HRW urges Ethiopia to probe candidate slaying

By Tefsa Alem Tekle

March 7, 2010 (ADDIS ABABA) – An international Human rights group has urged the Ethiopian government to immediately launch an open inquiry into the murder of an opposition parliamentary candidate.

The New-York based Human rights Watch (HRW) has demanded an independent investigation, urging the Ethiopian government to bring those responsible to justice.

“This attack demands an urgent, credible and an independent investigation given Ethiopians highly charged pre-election environment,” said Georgette Gagnon, Africa director at human rights watch. “getting to the truth of this incident will help built confidence in the electoral process.”

The late, Aregawi Gebreyohans was an opposition candidate running for parliament representing his party, Arena-Tigray, one member part of Ethiopia’s biggest opposition Coalition, Forum for Democratic Dialogue (Medrek). He was stabbed to death on Tuesday at a Bar he owned at Hitsat village in the country’s northern region of Tigray, the stronghold of the ruling EPRDF party.

Opposition officials contend that the attack was politically motivated that followed months of intimidation and harassment to Aregawi and other opposition candidates. According to the opposition party, Aregawi has in the past been twice arrested by security men and prior to his killing his party said that it was informed by him as having been followed by 6 men during the day.

The Ethiopian Government however has dismissed the allegation of political motives behind the killing, instead said it was a personal dispute that led to his murder.

The state-run TV last night aired victim’s family and the prime suspect. A couple members of the family aired on ETV said that the dispute between the two was triggered after suspect refused to pay bills for Beers he drunk.

The suspect admitted committing the crime however said that it was in self defence to attack by the deceased.

“Argawi fiercely came up with wooden stick, drag me outside and began to repeatedly beat me. He couldn’t stop and I had to stab him to defend myself,” the suspect said.

Opposition officials argue that the latest attack is part of the ongoing suppressive campaigns of the ruling party aimed to gain victory in the upcoming election by crippling opposition election campaigns.

Following the slaying of his candidate, Arena-Tigray Leader Gebru Asrat told Media that “this is a war declare by the ruling party against opposition groups”.

Another official of the same opposition party, Asgede Gebreslasse told Sudan tribune that the ruling party as being deploying a big number of his agents to Tigray region to cripple their campaigning movement.

He added that many of the party’s candidates are being forced to withdraw and to flee from their post as a result. The Ethiopian government has repeatedly promised it will conduct a fair, democratic and peaceful election.

This week, The US government has called for a free and fair election in May 2010 in Ethiopia. The call was made after a delegation of US officials led by The United States Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Karl Wycoff, held bilateral talks with Ethiopian officials.

“During the bilateral discussions, the US representatives urged that measures be taken to ensure that the forthcoming elections are run freely and fairly. They stressed that there must be no violence associated with these elections as there was in 2005,” said a statement issued by the US embassy in Ethiopia.

“Free, fair, credible and peaceful Ethiopian elections in May depend on inter-party dialogue, an effective and independent electoral complaints mechanism, credible administration of the conclusion of the candidate registration process, assiduous implementation of the code of conduct by political parties and Ethiopian government institutions, a permissive operating environment for independent observers, non-partisan election reporting and equitable access to the media,” the statement said.

According to the National electoral board, nearly 30 million Ethiopians have been registered to cast their votes.

The horn of Africa’s country’s upcoming election will be the first after one in 2005 where post election violence triggered by allegation of fraud led to the killing of nearly 200 street protesters.

(ST)