Ethiopian opposition parties urges peaceful 3-day strike

Oct 1, 2005 (ADDIS ABABA) — Ethiopian main opposition parties called for a peaceful three-day strike from Monday to protest at the results of May’s disputed parliamentary election after abandoning plans for a demonstration on Sunday.

The United Ethiopian Democratic Front (UEDF) and Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) said the government had forced them to cancel Sunday’s protest, prompting them to call the strike instead.

Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said earlier this week the rally “was to incite violence and topple the government”, echoing his earlier justification for cracking down on protests in July, when police shot 36 people.

The demonstrations were sparked after opposition accusations of fraud and intimidation in May 15’s election, which was won by Meles’ ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front.

“We call upon our fellow Ethiopians to stay in your homes for three consecutive days … to express to the ruling party and the government in unequivocal but peaceful, legal terms your legitimate discontent,” the opposition said in a statement on Saturday.

Government officials could not be reached for comment.

During the protests in July, the capital Addis Ababa virtually shut down for a few days as taxi drivers went on strike and many stores closed.

The opposition also warned they would advocate further peaceful protests if the government did not “stop the blatant and widespread violations of human rights being perpetrated every day”.

Opposition parties said on Friday 859 of their members were arrested this week.

International observers broadly endorsed the official results of the polls, but noted some irregularities during the vote.

It was only the second real multi-party poll in sub-Saharan Africa’s second most populous nation.

(Reuters)