Boycotting CUD to push for Meles resignation By Our Staff Writer September 19, 2005
WASHINGTON DC - Ethiopia's leading opposition party which enjoyed a landslide victory over the ruling party of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi last May declared on Sunday the nation's next move would be to force the resignation of the Meles government, Ethiopian Review has reported.
Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) President Hailu Shawel said the ruling party of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi had committed widespread fraud as reported in the findings of international observers from the European Union and the Carter Center.
"CUD would boycott the parliament," Hailu said told a packed audience of Ethiopians who responded with a standing ovation, Ethiopian Review said.
Prime Minister Meles is planning to form the next government despite election defeats and profound nationwide opposition to his 14-year-old rule described by Human Rights Watch as brutal.
"The EU Observation Mission regrets [that the election process] did not live up to the international standards and to the aspirations of Ethiopians for democracy," EU Election Observation Chief Ana Gomes said in an August 26 report.
The Carter Center on its part said in its September 15 report that the Complaints Investigation Panels (CIPs) and Complaints Review Boards (CRBs) - two key procedures formed to break a post-election stalemate by investigating into 299 fraud-related charges - failed to function properly.
"In retrospect the Complaints Investigation Panels (CIPs) and Complaints Review Boards (CRBs) process did not provide an adequate means for a fair resolution of all electoral disputes," the Carter Center report noted, thus destroying Meles Zenawi's credibility of solo drive to form a parliament.
The EU, Carter Center as the well as the US State Deparment have urged both sides to resolve the crisis peacefully but opposition calls for dialog have so far been dismissed by the incumbent government as irrelevant, insisting it has won the majority of seats and would form the next government.
The United Ethiopian Democratic Forces (UEDF), the second major opposition party which commands tremendous support in Oromia and Southern People's regions, has announced a public rally on October 2 in Addis Ababa.
CUD, which is UEDF's closest ally, said its supporters would join hands with UEDF at the October rally, Ethiopian Review said.
The allied power of two of Ethiopia's opposition heavyweights has scared the prime minister so much that he has now invited the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) - a rebel group which the premier has been demonizing as terrorist for every thrown grenade - to jump into the political fray in case it helps crack the unprecedented unity forged between CUD and UEDF. (Ethiomedia)
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To access the Carter Report in pdf, click here.
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© COPYRIGHT 20001-2003 ETHIOMEDIA.COM. EMAIL: webmaster@ethiomedia.com
WASHINGTON DC - Ethiopia's leading opposition party which enjoyed a landslide victory over the ruling party of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi last May declared on Sunday the nation's next move would be to force the resignation of the Meles government, Ethiopian Review has reported.
Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) President Hailu Shawel said the ruling party of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi had committed widespread fraud as reported in the findings of international observers from the European Union and the Carter Center.
"CUD would boycott the parliament," Hailu said told a packed audience of Ethiopians who responded with a standing ovation, Ethiopian Review said.
Prime Minister Meles is planning to form the next government despite election defeats and profound nationwide opposition to his 14-year-old rule described by Human Rights Watch as brutal.
"The EU Observation Mission regrets [that the election process] did not live up to the international standards and to the aspirations of Ethiopians for democracy," EU Election Observation Chief Ana Gomes said in an August 26 report.
The Carter Center on its part said in its September 15 report that the Complaints Investigation Panels (CIPs) and Complaints Review Boards (CRBs) - two key procedures formed to break a post-election stalemate by investigating into 299 fraud-related charges - failed to function properly.
"In retrospect the Complaints Investigation Panels (CIPs) and Complaints Review Boards (CRBs) process did not provide an adequate means for a fair resolution of all electoral disputes," the Carter Center report noted, thus destroying Meles Zenawi's credibility of solo drive to form a parliament.
The EU, Carter Center as the well as the US State Deparment have urged both sides to resolve the crisis peacefully but opposition calls for dialog have so far been dismissed by the incumbent government as irrelevant, insisting it has won the majority of seats and would form the next government.
The United Ethiopian Democratic Forces (UEDF), the second major opposition party which commands tremendous support in Oromia and Southern People's regions, has announced a public rally on October 2 in Addis Ababa.
CUD, which is UEDF's closest ally, said its supporters would join hands with UEDF at the October rally, Ethiopian Review said.
The allied power of two of Ethiopia's opposition heavyweights has scared the prime minister so much that he has now invited the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) - a rebel group which the premier has been demonizing as terrorist for every thrown grenade - to jump into the political fray in case it helps crack the unprecedented unity forged between CUD and UEDF. (Ethiomedia)
-------
To access the Carter Report in pdf, click here.
ETHIOMEDIA.COM - ETHIOPIA'S PREMIER NEWS AND VIEWS WEBSITE
© COPYRIGHT 20001-2003 ETHIOMEDIA.COM. EMAIL: webmaster@ethiomedia.com
