Urgent call for Europe to side with democracy in Ethiopia

By Ethiopians in Europe for Peace and Democracy

October 21, 2005

"The image of sons and daughters of Ethiopia heroically standing ignoring the torrential downpour and shouting slogans at the BBC was beyond anyone's capacity to describe, even to the well trained journalist, leave alone to this amateur reporter." - Wondimu Mekonnen, October 19, 2005, London.

Once again Ethiopians have come to ask what position that all freedom loving nations will take in this confrontation. What will be the position of the USA and the European Union?

Will they ignore the credible reports of their envoys and appease dictators in Ethiopia simply because they have the might to serve their short-term interests?

Will there be a realization that only a democratic, prospering and peaceful country is the only guarantee against the rise of any form of extremism?

Will they back the millions of Ethiopians who have shown incredible courage, insight and patience to turn their country into a genuine democracy?

Will Ethiopians be helped to take themselves out of tyranny and poverty and become a model of democracy and good governance to all nations in Africa, as they were beacon of freedom during the era of colonialism?

Whose voice will Europe listen to? Would it be the voices of the dictator in Ethiopia and it’s business partners who can employ the most expensive lobbyists to work for them in Europe’s corridor of power? Or will it be the cries of the millions of faceless and nameless poor Ethiopians, which carries their desire to replace dictatorship with democracy?

Would Europe realize that only assisting nations like Ethiopia in their economic development within a strictly democratic context could stop the needless uprooting of millions of people and their migration in search of freedom and comfort somewhere else?

We, Ethiopians in Europe believe that the time has come for Europe to take a principled stand against the dictatorship in Ethiopia. Appeasing the ruling dictator while pushing the opposition to join a parliament that has already been emasculated by laws that will frustrate genuine opposition must be stopped. Such a parliament will not have the credibility and the trust of the people. It will not allow a further entrenchment of democratic values or the creation and strengthening of democratic institution. Most of all it cannot stop the looming showdown between people and ruling party. In light of this we Ethiopians in Europe urge the European Union to take note of our assessment of the situation in Ethiopia and assist our people in their struggle to build a democratic society within the framework of peace and stability. We believe the following points will help to focus one’s attention in what is to be done in the current political context.

1. We Ethiopians in the Diaspora actually want to register our concern with the EU that the current Ethiopian situation is, using the words of EU's own representative, Mr. Tim Clarke, like a timber box. Unless, those with influence can come out into the open and put pressure on the ruling party to accept the proposal for a transitional shared government; the country will inevitably go into chaos. The consequences of such dangerous prospect is too frightening to contemplate
2. We also call the EU to support the rights of the Ethiopian people to engage in nonviolent resistance against an illegitimate government. The government needs either to accept the opposition's proposal for shared government, which should prepare the ground for fresh election or admit defeat and give up power. The European Union which has supported such resistance in Europe, even in countries where election fraud was not as high in magnitude as it is in Ethiopia, must not be seen to deny the Ethiopian people the very same right to engage in non-violent resistance and force the ruling party to respect their voice.
3. The EU should make it clear that such resistance is within the framework of democratic and human right principles and curtailment of such rights, be it in the name of legality or the maintenance of constitutional order, by force will not be tolerated. In the current political conflict, it has become clear that it is the opposition parties and the people who have a genuine cause for complaint. Thus we call the EU to engage pro-actively with the opposition and support openly their commitment for genuine peace, stability and democracy in the country. All pressure must be put at the belligerent ruling party and not at the opposition that has conceded so much for the sake of peace and stability.
4. The EU should add its weight to the demands of Ethiopians to end all human right abuses and to bring to justice all human right violators in the past.

Let's hope that the European Union will take its cue from its courageous election observers and do the right thing and side with the forces of democracy in Ethiopia. The fact that Ethiopia is not in the backyard of Europe and it is an impoverished land thousands of mile away should not be an excuse to let it rot in the jaws of tyrants.

Coalition for Unity and Democracy CUD
United Ethiopian Democratic Forces UEDF
Ethiopian Civic Associations in Europe