The House of Peoples’ Representatives
Ato Meles Zenaw, the Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic
Re: The 2005 Elections
There has been repeated claims by
the Government that a democratic process is in progress in
It is easy to take the opposition’s views lightly as in
the past. But we strongly advise that
In
If, as it frequently announces to the Ethiopian people and
the world at large, the Government really believes in the advancement of a
democratic process in
a) The Head of the
Government of Ethiopia who is also the leader of the Ruling Party should,
through all forms of mass media, call a stop to all forms of harassment, which
is presently widely practiced by Government officials and EPRDF cadres through
out
b) It must immediately
establish a legal independent taskforce to monitor, investigate and submit
reports on any and all forms of harassment and identify those taking parts in
them. In order to ensure the independence of such a task force opposition
parties should fully take part in choosing the members.
c) Legal action should
be initiated immediately and processed expeditiously on those officials, cadres
and other individuals who have already been accused of crimes perpetrated
against the legal political opposition and their members.
Certain parts of the electoral law and attendant
administrative guidelines are considered deterrents to free and fair elections.
It is hardly possible to conduct a free and fair election unless these critical
parts of law are amended and the opposition parties participate in serious
vetting of the appropriate parts and submitting the requisite amendments. Annex
2 presents a short version of our proposal on the changes needed to render
Proclamation 111/1989 acceptable as a basis for advancing a democratic process. The more serious ones are those related to
the selection and appointment of the members of the Election Board.
The guidelines issued for the administration of the
election process itself are even stronger deterrents to free and fair election.
Summary of our comments concerning this are summarized in Annex 3.
Free and fair election is impractical where the Electoral
Board is staffed with Government officials and EPRDF cadres whose livelihood is
entirely dependent on the existence of their party. The Board should,
therefore, be restructured in order to ensure its independence and impartiality
in dealing with all parties involved in the elections. The selection of the
Board members should thus be done with full and equal participation of all
political parties and other stakeholders. To further enhance the independence
and impartiality of the Board, it should have its own budget directly voted for
by the Parliament and not be dependent on the Executive Branch of Government,
even for salaries and related costs. Furthermore, it should recruit and dismiss
its own staff on the basis of competence, impartiality, professionalism and
public respect. It is proven that individuals seconded from ministries and
other Government organs for election related duties has proven to be
deleterious to the election process since they are often found to be duty-bound
to prove their loyalty to the Government which is in essence the ruling party
that decides on their future livelihood. The new Election Board that will be established
must be given full independence to select and appoint election officials at ALL
levels. Annex 4 presents a short indicator as to the partiality of
the present Board.
The electoral laws are silent about independent observers
except regulation 1/94 which gives guidelines about the assignment of EPRDF
affiliated polling station observers. Such observers have proven to be fully
controlled by the ruling party and, as inferred in the guidelines themselves
will invariably be members of EPRDF and its affiliated parties. Gross unfair
practices of the past have proven unequivocally that independent, national,
regional and international monitors and observers will need to be fully
involved in the May 2005 Elections if any semblance of fairness is to be
expected. Therefore, AEUP strongly believes in the presence of such independent
observers in order to ensure the appropriateness of the election process
beginning from the campaign stage which is now in progress, voter/candidate
registration right through the voting, counting and transfer of power. If this
Government and the ruling party are genuinely committed to democratization then
it should have nothing to hide from the regional and international communities.
The ruling party has significant resource not only to
mount a full campaign but also skew the results in its favor. In addition to its
own resources it has unfettered access to the Government’s physical resources
such as transport equipment, widely spread office network and other significant
facilities. In fact, EPRDF/the ruling party is synonymous with government.
Hence there will not be a free and fair competition unless a clear separation
is made between the state and the ruling party.
On the other hand the opposition parties face financial
shortages even to run their day-to-day operation. This is a result of the
Government’s harassment of contributors and destabilization of party members
who attempt to raise funds. Therefore,
without significant financial support the participation of opposition parties
in the 2005 election will be severely hampered. To augment the meager resources
campaign funds should be made available as provided for in the law. Since time
is running out such funds should be made available before September 2004.
The ruling party uses the public media not only to
propagate its objectives but also to misrepresent the opposition, to harm their
reputation, to frustrate their political values and as a whole to misinform the
public, at large. We have concrete proof that even the educational radios in
each locality are being repeatedly utilized to misinform the youth on political
issues and opposition parties especially AEUP. We do not expect a free and fair
election unless all political parties have equal access to the public media to
put forward their political views, alternative agendas and introduce their
candidates. The electronic media as well as the print media should report in
line with the public interest impartially resisting distortion,
misrepresentation and defamation. Therefore,
through out the election process starting NOW such public media should
be managed by a Management Board selected with equal participation of all
parties that will be taking part in the 2005 election. It is the only way that even
limited impartiality will be achieved.
We hope that both the Legislature and the Executive
branches of the Government seriously will vett our demands and take the
requisite steps at the earliest opportunity. As summarized in Annex 5
Long Live United
ANNEX 1
HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS COMMITTED BY MEMBERS OF THE
RULING PARTY AND GOVERNMENT AT DIFFERENT LEVELS OF
THE GOVERNMENT IN 2003-2004
AEUP is trying its best to use its constitutional right of
peacefully organizing the people on the basis of its political program to
advance the cause of democratiza tion in the country. However, members of the
ruling party at all levels continue to commit serious human rights violations
and appear to endanger the very existence of our peaceful political party. The
close similarity of the atrocities and human rights violations perpetrated at
all levels throughout the country suggests that there is a clear-cut nationwide
policy directive from the top leadership of the government and the ruling party
to annihilate parties that have as strong nation-wide popular acceptance as
AEUP, and thereby throw AEUP and its supporters into hopelessness and despair. Hereunder is a listing of murdered AEUP
members, attempts made to murder AEUP members and supporters, gross human
rights violations on AEUP members, illegal searches, confiscation and destruction
of AEUP’s and members’ property and closure of AEUP branch offices by
government officials and government armed militiamen throughout our branch
offices in the country.
A. AEUP MEMBERS MURDERED
IN NORTH AND
A.1.
AWI ZONE
1. Ato Asfaw Amsal of
Lideta Kebele Farmers Association in Banja Wereda of Awi Zone was stabbed to
death on
2. Ato Genetu Workie of
Senkit Kebele Farmers Association in Banja Wereda of Awi Zone was murdered on
3. Ato Amnie Asferaw of
Gembaha Keble Farmers Association in Banja Wereda of Awi Zone was stabbed to
death upon an allegation that he failed to give up his gun.
4. Female student Yiftu
Sira of Lideta Kebele Farmers Association in Banja Wereda of Awi Zone was
murdered by a member of the national defense forces.
