Ethiopia EDUP-Medhin to elect new leadership, determine political line
Nov 26, 2005 (ADDIS ABABA) — The opposition Ethiopian Democratic Unity Party-Medhin (EDUp-Medhin) is to hold a general assembly that is expected to deliberate on urgent issues such as party political line and elect a new leadership.
The EDUP-Medhin, one of the constituent parties of Ethiopia’s main opposition, the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD).
In a press statement to the Ethiopian weekly The Reporter, EDUP-Medhin’s executive committee member, Mushe Semu, said that after a trying effort of gathering members, some of whom are in hiding, the party would hold its general assembly to discuss the current political stalemate.
“There are many issues that need urgent attention. Supporters have the impression that the opposition camp has been weakened by the recent developments. They want to know about the party’s line of struggle”, he said.
Asked if EDUP-Medhin has the intension of contacting other constituent parties of the CUD in an effort to salvage the CUD from possible disappearance from the political scene, Mushe said his party would contact and attempt to garner the support of the other constituent parties after the conduct of the general assembly.
Concerning the recent breakage into the office of the EDUP-Medhin during the recent riot, Mushe said the party had learnt that government police broke into the office and confiscated properties and documents for investigative purposes in connection with the “treason” charge EPRDF leveled against CUD leaders in detention.
“We have no firm ground to claim that the breakage was conducted without a search warrant because none of us were there to ask for it when they rummaged through the office.” He said the police have already agreed to return the documents to the party in accordance with the complaints filed by the party to the NEB and the federal police.
“We have lost very important documents and we need them to continue as a party,” said another source in the EDUP-Medhin, who spoke to The Reporter under the condition of anonymity. The source added that the general assembly would only be held after police return the confiscated properties and let the party continue its work.
The general assembly would be a perfect vantage-point to deliberate on the recent dispute that arose between the EDUP-Medhin and the CUD over the merger document.
After the break-away of the EDUP-Medhin in what many supporters and private media outlets regarded as treason, the EDUP-Medhin claimed of its existence even without the coalition.
The party’s general assembly would dwell on the issue of the parliament, among others, in which the number of CUD elects unilaterally taking up seats is said to be on the rise. EDUP-Medhin won 13 of the 23 seats in the House of Peoples’ Representatives, and 64 of the 135 seats in the Addis Ababa State Council.
(The Reporter/ST)