Ethiopia says trial of opposition CUD is a question of time
Oct 31, 2005 (ADDIS ABABA) — Ethiopian Ministry of Information said bringing before the court of justice the opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD), which it said, is a stumbling block for the development of democracy because of its anti-constitution stance, is timely, the official ENA news agency reported.
This declaration represents a new stage in power straggle between the ruling coalition and the opposition CUD since the elections of last may.
The Ministry of Information said the leaders of the CUD have openly designed its strategy and goal for inciting violence seizing the opportunity of the existing democratic system.
Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has repeatedly accused the opposition of plotting to incite violence and topple his government. Some 900 opposition party members have been arrested over the past month, the CUD has said
In its statement sent to ENA on Saturday, the Ministry said the leaderships of the CUD have practically attempted to incite violence under the name of the ‘rose revolution’ or ‘wave’.
It said the government has been gathering information about the move of the CUD on the one hand and awaiting with extreme patience with the intention of letting the people know the conspiracy of the CUD.
The Ministry said the government was awaiting with patience not by considering committing crime would be liable to law but it was with the intention of giving time to CUD leaderships to come to their sense.
Ethiopian security forces arrested and beat some 20 opposition members of parliament and party members on Friday 28 October the opposition CUD said.
The Ministry said the media which have been serving as mercenary of violence have clearly demonstrated their position by instigating violence right from the beginning.
Therefore, it is the obligation of the government and people to take appropriate measures on those forces who are advocators of street violence, the Ministry said.
The government will take all the necessary measures on those people who follow illegal path from now on wards.
The statement warned Ethiopians to participate in the opposition announced rally “those people who need to participate in the violence to be incited by CUD intentionally or unintentionally to think again and again before doing so otherwise they will be accountable to law”.
A disputed May 15 parliamentary election triggered opposition allegations of fraud and protests in which police killed 36 people.
Some 109 elected MPs from CUD, which boycotted parliament in protest against election results that gave victory to the ruling party, have been stripped of their immunity from prosecution.