6
5. The youth, Yihenew
Yeshiwond, of Arjena Kebele Farmers Association in Gozamin Wereda of
6. Alebachew Settegn of
Delanta Dawint wereda , the son of Lieutenant Settegn
Ameshe, was murdered by unidentified killers on
7. Ato Dessalegn Simegn
of Gunaguna Kebele Farmers Association in Ebinat Wereda in Southern Gonder was
murdered by Government militiamen Ato Gashaw Melese and Ato Dessalegn Damtew at
1. Yeshewa Gultu W/Semayat of Kimir Dingay in Keya
sub-wereda was murdered on
2. The youth, Girma Assefa, of 05 Kebele Farmers
Association in Gera Keya wereda was murdered by stabbing with a spear. 3. Ato Hailu Zelleke of Filiklik Kebele
Farmers Association and a member of the AEUP Weredda Executive, in Gishe Rabel
wereda was murdered on
B. MURDER ATTEMPTS AND
ACTS OF BEATING AND
1. Ato
Azmeraw Ayalew, Head of Public Relations in AEUP’s Fogera Wereda Office in
Southern Gonder was abducted while he was in a local open market, and he was
imprisoned in Aabayako Sahillegn Farmers
7
Association where he was robbed 800 Birr and also
beaten up mercilessly. All those in the
open local market who attempted to intervene to pacify the situation were
dispersed by showering a volley of bullets at the crowd.
2. On
3. Ato Abahoy Sendeku
of Yifag kebele Farmers Association in Libo Kemkem wereda in South Gonder, who
was AEUP’s Public Relation Officer, was taken from his home by government armed
militiamen (i) Minale Abebe, (ii) Ambaw Litteh, and (iii) Adafirie Tefera, and
beaten up mercilessly.
4. Kes Ambachew
Admassie of Debre Teklehaimanot kebele Farmers Association in Ebinat wereda in
South Gonder , who was the AEUP Kebele Committee Chairman, was shot at
5. Kes Nega Agegnehu of
Dengores kebele Farmers Association in Farta wereda in South Gonder was badly
beaten up by the kebele armed militiamen Getaneh Tasew and Gizachew Tasew on
6. The home of Ato
Maregu Tegegn of Dengorisa Kolay kebele Farmers Association in wereda in South
Gonder, who is AEUP’s local party organizer, was attacked during the night of
7. Ato Solomon Birrie
of Dero Gabriel Kebele Farmers Association in Lay Gayint wereda in South
Gonder, who is Chairman of AEUP’s wereda Executive Committee, was shot at
repeatedly by local government armed militiamen, but he has so far survived.
8. Ato Bantie Abebaw of
Huletij Enesie wereda in
9. Ato Temie Getahun of
Dima Kebele Farmers Association in Enemay wereda in
8
10. Ato Desta Minwuyie of
Yehultij Enebisie Kebele Farmers in
11. Ato Ashenafi Lamesgin
of Enajima kebele Farmers Association in Dejen wereda in
12. Ato Endalamaw Belay
of Kandach Kebele Farmers Association in Awabal wereda in
13. Ato Simie Tilahun of
Kandach Kebele Farmers Association in Awabal wereda in
14. Ato Melkamu Tesfaw,
Ato Taddesse Manaye and Ato Simie Bele of Awabal wereda in
15. Gizachew Kehali of
Kidist.Kebele Farmers Association in Debay Tiltgin wereda in
16. Kes Melak Asmamaw
andd Habtamu Ayal of Kidist Kebele Farmers Association in Debay Tilatgin wereda
in
17. The home of
Ato Tilahun Admas of Rich Arjima kebele Farmers Association in Dejen wereda in
18. Ato Nakie Abebe of
Didik kebele Farmers Association in Awabal wereda in
19. The home of Ato
Anegagrie Kindie of Yeweber Maraim kebele Farmers Association in Enebissie
Sarmidir wereda in
20. Kes Getnet Belay of
Debre Michael kebele Farmers Association in Enbissie Sarmidir wereda in
21. Ato Mezgebe Sorie and
Zelalm Fantaneh of Gemie kebele Farmers Association in Debay Tilatgin wereda in
22. Ato Guadie Tefera of
Enebissie Sarmidi wereda and other AEUP organizers were beaten up on
23. Ato Aniley Imru of
Waber Kidus Giorgis kebele Farmers Association in Bibugn wereda in
24. Ato Endashaw Alemu of
Zebech kebele Farmers Association in Enemay wereda in
25. Ato Habtamu Baye of
Besiha Tefases kebele Farmers Association in Shebel Berenta wereda in
26. The AEUP youth,
Asnake Mogus of 030 Kebele Farmers Association in Mekit wereda in
27. Ato Mekie Demissie of
018 Kebele Farmers Association in Sayint wereda in South Wollo was badly beaten
up for making a statement that opposed the policies of EPRDF, then he was fined
100 Birr, and also incarcerated in a pen prepared for
keeping livestock.
28. Ato Attlaw Mandefro of Dej Kebele Farmers Association
in Gera Keya wereda in
29. Ato Belay Getaneh of 011 Kebele Farmers Association in
Gera Keya wereda in
30. Ato Damtew Ayele Feres Bet in Rabel wereda in
31. Ato Daniel Argaw of 08 Kebele Farmers Association in
Nazret town in
C. HUMAN RIGHTS
VIOLATIONS AGAINST AEUP MEMBERS
C.1
1. Ato Gedeb Muluneh
of Banja Jinguta Kebele Farmers Association in Awi Zone was jailed on
2. Blata Mossie Asres
of Banja wereda was similarly jailed.
1. Ato Endalmaw Tegegn
of Zelalem Desta kebele Farmers Association in Huletij Enessie in
2. Kes Getinet Belay
of Debre Michael Kebele Farmers
ASSOCIATION IN ENEBISSIE SARMIDIR WEREDA, AN AEUP
PARTY ORGANIZER, WAS ILLEGALLY JAILED ON NOVEMBER 25, 2003 AND KEPT THERE
INCOMMUNICADO.
3. On
3.1. Ato
Kahili Adera, AEUP’s Wereda Executive member
3.2. Ato
Worku Belay,
3.3. Ato Wulu
Geta
3.4. Ato
Dessie Adima ,
3.5. Ato
Yalew Minwuye
3.6. Ato
Kassaye Workie, who was denied any food and bedding while in prison
3.7. Ato
Biazin Demissie,
3.8. Ato
Getachew Demissie
3.9. Kes
Yismaw Tefera,
4. Other illegal imprisonments
include the following:
4.1. Ato
Getnet Temesgen and other AEUP members from Gundeweyin wereda in Chebo Michael
and Mertulemariaam Kebele Farmers Associations were incarcerated ever since the
third week of January 2004.
4.2. Ato
Demissie Tegen for also refusing to cancel his membership in AEUP.
