Ethiopians in Switzerland mark historic election anniversary

Ethiopian Association in Switzerland

May 23, 2006

"In a situation where those in power are using all public institutions to their own short term advantage, it is difficult to expect those who hold different views to act more responsibly. Because of the stifling conditions and the very oppressive nature of the rule, those who are determined to make a point will resort to violence. This only means that both are wrong and both are taking their own respective particular interests more seriously than the general interest of the people." - Mesfin Wolde Mariam; The Horn of Africa, Conflict and Poverty, Addis Ababa, 1999 For further details, you may also visit the following websites: Mesfin Woldemariam and Free Our Leaders

Since the Ill-fated election the political and socio-economic crisis in the country is deepening sharply. Despite the total rejection by the people through the ballot box, the tyrant regime that carried out the June and November 2005 barbaric massacre, tortures, mass imprisonment and other election related human rights abuses is still holding power by sheer force and brute repressions leaving the whole country under virtual terror. The capital has been rocking from "mysterious" bombings which are widely supposed to be the dirty work of the security agents of the government. Schools are not functioning properly and students are forced to learn their school compounds surrounded by the vicious federal police which beat and kill even small kids for no reason. Thousands are still languishing in horrible detention facilities, lots of people are mysteriously disappearing; torture and intimidation is continued to be the day today language of the security forces.

The ruling party is actively engaged in dividing and systematically weakening opposition parties, dismantling civil societies and replacing them with its own stooges. The crackdown against the private media intensified, all private and free press journals are banned and the number of journalists imprisoned rose to twenty, making the country the top journalist jailer on the continent.

In a blatant undermining of the rights of the people of Addis Ababa to be administered by the individuals they have elected, the government has imposed a hand picked ?care taker group? to govern the city. Prices of consumer goods are skyrocketing becoming unaffordable even for the middle class citizens. Further more the unstable tense political environment in the country is discouraging investments where as the giant corporate businesses of the ruling elites have continued to suppress the private sector. Businesses owned by presumed supporters of the opposition are being systematically crippled and a lot of individuals got their license revoked and their business shut.

In order to avoid a strong united resistance against its tyrannical rule the ruling party using the government's structures, is spreading hate among the Ethiopian people to create mutual distrust and ethnic havoc. Had it not been for the inherent farsightedness and wisdom of the people that kept the harmony and coherence of this diverse nation over thousands of centuries, the evil intent of these irresponsible gangs would have turned Ethiopia in to the worst version of Somalia.

At the commemoration of the first anniversary of our people's rejection of tyranny; we would like to take the opportunity to express our deepest gratitude to those righteous personalities such as the Honourable Mrs. Ana Gomez, the Honourable congressman Chris Smith and all the Co-Sponsors of HR 4423, Addis Ferengi, the great friend of Ethiopia, and rights defenders such as, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), International Federation of Journalists, and other institutions and respected individuals for their courageous commitment to help democracy take root in Ethiopia, exposing the government in international stages and voicing the agony of our people.

Having a thorough assessment of all the above mentioned and many other countless horrendous crimes pouring on our beloved country, we Ethiopians living in Switzerland take the opportunity of this first anniversary of the May 2005 Election to;

- Condemn in the strongest terms the contiinued "Mysterious" bombings in the capital Addis Ababa that have been targeting innocent civilians and terrorising residents of the city.

- Denounce the recent appointment of a "caare-taker" group by a party that lost the election in a landslide, to administer the capital city and also the planed new election to be conducted after one year, while the legally elected leaders are languishing in prison for no apparent offences but wining the hearts and minds of the electorate.

- Reiterate our demand for unconditional aand immediate release of all political prisoners and prisoners of conscience in the country.

- Once again condemn the continued brutal repression in the country and demand the United Nations to establish an independent international commission of inquiry, as it is stipulated in the EU parliamentary resolution, to investigate in to the barbaric human rights violation in the country and bring the perpetrators to the international tribunal of justice.

- Urge the pertinent UN bodies, Donor Insttitutions and Governments and Human right groups to continue exerting their utmost pressure on the government to seek a negotiated, lasting solution to the current political stalemate.

To this effect we particularly demand the US Congress to pass the proposed ?Ethiopia Freedom, Democracy and Human rights Act of 2006's HR 4423 and the EU to commit itself to the implementation of the resolutions which its parliament has passed.

- Reaffirm our resolve to continue our strruggle until the will of our people is fully attained.

Ethiopian Association in Switzerland
Committee for Election 2005 and Human Rights in Ethiopia
Geneva, 20 May 2006