EPRDF ponders over crackdown on opposition
By Abebe Gelaw June 4, 2005
The Deputy Prime Minister, Addisu Legesse, has signalled the intention of the ruling party to crackdown on the opposition, whom he referred to as ‘anarchists’.
In a strongly-worded interview he gave Friday (3rd June) to Radio Fana, an organ of the EPRDF, Addisu said that the opposition were bent on putting hurdles to the ‘democratic process’ under way in Ethiopia. In a tone typical of the ruling party, he said: “Any anti-peace and anti-democratic activities will not be condoned.”
Addisu, who is also chairman of the Amhara National Democratic Movement (ANDM), one of the satellite ethnic parties commandeered by the TPLF, accused the opposition of “engaging in provocation, fanning ethnic hatred, vote rigging, buying ballots and other anti-democratic missions” during and after the election..
He alleged that the opposition was intent on snatching power through illegal means and went on to say that the patience of the EPRDF should not be construed by ‘anarchists’ as a weakness.
A statement issued on the same day by the Minister of Information, Bereket Simeon, echoed Addisu’s threats of an imminent crackdown. The statement declared: “Our democracy is meant to serve the interest of our peoples and never to accommodate anarchy.”
“Extensive air time was allotted to the contesting political parties which were provided with an ample opportunity to promote their views and platforms. Unfortunately, some political parties have abused this opportunity and transmitted notions that were illegal and unacceptable. However, the government, for the sake of fostering democracy, tolerated and ignored such violations with a sense of great responsibility.”
According to the statement, which was meant to clarify the position of the government in relation to the prevailing post-election situation, some opposition political parties had openly declared that they were determined to destroy the constitutional order by force.
After a long rambling on the efforts of the ruling party to teach and instil democratic culture among the people of Ethiopia, it concluded by warning any opposition that the government would take severe measures to ensure the stability of the status quo. “The government would like to sternly warn, again, all those who opt for the extremist path, that it is alert and competent to control and submit to the law any anti-peace and illegal elements that threaten the constitutional order and who contravene the provisions of the law of the land.”
According to political observers, the blatant decree of threats is a prelude to unleash a war against opposition groups who have been complaining about the widespread vote rigging, intimidation, illegal detentions, and killings committed by the TPLF and its proxy ethnic parties throughout the countryside. “What they are saying in simple terms is that elected or not elected, the EPRDF would resort to brute force to cling to power. If that is what they call democracy, it must be the one they want to keep forever through bullets. That is contrary to the interests of the Ethiopian people,” an observer said.
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Following is the full statement
OUR DEMOCRACY IS MEANT TO SERVE THE INTEREST OF OUR
PEOPLES AND NEVER TO ACCOMMODATE ANARCHY
The democratic system underway in Ethiopia in conjunction with the 3rd nation al elections is a new historic chapter. Since the elections are the essential instruments to ensure the sovereignty of the peoples, as stipulated in our constitution, the government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) has discharged its duty of making the process of the elections free and fair with a spirit of great responsibility.
Obviously, the government, the peoples and all other stakeholders were engaged in intensive efforts to ensure that the 3rd national elections were truly democratic from the beginning up to the end. Although certain groups had assumed that democratic elections in Ethiopia would not be realized and therefore acted to undermine the process and the result including dissolving the constitutional order by fore, the elections were concluded in a democratic manner, due to the vigorous efforts of the peoples and their government.
It must be recalled that t the process of the elections was started around September 2004 and favorable conditions for all the contending political parties were created to access the electorate. Extensive air time was allotted to the contesting political parties which were provided with an ample opportunity to promote their views and platforms. Unfortunately,
Some political parties have abused this opportunity and transmitted notions which were illegal and unacceptable. However, the government, for the sake of fostering democracy, tolerated and ignored such violations with a sense of great responsibility. In addition to this, vast opportunities were also opened for the parties to meet the electorate in person and to popularize their objectives. However blantant violations of the rule of law were also encountered where the government took the political struggle as a priority over the administrative aspects with the hope of nurturing democracy with maximum patience and a sense of great responsibility.
Among the political parties that run for the 3rd national elections there were some, who officially declared that they were determined to destroy the constitutional order by force. It has been uncovered that for quite some time they had been engaged in activities to utterly undermine the process so as to achieve their goals.
In spite of this, all the peoples of our country and international observers has witnessed and declared that the elections were truly free, fair and democratic. The vote counting process after the elections was conducted in accordance with legal provisions and regulations of the country, and the preliminary results are being disclosed by the Electoral Board. The statements of the Electoral Board clearly state, which party has won and with how many ballots. Be that as it may, if a party has any resentment on the process of the elections, there are mechanisms and legal provisions that would enable it to lodge it’s complaints, It is indeed ridiculous, therefore, that despite the provision of complaint submission procedures, certain members of the leadership of the opposition are threatening to incite violence if their appeal fails in the courts of laws of resolving complaints and that would never accept defeat.