4.3. Ato
Tilahun Baye
4.4. Kes
bizuayehu Yigzaw
4.5. All
members of AEUP’s Hultij Enessie Wereda Executive
Committee incarcerated since
4.6. Ato
Ashenafi Lamesgin of Dejen Wereda in Enajema Kebele Farmers Association who is
AEUP organizer, has been illegally thrown into jail at the orders of Kebele
officials since March 5,
2004
4.7. Ato
Birilie Tesfaye was imprisoned since
4.8. Ato
Tilahun Admas of Rich Kebele Farmers Association in
Dejen wereda
4.9. Ato
Abire Mekonnen of Bibugn Oda Giorgis Kebele Farmers
Association
4.10. Ato
Aniley Imru
4.11. Ato
Tegibew Sinshaw
12
4.12. Ato
Endalamaw Derseh and Ato Meseret Ayalew in prison since
4.13. The
following AEUP party organizers in Kandach kebele Farmers Association in Awabal
Wereda for promoting AEUP’s political program:
4.13.1 Ato Melkamu
Tesfaw
4.13.2 Ato Tadele
Manaye
4.13.3 Ato Simie Bele
4.14. The AEUP
Executive Committee members of Debay Tilagin wereda, including its Chairman,
Ato Yeshiwas Menigiste:
Lieutenant Gizachew Kassa, Abera Wasisie, Lkinaw
Kassa, Aderaw Getnet, Wasu Shiferaw, Kes Abera Fettene, Baykedagn Atnafu, Litigebew
Gashu, Belay Mengistie, Belay Shiferaw, Sintie Kebede, Gosso Nigatu, Ato Ayal.
4.15. Imprisonments
in Emnessie wereda on
4.15.1 Ato Alem Eniyew
4.15.2 ATO GETA MITIKU
4.15.3 Ato Gebeyu
Mitiku
4.16 In
Enemay wereda, Ato Lijalem Dinku and and the entire wereda Council came out in
full force 0n
4.16.1 Ato Hasabe Tesfa
4.16.2 Ato Habtie Kebede
4.16.3 Ato Mulu Ayalew
4.16.4 Ato Tariku
Eseyneh
4.16.5 Kes Mossiye
Lijalem
4.17. Again in
Enemay wereda in Birhan Kebele Farmers
Association, the following have been thrown to jail
for promoting peaceful political education of AEUP members in the Kebele:
4.17.1 Ato Kassa Zewde
4.17.2. Ato Nurie
Minwuye
4.17.3. Ato Dires
Ayinaref
4.28. Ato
Tesfaye Tariku, member of AEUP’s Central
Committee and principal organizer in
4.29. Starting
with the third week of April 2004, a government order appears to have been
circulated in Shebel Berenta wereda to all local government officials to
imprison those members of AEUP
13
under the
“Dangerous Unemployed Persons” proclamation using such pretexts as that they
are unemployed and dangerous. The following victims, who only crime is to be
poor farmers and AEUP supporters, but who cannot possibly be dangerous or unemployed,
other than refusing to drop their support for AEUP, are languishing in jail:
4.29.1. Ato Mamru Abbie,
aged 27
4.29.2. Ato Abezaw
Geremew, aged 21
4.29.3. Ato Tariku
Aschalew, aged 37
4.29.4. Ato Belette
Alemayehu, aged 17
4.29.5. Ato Habtie
Mekonen, aged 16
4.29.6. Ato Belayneh
Tamagn, aged 33
4.29.7. Ato Tamiru
Getnet, aged 19
4.29.8. Ato Abiyu
Wondim, aged 39
4.29.9. Ato Abayneh
Chanie, aged 28
4.29.10. Ato
Abebe Bayu, aged 34
4.29.11. Ato
Temesgen Zeru, aged 40
4.29.12. Ato
Jenberu Melese,aged 42
4.29.13. Ato
Endaweke Giza, aged 17
4.29.14. Ato
Awrajaw Abate, aged 21
4.29.15. Ato
Bitew Ayelew, aged 20
4.29.16. Ato
Gashaw Zewdu, aged 16
4.29.17. Ato
Kasahun Mengistie, aged 28
4.29.18. Ato
Derejew Alemu, aged 27
4.29.19. Ato
Anduamlak Ale, aged 32
4.29.20. Ato
Destaw Alebachew, aged 23
4.29.21. Ato
Bamlie Mekonen, aged 24
4.29.22. Ato
Eyayu Wubale, aged 32
4.29.23. Ato
Assefa Chanie, aged 25
4.29.24. Ato
Sileshi Ashagrie, aged 36
4.29.25. Ato
Ayele Mebrie, aged 28
4.29.26. Ato
Gashaw Mebrie, aged 35
4.29.27. Tsehayneh
Amogne, aged 15
4.29.28. Ato
Worku Assegu, aged 42
4.29.29. Ato
Gizachew Mekete, aged 18
4.29.30. Ato
Sewnet Gashaw, aged 27
4.29.31. Ato
Endashaw Manaye, aged 19
These are mostly young farmers or young boys whose ages
range from 15 upwards, who should be now working on their tiny farm plots to prepare
them for sowing to fight the widespread famine and poverty that has
characterized this land over the last 13 years.
Likewise, (1) Ato Alem Eneyew, (2) Ato Gebeyehu Mitiku,
and Ato
Geta Mitiku were repeatedly urged by local officials of
the ruling
party to drop their
membership in AEUP, and upon their refusal to do so, they were all thrown into
jail in
1. Sheik Yesuf
Mohamed, and other members of AEUP Executive for the wereda of Dembia:
1.1. Sheik
Yesuf Mohamed
1.2. Ato
Berke Demiss
1.3. Ato Abay
Hawaz
1.4. Ato Mulu
Woldie
2. Ato Fettene of
Dassina was thrown into jail on
3. Ato Yared Haile was
imprisoned on
1. The following three
AEUP members whose brother, Ato Desalegn Simegn, was earlier murdered by the
ruling party, were also thrown into jail on
1.1. Ato
Kindalem Simegn
1.2. Ato Nega
Simegn
1.3. Ato
Asratie Simegn
2. In Farta wereda,
the following party members have been thrown into jail under the pretext of a
new oppressive law to control “hooligans”, but used so far primarily to
frustrate the political opposition:
2.1. Ato
Melak Tsega
2.2. Ato
Mekuanint Zewde
2.3. Ato
Gizachew Tseaga 15 NORTH WOLLO ZONE
1. Memirie Bihonegn
Fentaw, Deputy AEUP Guba Lafto wereda
2. Ato Gubena
Tikuye, the Chairman of 013 Kebele Farmers Association, threw the following
AEUP members into jail for refusing to cancel their AEUP membership:
2.1. Mekonene
Tebeje
2.2. Chjemere
Tefera
2.3. Bisetegn
Tsegaw
2.4. Belay Aragaw
2.5. Birhan Ageshen
2.6. Belay Beyene
1. AEUP organizers
in Mekane Selam had obtained permission from the wereda administration well in
advance to hold a local AEUP party meeting, but it was the same wereda
officials and Alemayehu Anteneh, a policeman sent from the zonal administration
that rounded up AEUP party organizers on
1.1. Jamal
Ibrahim, an AEUP organizer that had come from Dessie to attend the meeting
1.2. Major
Mesfin Negash
1.3. Ato
Gashaw Ali
1.4. Ato
Getachew Abeje
1.5. Ato
Erigettie Shinbesh
1.6. Ato
Adamu Atnafu
1.7. Ato
Habtamu Awoke
1.8. Ato Mengistu
Dejene
1.9. Ato
Bahiru Muhie
1.10. Ato
Gashaw Tilahun of Kebele 019
1.11. Ato
Tessema Kebede of Kebele 018
1.12. Ato
Mekebu Anbessie of Kebele 024
1.13. Ato
Kebede Tessema
1.14. Student
Gashaw Ejigou, the wereda youth organizer
2. Aro Mersha Abebaw
of 011 Kebele Farmers Association in
3. Sheik Mohamed
Ahmed of Kebele 01 who was thrown into jail on
4. Ato
Mekete Getaneh , Chairman of AEUP Saynt wereda Committee,
was thrown into jail on fabricated charges without court warrant on December
25, 2003.
