Ethiopia opposition office reportedly vandalized

Nov 17, 2005 (ADDIS ABABA) — Members of the opposition United Ethiopian Democratic Party-Medhin (UEDP-Medhin), Member of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) have said that their party office was broken in and party documents stolen.

According to the Addis Ababa based the Reporter, the members said that the party office was broken in on Saturday and computers, type writers and documents were stolen.

Lidetu said that since the Addis Ababa violence and the arrest of some members of the CUD no one went to the office, however, he said when he went to the office on 2 Hidar (11 November) and tried to open the door using the old key, the door refused to open.

Lidetu said yesterday, Tuesday, on 6 Hidar (15 November) he called the Police Headquarters and inquired about the situation. However, he said he was told to enter the office by breaking the door if there was no sign that the office was sealed by government authority.

Following the police instruction, Lidetu said he broke the door together with other party officials but found the office in a mess and papers scattered all over. He said the file drawers were vandalized and all party documents, video cassettes, type writers and computers were stolen.

(The Reporter in Amharic/ST)