It must be understood that when ever one fails to accept the decision of the peoples and refuses to abide by the rule of law it is an act that can not be tolerated. Such stance of the opposition has emanated from the negative preparations in which they have been engaged.
In a system which provides for free competition where everything is executed in a transparent and democratic manner, any side that has complaints is entitled with the rights to submit complain it’s and seek solutions in a legal and democratic manner. In such a situation it is mandatory to accept and abide by the verdict issued by the law.
Among the opposition, there are extremists who are bent on explicitly destructive ambitions and have been engaged in successive but futile attempts to usurp power from the people and the government through sheer force. At one time they were initiating hunger strike among the students to incite riot and on another occasion, they were engaged in efforts insisting upon the religious leaders and worshipers to promote their objectives in their prayers with the hope of kindling violence. They have carried out intensive agitations and are initiating workers to go on strike and public institutions to boycott service delivery. Indeed, had it not been for the genuine aspirations and support of the peoples for the peaceful, democratic and legal process, the extremists in the opposition could have succeeded. Despite their attempts which left no stone unturned to cause discord and riot, however, their goals have failed.
Thus, the government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) would like to extend its sincere appreciation to all the peoples of our country for their intensive struggle to conclude the 3rd national elections in a peaceful, democratic and legal manner. The government would also like to express its readiness to utilize the democratic victories scored by the peoples struggle in a manner that would move our country into a new chapter of growth and called upon all citizens to uphold and consolidate the democratic gains ensured through their own struggle.
At this juncture, the government would like to remind and seriously warn, anyone that takes its patience and its spirit of responsibility, meant to nurture democracy in our country as a weakness. The government would like to warn, all those intending to violate law and order, that our democracy can not afford to accommodate lawlessness and anarchy. All the extremist forces must be aware that any attempt to usurp the verdict of the people and violate the law will not be tolerated. The government, within the framework of its duties, has the capacity and the competence to ensure respect for law and order. At the same time, the government also respects the right of those with erroneously views, to promote their convictions through the legal and peaceful means of struggle. But it has no obligation to neglect and tolerate any attempt to promote erroneous objective by illegal means. Therefore, the government would like to sternly warn, again, all those who opt for the extremist path, that it is alert and competent to control and submit to the law any anti-peace and illegal elements acts that threaten the constitutional order and who contravene the provisions of the law of the land.
Source: ENA
http://www.ena.gov.et/default.asp?CatId=6&NewsId=173811
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© COPYRIGHT 20001-2003 ETHIOMEDIA.COM. EMAIL: webmaster@ethiomedia.com
| |
In a strongly-worded interview he gave Friday (3rd June) to Radio Fana, an organ of the EPRDF, Addisu said that the opposition were bent on putting hurdles to the ‘democratic process’ under way in Ethiopia. In a tone typical of the ruling party, he said: “Any anti-peace and anti-democratic activities will not be condoned.”
Addisu, who is also chairman of the Amhara National Democratic Movement (ANDM), one of the satellite ethnic parties commandeered by the TPLF, accused the opposition of “engaging in provocation, fanning ethnic hatred, vote rigging, buying ballots and other anti-democratic missions” during and after the election..
He alleged that the opposition was intent on snatching power through illegal means and went on to say that the patience of the EPRDF should not be construed by ‘anarchists’ as a weakness.
A statement issued on the same day by the Minister of Information, Bereket Simeon, echoed Addisu’s threats of an imminent crackdown. The statement declared: “Our democracy is meant to serve the interest of our peoples and never to accommodate anarchy.”
“Extensive air time was allotted to the contesting political parties which were provided with an ample opportunity to promote their views and platforms. Unfortunately, some political parties have abused this opportunity and transmitted notions that were illegal and unacceptable. However, the government, for the sake of fostering democracy, tolerated and ignored such violations with a sense of great responsibility.”
According to the statement, which was meant to clarify the position of the government in relation to the prevailing post-election situation, some opposition political parties had openly declared that they were determined to destroy the constitutional order by force.
After a long rambling on the efforts of the ruling party to teach and instil democratic culture among the people of Ethiopia, it concluded by warning any opposition that the government would take severe measures to ensure the stability of the status quo. “The government would like to sternly warn, again, all those who opt for the extremist path, that it is alert and competent to control and submit to the law any anti-peace and illegal elements that threaten the constitutional order and who contravene the provisions of the law of the land.”
According to political observers, the blatant decree of threats is a prelude to unleash a war against opposition groups who have been complaining about the widespread vote rigging, intimidation, illegal detentions, and killings committed by the TPLF and its proxy ethnic parties throughout the countryside. “What they are saying in simple terms is that elected or not elected, the EPRDF would resort to brute force to cling to power. If that is what they call democracy, it must be the one they want to keep forever through bullets. That is contrary to the interests of the Ethiopian people,” an observer said. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Following is the full statement
OUR DEMOCRACY IS MEANT TO SERVE THE INTEREST OF OUR PEOPLES AND NEVER TO ACCOMMODATE ANARCHY
The democratic system underway in Ethiopia in conjunction with the 3rd nation al elections is a new historic chapter. Since the elections are the essential instruments to ensure the sovereignty of the peoples, as stipulated in our constitution, the government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) has discharged its duty of making the process of the elections free and fair with a spirit of great responsibility.