C.2.
NORTH SHOA ZONE
The following were also illegally thrown into jail:
1. Ato Mersha Haile of Aliyu Amba in Ankober wereda
2. Ato Wesene Gizaw
3. Ato Girum Taddesse
4. Ato Minda Gizaw and 7 other AEUP members were jailed
from one week to 4 weeks for no reason.
5. The members of AEUP Executive Committee in Keya
Gebriel sub-wereda went to jail as well:
5.1. Lulseged
Zelelew
5.2. Shummmetie
W/Medhin imprisoned from
6. 200 AEUP members
were imprisoned en masse on September
19, 2003 in Debre Sina wereda
EAST SHOA ZONE
1. Ato Mulugeta
Wassie was thrown into jail in
C.3.
BALE ZONE
1. A member of the
Bale Zone Executive Committee and
Head of Public relations was thrown into jail for announcing
the date and venue of a party meeting.
2. Ato Gosa Gebre
Selassie, the Secretary of Dodola special zone in Bale was thrown into jail for
no cause on May 11, 2004.
3. Ato Tamirat Gebre
Mariam, Chairman of the Zone’s AEUP
vacating an office leased
to AEUP legally. This local
administration had closed
the AEUP office in Dodola once before,
confiscated its furniture
and flag, and imprisoned the office
staff before with the aim
of shutting out AEUP’s presence in
4. Ato Aalemayehu
Yeneneh, who is a member of the AEUP Head Office, was sent to Dodola to find
out about the event, but he was also thrown into jail on
4. Second Lieutenat
Tefo Geno, who is an AEUP organizer in the Dodola Special Zone, was also thrown
into jail on
Sodo Wereda is determined to imprison and harass AEUP
members or otherwise ensure that AEUP members are excluded from local selfhelp associations.
Likewise, the violations of AEUP members’s human rights
are very serious in Besaso Sorie wereda where our members are savagely beaten
up and made disabled and imprisonment is rampant. The same illegal practice
prevails in Ofa wereda where disabling, imprisonment, social exclusion, damage
to property and attacks on AEUP’s branch offices is the rule rather than the
exception.
Imprisonments:
Ø Sodo wereda police station has jailed 2 AEUP members,
including AEUP’s Zone Secretary Getache Mengistie, Ato Tklie Do who is a party
organizer and Gua Alam who has been denied a right of bail.
Ø AEUP members are in jail from Diamanch Kebele, Dache Gofera
Kebele, Gara Guda Kebele, Baso Gofera Kebele, All in all, 60 AEUP members are
illegally behind bars in this zone. 12 of those that escaped on
Exclusion from AEUP and local social organizations
Ø 16 AEUP members in Sodo wereda have been forced to cancel
their AEUP membership
18
Ø AEUP members in Sodo wereda cannot serve in bail proceedings
and they cannot have access to such services from others Ø AEUP members are
regarded the same as OLF members , and they have no right to get grains from
famine relief sources.
Disabilities due to Attacks by Local Government Officials
Several AEUP members have been taken out of their homes and
savagely beaten
up to the extent of making them
disabled.
Forced Resettlement of AEUP members
resettlement
areas against their will.
D. SHUTTING DOWN AEUP
BRANCH OFFICES,
DESTROYING PARTY SIGNS, DESTROYING
FLAGPOSTS
SOUTH GONDER ZONE
1. AEUP’S
wereda office in Libo Kemkem wereda was assaulted and destroyed by members of
the wereda Administrative Council, who led a group of armed local militiamen on
2. The AEUP branch
office in (1) was repaired and reopened, but it was again attacked and destroyed
once again by the same group from the local government/ruling party on
3. The third wave of
government -sponsored attack on Libo Kemkem’s AEUP branch office came on
19
EAST GOJJAM ZONE
SEVERAL brach offices in this zone are under constant
harassment and they have been forced to cloe down for no reason. A typical
example, In Merto Le mariamTown in Huletej Enessie, armed government militiamen
invaded the AEUP branch office on
AEUP’S branch offices in this zone are under constant
harassment and they have been forced to close down for no reason.
Our Branch office in Ofa wereda was repeatedly forced
to close by local government officials and armed government militiamen.
AEUP has serious obstacles from local owereda and kebele
officials in
its attempt to open
branch offices. The excuse is that they say that we
have to have special
permits to do that from the National Election
Board. They also insist
on receiving copies of our political program
GEDEO ZONE, GAMUGOFA ZONE, KEMBATA ZONE AND SIDAMA ZONE
In GEDEO ZONE, AEUP has serious obstacles from local
wereda and kebele officials in its attempt to open branch offices. They warn the
residents of Dilla that they should never organize under AEUP or otherwise they
face imprisonment, and destroy party sign in front of the Dilla AEUP branch
office. Those party members that distribute party leaflets have been rounded up
as dangerous under” dangerous and unemployed” proclamation..
Government employees suspected of being AEUP supporters have been to sign that
they have no thing to do with AEUP.
In SIDAMA ZONE, AEUP has serious obstacles from local
wereda and kebele officials in its attempt to open branch offices by delaying
or completely hiding away our letters of authorization to open branches. The officials Shebedeno wereda administration
have also publicly warned the public on
In GAMU GOFA ZONE, AEUP has serious obstacles from
local wereda and kebele officials in its attempt to open branch offices; they
delay or completely hide away our letters of authorization to open branches. Constant threats and harassment is the order
of the day on AEUP party organizers.
