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Ethiopia’s govt warns opposition CUD over strike call

Oct 30, 2005 (ADDIS ABABA) — Ethiopia’s main opposition party Sunday called for a general strike next month as part of a series of measures to protest disputed May elections, a move denounced by the government as a threat to law and order.

Amid rising tensions in the capital, the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) also urged Ethiopians to boycott the products of government-owned industries, shun state-run media and refuse all contact with security officials beginning on Monday.

It called for a five-day strike starting November 14, and held out the possibility of a mass street demonstration in the capital unless the government addresses its charges of massive ruling party fraud in the May 15 polls.

The appeal was published in Amharic-language newspapers a day after police conducted a large-scale security operation in Addis Ababa and 48 hours after the CUD accused police of beating up some of its members outside its headquarters.

“The government must sit and talk with the CUD and stop the mass arrests,” the statement said, vowing to follow through on the steps to force the government to address

“If, after this, the government is not going to discuss the issues we have previously raised, if it is not going to stop the harassment of our people, the CUD will call for a street demonstration and social gathering,” it said.

Shortly after the statement was published, about 15 CUD members were detained by police after attending an organizational meeting, according to an AFP correspondent who witnessed the arrests.

The call drew an immediate rebuke from the ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), which has accused the CUD of fomenting a coup and warned it would take all necessary steps to preserve the peace.

“This is the continuation of the unlawful behavior and acts of the CUD,” said Information Minister Berhan Hailu. “The government will not tolerate these actions and it will take whatever measures necessary to keep law and order.”

The CUD, which won 109 seats in parliament, is boycotting the legislature.

Earlier this month, lawmakers voted in favor of a ruling party bill to strip boycotting members of parliament of their parliamentary immunity.

Nearly 100 CUD members have been arrested on charges of illegal weapons possession since the beginning of September, according to official statements.

The CUD alleges that authorities have rounded up huge numbers of its supporters and killed six of them and on Friday accused the police of beating up and detaining about 20 members, including elected members of parliament, outside its main office.

On Saturday, hundreds of security forces deployed throughout the capital stopping most traffic and inspecting identity cards, according to witnesses, including an AFP correspondent.

“They were looking for light arms yesterday, pistols, AK-47s because the government still thinks that the opposition is arming itself,” said one Addis Ababa-based diplomat.

A heavy police presence remained on the streets on Sunday in what diplomats said was a bid to forestall possible trouble although Berhan denied the action was related to the CUD calls for protests.

Protests over alleged irregularities in the May 15 elections erupted into violence in June when police opened fire on crowds during demonstrations in the capital, killing at least 37 people.

(AFP/ST)

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