Ethiopian opposition CUD criticizes donors’ call for joining parliament

Sept 25, 2005 (ADDIS ABABA) — Donors’ statement was a total failure to put realities into consideration and was based on hasty generalization, the Ethiopian main opposition party, the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD), said.

The ambassadors’ donor group issued a statement on September 13 by urging all parties to take up seats in parliament.

CUD’s Election Executive Committee Chairman Gizachew Shiferraw said joining or boycotting parliament was not the top-most concern in the electoral process, adding that the biggest concern is structuring the new parliament based on people’s votes.

According to the Addis Ababa based The Reporter, Gizachew said the ambassador’s group should have presented a critical analysis of the democratization process rather than urging parties to sit in the new parliament.

He said the ambassadors’ group was very much aware of serious irregularities in the electoral process. He also noted that their emphasis on joining parliament was disappointing not only to the opposition parties but also to the people at large.

According to Eng. Gizachew, the ambassadors’ group, composed pre-dominantly of EU member countries, have clearly contradicted the irregularities and human rights violations raised by EU-EOM by urging the opposition to take up seats in parliament.

The ambassadors’ donor group called upon political parties, which have won seats in parliament to join it by 10 October in accordance with the Federal Constitution.

On the other hand, The four political parties that have been under the Ethiopian opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) announced their merger on Saturday September 25, to be led under a single leadership.

It was also indicated on the occasion that the Coalition has not reached a final decision as to whether it would join the parliament or not. The party said the matter would be decided at the Council meeting to be held shortly.

(The Reporter/ST)