A special circular has been written by the
Administrator of
E. DAMAGE TO PROPERTY
OWNED BY AEUP AND
SUPPORTERS
On
1 .Ato Worku Eyasu
2. Ato Dires Teka
3. Ato Ayele Negash
4. Ato Damtie Manaye
5. Kes Kebede
Mengistie
6. Ato Teshome Kebed
7. Ato Abebe Yizengaw
8. Ato Sewnet Worku
9. Ato Ttega Kelemu
10. Ato Tteju Zegeye
11. Ato Aweke Walle
12. Ato Tekesete Hassab
13. Ato Manaye Taddesse
14. Ato Ttibebe Sewnet
15. Ato Ttassie Kebede
16. Ato Mengistie
Ejigayehu
17. Ato Adinew Workineh
18. Ato Lwiyie Temie
19. Ato Aragaw Abayneh
20. Ato Wudiye Wondialem
21. Ato Walle Temie
22. Ato Assamene Negash
23. Ato Zeru Yinessa
24. Ato Aytenew Chekol
25. Ato Dagne Manaye
26. Binalfw Kassie
27. Ato Yalew Adane
28. Ato Abebaw Aweke
The destruction force managed by local government
and members of the ruling party continued its destructive activity again in the
same Kebele Farmaers Association on
26. Ato Wondialle
Mekonnen
27. Ato Addis Manaye
28. Ato Getachew Asratu
29. Ato Andargie Yalew
30. Ato Alimaw Chekol
31. Ato Temie Eyechenu
The destructions of the homes of the above has enabled the ruling party to collect old corrugated iron
sheets ranging from 32 to 46 pieces from each home. The whole purpose is to
terrorize AEUP supporters and not to collect the money owed to the Ruling
Party’s business monopoly since there is no market for old corrugated sheets. A
legal approach by a responsible and accountable government and ruling party to
collect any debt owed to the Ruling Party’s monopolies would have been to
resort to the courts, however nominal they may be.
The homes listed above were destroyed by the
following 11 government officials:
1. Ato Limesgen
Mengistie
2. Ato Kes Gettie
3. Ato Gegwale Tegegn
4. Ato Alemayehu
Mengistie
5. Ato Mersie Ayele
6. Ato Assefa Zewde
7. Ato Abatneh Biazin
8. Ato Temie Chere
9. Ato Misaye Meku
10. Ato Mebitu Tessema
11. Ato Attilaw Mitiku
32. The farm plots of an
AEUP member in Mankorkoria Kebele Farmers
33. Ato Hagurie, and
AEUP member in Bichena Dibir Kebele Farmers
Association had his fertilizer bags and his old
crop of Teff confiscated in the dead of night of
34. Ato Tariku Derso, an
AEUP member in Araat Band Kebele Farmers
Association in Bichena wereda had his farm oxenen
confiscated in the dead of night by armed government militia.
35. The homes of the
following 4 AEUP members and residents of
Gundeweyn wereda were destroyed by armed
militiamen: Ato Getachew Demissie, Ato Biazin Gettie, Ato Getnet Temesgen, Kes
Yismaw Tefera.
36. The trees planted
around the home of Ato Ashagrie Gessesse in Hibre
Selam Kebele Farmers Association on Huletij
Enessie were cut down; the fence of his home was
destroyed and his farm plots were confiscated.
37. An AEUP member of Sebshengo Kebele Farmers Association in
Dejen wereda had his farm plots, house and garden confiscated on account of his
AEUP membership.
38. The following 8
AEUP members in Enebissie Sarmidir wereda were denied access to food being
distributed for famine relief and their gardens destroyed on account of their
membership in AEUP: Ato Talema, Ato Mogessie Simie, Ato Fantaye Walelign, Ato
Azeze Kebede, Ato Wubetu Gizaw, Ato Gizaw Talema, Ato Yibeyin Assefa and Ato
Yohannes Tsegaye.
39. The following
damage was committed against the property of AEUP members:
Ø Crops destroyed on
Ø Ato Yeshiwas Mengistie’s crop of Teff was
intentionally destroyed by livestock brought in by the Kebele leadership, and he was also fined 600 Birr.
Ø Ato Gizachew Kehali’s home in Kidistie Kebele
Farmers Association in Debay Tilagin wereda was destroyed by the the Kebele
leadership.
Ø The crops of wheat, barley and teff, owned by
Ato Wondie Abebaw, Ato Yalew Alemneh, Ato Tizazu Abate, Ato Ashagrie Demiss and
Ato Asmammaw Likinaw, were likewise destroyed by livestock collected from the
surrounding areas and brought in by kebele leadership for the destructive purpose.
Ø The crop of maize and the vegetable garden owned
by Ato Lingerew Eshetie of Emewold Kebele Farmers AsAssociation in Debay
Tilatgin wereda were likewise destroyed by livestock collected from the
surrounding areas and brought in by kebele leadership for the destructive
purpose.
Ø The crops of AEUP
members in Goncha Siso Enessie wereda were also destroyed by livestock brought
in by kebele leadership for the destructive purpose.
40. The entire house and
property of AEUP’s Kes Ayalneh Wodifraw of
Yetijan Kebele Farmers Association in Gozamin
wereda was set on fire by governmenmt militiamen and burnt to the ground on 22
Novemebr 2003 with all his other property.
41. The house AEUP’s
Adane Tefera of Enetemun Kebele Farmers
Association in
Basoliben wereda was illegally searched by members
of the Defense Forces on
1. The home of Ato
Aschalew of Jeman Yirga Kebele Farmers
Association was burnt down during the night of
2. The crops of
AEUP members of Amijaye Kebele Farmers Association in Farta wereda
, equivalent to that owned by two families, was destroyed under the
pretext that the land was not to be used for farming.
3. Government
militiamen robbed 800 Birr from Ato Azmeraw Ayalew of Fogera wereda, and Head
of AEUP’s Public Relations in the wereda, while he was walking back from a
local market.
