Ethiopian police urge opposition to avoid illegal demonstration

Sept 22, 2005 (ADDIS ABABA) — Ethiopian police on Thursday warned opposition parties not to play with fire, saying that any party engaged in destabilizing peace and stability of the public by calling unconstitutional demonstration would be responsible for any problems.

Tesfaye Meresa, deputy commissioner of the Addis Ababa Police Commission, told journalists that any body that “organizes demonstrations with the objective of instigating violence and riot and without fulfilling legal procedures would be undoubtedly held liable for any damages.”

The senior police officer said any body permitted to organize public rallies would also be liable if found engaged in other activities out of the theme of the demonstration.

Accordingly, he urged the Coalition for Unity and Democracy ( CUD) and the United Ethiopian Democratic Forces (UEDF), the country’s two major opposition parties, to refrain from organizing violence and riot on Oct. 2, when they are going to hold a nationwide demonstration.

Early this month, the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia announced the ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Party (EPRDF) has won 327 seats in the lower House of People’s Representatives, enough to form the federal government.

However, the opposition parties have accused Prime Minister Meles Zenawi-led EPRDF party of massive electoral fraud.

Ethiopians went to poll on May 15 in the country’s two separate elections to elect representatives to the House of People’s Representatives and regional councils.

Ethiopia has a two-house parliament: the 110-seat upper House of the Federation and the 547-seat lower House of People’s Representatives.

(Xinhua/ST)