Obviously, the government, the peoples and all other stakeholders were engaged in intensive efforts to ensure that the 3rd national elections were truly democratic from the beginning up to the end. Although certain groups had assumed that democratic elections in Ethiopia would not be realized and therefore acted to undermine the process and the result including dissolving the constitutional order by fore, the elections were concluded in a democratic manner, due to the vigorous efforts of the peoples and their government.
It must be recalled that t the process of the elections was started around September 2004 and favorable conditions for all the contending political parties were created to access the electorate. Extensive air time was allotted to the contesting political parties which were provided with an ample opportunity to promote their views and platforms. Unfortunately,
Some political parties have abused this opportunity and transmitted notions which were illegal and unacceptable. However, the government, for the sake of fostering democracy, tolerated and ignored such violations with a sense of great responsibility. In addition to this, vast opportunities were also opened for the parties to meet the electorate in person and to popularize their objectives. However blantant violations of the rule of law were also encountered where the government took the political struggle as a priority over the administrative aspects with the hope of nurturing democracy with maximum patience and a sense of great responsibility.
Among the political parties that run for the 3rd national elections there were some, who officially declared that they were determined to destroy the constitutional order by force. It has been uncovered that for quite some time they had been engaged in activities to utterly undermine the process so as to achieve their goals.
In spite of this, all the peoples of our country and international observers has witnessed and declared that the elections were truly free, fair and democratic. The vote counting process after the elections was conducted in accordance with legal provisions and regulations of the country, and the preliminary results are being disclosed by the Electoral Board. The statements of the Electoral Board clearly state, which party has won and with how many ballots. Be that as it may, if a party has any resentment on the process of the elections, there are mechanisms and legal provisions that would enable it to lodge it’s complaints, It is indeed ridiculous, therefore, that despite the provision of complaint submission procedures, certain members of the leadership of the opposition are threatening to incite violence if their appeal fails in the courts of laws of resolving complaints and that would never accept defeat.
It must be understood that when ever one fails to accept the decision of the peoples and refuses to abide by the rule of law it is an act that can not be tolerated. Such stance of the opposition has emanated from the negative preparations in which they have been engaged.
In a system which provides for free competition where everything is executed in a transparent and democratic manner, any side that has complaints is entitled with the rights to submit complain it’s and seek solutions in a legal and democratic manner. In such a situation it is mandatory to accept and abide by the verdict issued by the law.
Among the opposition, there are extremists who are bent on explicitly destructive ambitions and have been engaged in successive but futile attempts to usurp power from the people and the government through sheer force. At one time they were initiating hunger strike among the students to incite riot and on another occasion, they were engaged in efforts insisting upon the religious leaders and worshipers to promote their objectives in their prayers with the hope of kindling violence. They have carried out intensive agitations and are initiating workers to go on strike and public institutions to boycott service delivery. Indeed, had it not been for the genuine aspirations and support of the peoples for the peaceful, democratic and legal process, the extremists in the opposition could have succeeded. Despite their attempts which left no stone unturned to cause discord and riot, however, their goals have failed.
Thus, the government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) would like to extend its sincere appreciation to all the peoples of our country for their intensive struggle to conclude the 3rd national elections in a peaceful, democratic and legal manner. The government would also like to express its readiness to utilize the democratic victories scored by the peoples struggle in a manner that would move our country into a new chapter of growth and called upon all citizens to uphold and consolidate the democratic gains ensured through their own struggle.
At this juncture, the government would like to remind and seriously warn, anyone that takes its patience and its spirit of responsibility, meant to nurture democracy in our country as a weakness. The government would like to warn, all those intending to violate law and order, that our democracy can not afford to accommodate lawlessness and anarchy. All the extremist forces must be aware that any attempt to usurp the verdict of the people and violate the law will not be tolerated. The government, within the framework of its duties, has the capacity and the competence to ensure respect for law and order. At the same time, the government also respects the right of those with erroneously views, to promote their convictions through the legal and peaceful means of struggle. But it has no obligation to neglect and tolerate any attempt to promote erroneous objective by illegal means. Therefore, the government would like to sternly warn, again, all those who opt for the extremist path, that it is alert and competent to control and submit to the law any anti-peace and illegal elements acts that threaten the constitutional order and who contravene the provisions of the law of the land.
Source: ENA
http://www.ena.gov.et/default.asp?CatId=6&NewsId=173811
ETHIOMEDIA.COM - ETHIOPIA'S PREMIER NEWS AND VIEWS WEBSITE
© COPYRIGHT 20001-2003 ETHIOMEDIA.COM. EMAIL: webmaster@ethiomedia.com