4. Ato Abebaw
Nadew, Chairman of Amed Ber Kebele Farmers Association in Fogera wereda, and
government militiamen took from their grazing area 6 livestock owned by AEUP’s
Ato Baye Siyum on
On
1. Corporal Muluye
Azene, who lost one horse
2. Ato Bitew Fanta,
who lost 1 horse
3. Ato Gedib Muluneh,
who lost 1 horse
4. Ato Eskezia
Muluneh, who lost 2 sheep
5. Ato Sintayehu
Bitew, who lost 2 sheep
6. Ato Tilahun Fentie,
who lost 2 sheep
7. Ato Tamir Desta,
who lost 1 sheep
8. Ato Agaj Fentie,
who lost 1 sheep
9. Ato Haynor Dessie,
who lost 1 horse
10. Ato Abera
Aalemayehu, who lost 2 sheep
11. Ato Abate Aynalem,
who lost 2 sheep
12. Ato Ayana Aynalem,
who lost 2 sheep
13. Ato Bishaw Mekonen,
who lost 1 sheep
14. Ato Tibebe Kebede,
who lost 2 goats
15. Ato Fekadu Mulat,
who lost 1 calf
16. Ato Yeshiwas Mihret,
who lost 1 horse
17. Ato Agegnehu
Welelie, who lost 1 cow
18. Ato Yenew Mesfin, who
lost 1 horse
19. Ato Tadele Fanta,
who lost 1 sheep
20. Ato Mekuriaw Kebede,
who lost 1 sheep
21. Ato Andualem
Mekonen, who lost 1 sheep
22. Ato Awoke Alem,who
lost 2 sheep
23. Kes Asrat Nurie, who
lost 1 sheep
24. Ato Dessie Yimenu,
who lost 1 sheep
25. Ato Birhanu Mihret,
who lost 1 sheep
26. Kes Birhane
Muengistu, who lost 1 sheep
27. Ato Kassie Desta,
who lost 1 ho rse
28. Ato Getahun Desta,
who lost 1 sheep
29. Ato Adamu Mihret,
who lost 1 sheep
30. Ato Anteneh Biru,
who lost 1 sheep
31. Ato Siyum Eniyew,
who lost 1 sheep
32. Ato Eniyew Kassa,
who lost 1 sheep
F. EXCLUSION FROM
RELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES
1. AEUP’s Kes
Andargie Mengistie of Addis Alem Kebele Farmers Association in Eneamy wereda
was excluded from his church duties on account of allegations leveled at him by
the wereda Administrator that he is no different from the members of the Derg’s
members of the Wo rkers Party of
2. AEUP party
leaders have been forbidden by lovcal officials from using the public phone in
Debay Tilatigin wereda
In Sayint wereda, several churchmen at Wyin Abeba Gebriel
and elsewhere have been barred from attending to their church duties on account
of their refusal to give up their AEUP membership. In this same wereda, AEUP members
have also been driven out of local self-help associations. This social exclusion
has also occurred in Debre Sina.
NORTH GONDER
In Alefetakusa wereda andin Dabat wereda, churchmen who
are supporters of AEUP have been barred from attending to their church duties
on account of their refusal to give up their AEUP membe rship.
G. DISRUPTING LEGAL
MEETINGS AND DEMONIZING THE PARTY IN LOCAL
GOVERNMENT RADIO PROGRAMS
Such practices are also common as observed
throughout the country so that AEUP has very little security though that gas
not deterred AEUP from getting tremendous popular support throughout
Annex 4
Requests Submitted to the Election Board
The Process of organizing All Ethiopia Unity Party in the
last two years has been cumbersome, tedious and, above all, life threatening to
all our teams operating outside of
1. The harassments and
human rights violations in different zones and weredas of the Amhara Killil
were submitted to the President of the Killil on
2. Nation – wide
atrocities perpetrated on AEUP members and organizers have repeatedly been
presented to Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, the president of the Amhara Kilil Ato
Yoseph Retta, President of Oromia Ato Junedin Sado. A 17 page document
regarding such violations has been sent to the Election Board Secretariate on mm/13/315
reference no. 25/11/95.
To date we are made aware on the measures taken by
the Board, in any,
3. When the atrocities
that were being perpetrated escalated all over the country an 11 page letter
was submitted to the Board on
4. When AEUP
established its party offices in Bale, Dodola and Goba, very intense opposition
was mounted by the local governments by detaining our party organizers and
leaders, uprooting and destroying the party name plates taking
27 down our flags with full participation of the police
and finally closing down the respective new AEUP offices. Such illegal acts
were catalogued and sent to the President of Oromia on
5. The illegal acts
such as detentions, closure of our party offices in Southern
6. Two of AEUP’s young
organizers Shewagult W.Semait and Girma Assefa were murdered by individuals
closely tied to the local government officials. Based on our request of
5.1 INTERNATIONAL
STANDARDS
Article 13 (2) of the Ethiopian Constitution declares
the incorporation, into Ethiopian law, of the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and many other
international and regional documents on human rights. In particular, Article 25
of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights states that every
citizen shall have the right and the opportunity to take part in the conduct of
public affairs, directly or through freely chosen representatives, to vote and
to be elected at genuine periodic elections which shall be by universal and
equal suffrage and shall be held by secret ballot, guaranteeing the free
expression of the will of the electors, and to have access, on general terms of
equality, to public service in his country.
5.2 NEPAD’S PROVISIONS
FOR DEMOCRACY AND POLITICAL GOVERNANCE
One of the core objectives of NEPAD is to promote and
protect democracy and human rights in their respective countries and regions,
by developing clear standards of accountability, transparency and participatory
governance at the national and sub-national levels (NEPAD, Paragraph 49). In
NEPAD’s program of action, it is further stipulated that
“… development is impossible in the absence of true democracy, respect
for human rights peace and good governance. With the New Partnership for
Africa’s Development, Africa undertakes to respect the global standards of
democracy, which core components include political pluralism, allowing for the existence
of several political parties and workers’ unions, fair, open, free and democratic
elections periodically organized to enable the populace choose their leaders
freely.” ( See NEPAD, Paragraph 79).
Indeed, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, the Chairman of the
Ruling Party, is also one of the Vice-Presidents of the Executive Committee
responsible for the implementation of NEPAD.
The AU conference on Democracy and Elections provides for
electoral observation and monitoring amongst which prominence is given to independent
boards and provides for the role of independent monitors and observers especially
these from Au member countries.
5.3 USAID STAND ON AN IMPARTIAL ELECTORAL
FRAMEWORK
With regard to democratic
elections and good governance, the US Government’s USAID duly emphasizes
(USAID, 2000; p…59, paragraph 2.2.1) the necessity of a democratic legal
framework for the implementation of democratic elections as follows:
“… The
electoral framework refers to those constitutional provisions
, laws, regulations, and institutions which govern electoral processes.
Although not a sufficient condition, an impartial framework is a necessary
condition for free and fair elections and electoral processes.”.
However, in spite of
the government’s acceptance of such international standards for
good democratic practice, Electoral
Proclamation N0. 111/1995 has not been
designed to bring
about free and fair elections; all key provisions of the Proclamation have been
framed to favor only the party in power, even though the main reason for issuing
Proclamation 111/1995 is to guarantee the protection of all citizens’ rights to
elect and be elected, as stated in Article 38 of the FDRE Constitution.
5.1 INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS
Article 13 (2) of the Ethiopian Constitution declares the incorporation, into Ethiopian law, of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and many other international and regional documents on human rights. In particular, Article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights states that every citizen shall have the right and the opportunity to take part in the conduct of public affairs, directly or through freely chosen representatives, to vote and to be elected at genuine periodic elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret ballot, guaranteeing the free expression of the will of the electors, and to have access, on general terms of equality, to public service in his country.
5.2 NEPAD’S PROVISIONS FOR DEMOCRACY AND POLITICAL GOVERNANCE
One of the core objectives of NEPAD is to promote and
protect democracy
and human rights in their
respective countries and regions, by developing
clear standards of accountability,
transparency and participatory governance
at the national and sub-national
levels (NEPAD, Paragraph 49). In NEPAD’s
program of action, it is further
stipulated that
“… development is impossible in the absence of true democracy, respect
for human rights peace and good governance. With the New Partnership for Africa’s
Development, Africa undertakes to respect the global standards of democracy,
which core components include political pluralism, allowing for the existence of
several political parties and workers’ unions, fair, open, free and democratic
elections periodically organized to enable the populace choose their leaders
freely.” ( See NEPAD, Paragraph 79).
