peace, I agree if what you say is the case. |
| By Tazebe Posted @ 11 Aug 2005 09:57 am |
| Ato Hailu, so what he worked for Derge ? He did not kill somebody unlike you and your Master(Melese). You said " Why he didn't joined others who were fighting by then DERGE" ..you wanted him to join EPRP ? That is the most bancrupt poletical party. It was formed by EPRDF and Shabeya for the sole purpose of seceding ertrea from Ethiopia. Are you and NA from www.waltainfo.com ? |
| By senay Posted @ 11 Aug 2005 11:34 am |
| there is no tension in ethiopia my friend it is only ur wish. |
| By Tazebe Posted @ 11 Aug 2005 04:30 pm |
| Amazed and Hailu are same person. Please use one screen name. Don't try to confuse. |
| By Tazebe Posted @ 12 Aug 2005 09:50 am |
| A bunch of Irgo Ras posting in here. It is a waste of my time talking to you. BYE. |
| By Mengistu Hailemariam Posted @ 12 Aug 2005 03:46 pm |
| Betew and Amazed, You talk nonsense. Did Meles screw your ass ? Wa yematahu ken !! |