Indeed, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, the Chairman of the
Ruling Party, is also one of the Vice-Presidents of the Executive Committee
responsible for the implementation of NEPAD.
The Au conference on Democracy and Elections provides for
electoral observation and monitoring amongst which prominence is given to independent
boards and provides for the role of independent monitors and observers
especially these from Au member countries.
5.3 USAID STAND ON AN IMPARTIAL ELECTORAL
FRAMEWORK
With regard to democratic
elections and good governance, the US Government’s USAID duly emphasizes
(USAID, 2000; p…59, paragraph 2.2.1) the necessity of a democratic legal
framework for the implementation of democratic elections as follows:
“… The electoral framework refers to those constitutional provisions , laws, regulations, and institutions which
govern electoral processes. Although not a sufficient condition, an impartial
framework is a necessary condition for free and fair elections and electoral
processes.”.
However, in spite of
the government’s acceptance of such international standards for
good democratic practice, Electoral
Proclamation N0. 111/1995 has not been
designed to bring
about free and fair elections; all key provisions of the Proclamation have been
framed to favor only the party in power, even though the main reason for issuing
Proclamation 111/1995 is to guarantee the protection of all citizens’ rights to
elect and be elected, as stated in Article 38 of the FDRE Constitution.
ANNEX 6 SUMMARY HOW CAN
Urgent action has to be taken to address the following
critical concerns:
6.1 The National
Election Board:
The National Electoral Board
and all bodies that the Board has organized in its own image from qebele up
to the national levels cannot be expected to be impartial; they have proved to
be serious obstacles in all past elections in 1995, 2000 and 2001. Presently, it has done absolutely nothing to
stop or even reduce the harassment puerperal and organizers of our party, AEUP
in the rural area.
The National Election Board must be non-partisan, or
include all
independent parties on the Board.
Representatives of all political parties
will stop the Board from being an
instrument for the protection of the
interests of any one single party,
as observed over the last ten years. The
current structure and composition
of the Board have to be changed with the
full and unconditional
participation of the independent political opposition, and independent civic
society groups.
6.2 The Election Secretariat: The
organisational structure, staffing, financing and management of the offices of
the Secretariat of the Board and those at all other levels of the
electoral system should be completely free from the special influence of any of
the contesting parties and the government. There should no more be one party appointments by the ruling party/government at all levels of
the electoral management system.
The Civil Service and the
courts are too partisan to be entrusted with the implementation
of free and fair elections. Hence, the election secretariat and the election
courts should be recruited with the full cooperation and approval of all independent
political parties, and that may be done either by a search panel consisting of
representatives of all independent parties, or by a commission consisting of
the Presidents of all independent political parties.
6.3 Constituencies
6.3.1 The number
of candidates running for election in a given region should be strictly based
on population size, as stipulated in Articles 54(3) of FDRE’s Constitution.
During the May 2000 General Election, the ruling party altered the number of candidates
for regional councils without any convincing legal argument, or statistical
facts and without consulting opposition parties.
This problem arises from Article 15 of Electoral
Proclamation No.
111/1995. The Government should be
pressured to carry out the national Population census well before 2005 in order
to have a credible basis for determining election districts, or it should
otherwise sit down with all independent parties to agree on the size and
delimitation of electoral constituencies, and not resort to a one-party
decision as in 2000.
6.3.2 “Minority
nationality” should be explicitly defined with a suitable legislation and
not left to the good will of the ruling party and the House of Representatives
as in Sub-article 15(3). Today, only some of the more than 80 ethnic
groups have been picked by the ruling party for representation in the House
of Representatives and the rationale, if any, for this selection is not public
information, as it ought to be.
6.4 Candidates’ and
Voters’ Registration:
The registration system should be revamped completely
and made dependable and free from any one party’s influence, as stipulated in
Article 54(1) of FDRE’s Constitution, by:
6.4.1 Making the
criteria for voters’ eligibility transparent, fair and consistent with
democratic principles. Articles 29-30 and Articles 32-34 require
a careful review.
6.4.2 Requiring the
full residential address of each registered voter to be recorded on the
electoral roll and on the voters’ card to minimise electoral fraud. Article 29
had been repeatedly violated by the National Election Board itself in
the elections of 1995, 2000, and 2001 when it removed the address criterion
from the voter registration and voters’ card . In fact,
the Proclamation itself, in Article 32, did
not require residential address on
the voter identification card, again opening the door for fraud by the ruling
party.
6.4.3 making the registers of voters accurate and fair. Article
22 requires more definition as to who is the chief registration/electoral
officer or presiding officer and his/her exact functions at the polling
station, who is the counting officer, who seals ballot boxes and who opens them
and the role of contesting parties in the entire process. This article is a
complete failure at transparency and accountability.
Article 23 was not enforced in all past
elections; instead, the National Election Board used its own appointees, which
were not provided for in Proclamation 111/95, as “observers”.
6. 4.4 Ensuring
that the distribution and use of voter identification cards are free from partisanship
and one-party control. In the May 2000 Election, some pretension was made to
control their use at each registration station, while the exact number of such
cards sent to each such qebele station was known only to appointees of
the National Election Board and, hence, only to members of the ruling party.
All contesting parties should be involved in its control and auditing.
6.4.5 Putting
an end to arbitrary decisions and actions as shown by the extension of the
registration time by 20 days just before the deadline for voter registration during
the last general election, followed by 3 more days thereafter. Articles 26-28
are the immediate sources of this problem.
6.4.6 Ensuring that
voter records are properly and safely kept with the transparent participation
of all contesting parties. Article 33 leaves the door open for fraud by
allowing the Board to come up with arbitrary decisions in Sub-article 33(2).
6.4.7 Eliminating the
problems that candidates have continued to have from the time of the
nominations right to election day. Articles 38, 41,
42, 43, and 46 have always had their own associated pitfalls.
·
Sub-Article 38(2) allows candidacy even when the
residence requirement
is not satisfied
·
Sub-article 41(2) and Article 43 were clearly
never used by the Board in
1995 and 2001, and hence, both are dead articles.
·
Article
42 was a mine-field of confusion for the largely illiterate electorate that has
been flooded with a multitude of symbols to choose from. One symbol per party would be the only sound
alternative.
·
Article 46 appeared to have been designed to
shut out the political opposition from the political arena by reserving
government services as a safe haven for only those who line up with the ruling
party, and using the same effectively in running the partisan elections seen at
all levels in 1995, 2000 and 2001 under the management of a partisan Board and
a partisan Secretariat.
6.4.8 Finding a firm
and legal resolution to the bureaucratic red tape involved in the
registration of candidates and voters. Article 52 and Articles 69-72 were
of little help in the past to aggrieved contesting parties. An independent National Election Board which
is appointed with the collaboration and approval of all independent political
parties and an equally independent election secretariat at all levels is the
only answer.
6.5 Election Campaigns
and Voter Education
Recognising that election campaigns and voter
education are essential parts of the electoral process, they should be made
free from any one party’s influence, and all parties
must have equal and fair access to all public mass media. Very few benefits have
accrued from the provisions of Articles 50-51 of Proclamation 111/95.
Strong penalties can be imposed only by Independent Electoral Courts. Civic education must be given extensively
covering the meaning and content, implementation, and benefits of free
elections as well as the procedures of Election Day itself. Article 5(1d) was
largely ignored in the past even though Ethiopian society is largely
politically illiterate.
During the election campaigns of 1995, 2000 and 2001,
there have been several fraudulent practices, intimidation, arbitrary killings,
etc. ( DEU, 1995; EHRCO, 2000;
EHRCO, 2001). The same type of intimidations are already being perpatrated Now
/Details are available/ One way,
perhaps the only one, in which these can be
minimised is with the establishment
of an independent and effective electoral
court that is vested
with the necessary power, authority and means.
6.6 Independent monitors
and observers.
have had no legal basis in Proclamation 111/1995,
they have been playing critical roles in protecting the political monopoly
interests of TPLF/EPRDF, both as Grievance Committee members and
as witnesses in an electoral process swamped with fraudulent and undemocratic
practices. This has also been crying for change since 1995, but it has been
deliberately ignored by the ruling party. That has to change for the elections
in May 2005; the so called “public observers” of EPRDF must not be established
and utilized.
An electronic document of the International Institute for
Democracy and
Electoral Assistance (International
IDEA), the UN and International
Foundation for
Election Systems (IFES) puts it, “ Parties are
… the keenest
‘Electoral police’,
because they have a vested interest in ensuring that their
opponents do
not cheat.”. As the largest multi-ethnic democratic party
in
operational right from the
beginning of the election process (meaning Now, instead of coming in after most
of the damage has been done during the registration and the election campaign
periods.
6.7 Penalties
The provisions of Articles 50-52 and Articles
69-72 must be reviewed to ensure the application of obligatory, severe and
well-defined penalties by an impartial authority, as recommended in Section
10.8 below, that will be effective in controlling the transgressions of the
ruling party at all levels of government. These articles need to be reconciled
with those in Article 5 to ensure effective and prompt implementation.
6.8 Establishing
Electoral Courts
These Electoral Courts must be independent of
all political parties, replacing
Such courts are made necessary by the fact that existing
courts are largely staffed by people loyal to the ruling party, as also
recently admitted by the Prime Minister ( See Reporter,
Amharic Monthly, Vol. 4, No. 36, Ginbot 1993; p. 25). In
addition, existing courts are also over-burdened and under-staffed to assume
this critical and additional responsibility. Hence, a Federal Electoral
Court must be appointed with 37 the collaboration and approval of all
independent political parties and it should have as much legal authority as the
Federal Supreme Court. In addition,
there is an absolute need for a Election Security
Commission that is managed jointly by all independent competing parties at
each level of the electoral process for the entire election period starting
from registration to the final reporting of voting results.
Both the Electoral Courts and the Election Security
Commission will disband upon the successful conclusion of the election after
being in continuous operation for something like 6 months. This is not a big
price to pay in order to ensure peace and security in the Horn of Africa
through free and fair elections, which have so far been impossible under de
facto one-party dictatorship!
6.9 Vote Counting and
Voting Results announcement:
All essential activities like polling station security, the
counting of votes, verification of
the accuracy and reliability of the
votes, announcement of results, etc… have been
the sole responsibility of the ruling party in
1995, 2000 and 2001. A democratic
election requires that this must
change:
·
Article 65 does not clearly indicate that
vote counting must be conducted in a manner that is transparent. Instead, it
states that vote counting will be carried out at the polling station in
accordance with directives to be issued by the Board, and that
leads to additional suspicion since such a directive comes from election
officials appointed by the ruling party.
·
The same Article does not clearly state who
carries out and verifies the vote counting, and when that is done. There is no
role for contesting political parties and legal observers in the whole process . The voting counting has to be completed
and made public on the same day as the elections in each polling station, and
all competing political parties should have a right to contest the outcomes
before they are pronounced free and fair by the
·
Article 65
also fails to address security concerns for the security of the ballot boxes
both within polling stations and during their transfer to wereda offices or latter, and the roles of contesting
political parties and legal observers in the process .
·
Articles 65-66 do not indicate who,
within the respective offices, is responsible for the declaration of local
election results over and above the ultimate responsibility given to the Board.
The contesting parties appear to have no say in the matter at all levels,
contrary to international democratic practice.
Journalists also appear to be shut out completely and transparency and accountability
appear to be fully compromised.
6.10 Access to
Public Mass Media
Private mass media have been made inaccessible by the
Ruling party which, however, has Radio Fana which is operated by
and for TPLF against the Political
N0.82/1994 where Article
28 states “….a political party which has attained legal
personality may not directly or indirectly engage in
commercial and industrial
activity.”. Despite
this legal provision, TPLF operates Radio Fana and some 42 other
commercial and industrial monopolies.
Article 50 of Proclamation 111/1995 stipulates that all
parties have the right to use public media equitably, but the use of
such media is determined by TPLF/EPRDF/Ministry of Information.
The partisanship of the authorities of the Ministry had been observed during
the May 1995, May 2000 and 2001 elections when opposition candidates were
systematically excluded from equitably using the media whereas the ruling party
used them intensively under various pretexts. This has continued _________.
There is an urgent need to establish an independent Public
Mass Media Commission with members from all independent political parties
to ensure equitable access to public mass media and avoid the election problems
of 1995, 2000 and 2001.
6.11 Election
Funding
The ruling party has always had full access to all
public facilities like halls, government cars, public mass media and other
support services throughout the country, and that is possible by liberally
using public funds which have been totally inaccessible to the opposition in
the national elections in 1995, 2001 and 2001.
This practice has to come to an end for the elections
in 2005 by providing for a government budget which is fairly allocated to all
competing political parties and administered fairly and independently of the
ruling party through 39 a Federal Election Funds Commission that
consists of representatives from all independent political parties.
6.12 Conclusion
The sad election experiences repeated in
1995, 2000 and 2001 should be sufficient to warn all stakeholders that there
would be no peace or democratic government in
A democratic electoral system has to be urgently negotiated
well before May 2005,
the expected date for the next
election, so that all contesting political parties,
including the ruling party, may
have a level playing field to effectively organize and
prepare fairly and adequately to
provide vibrant alternatives by May 2005. There is
no other route to a democratic system in the
absence of a credible electoral
process and an unbiased National Election Board and
election secretariat that
can ensure free
and fair elections. The Governments repeated statements that