Ethiopia- Opposition party says it won’t take part in election

By Tesfa-alem Tekle

March 5, 2008 (MEKELLE) — The only legal opposition party in the Tigray region, Arena Tigray for democracy and sovereignty (ATDS) today said it won’t contest on the next month’s national election.

“Our party won’t take part in the coming national election as the ruling government has deliberately delayed our recognition paper to disqualify us from running the election” vice chairman of the party Birhanu Berhe told Sudan Tribune.

The ruling early which doesn’t want to have any regional party in Tigray region has delayed recognizing us by 7 months, while the law Clearly states that an opposition with legal formality has the rights to get recognition with in a month time” he said.

“We received recognition in late October which is too late to established permanent leadership, organize, conduct and file in contestants” he added.

The party has accused the ruling party of continued hostile policy against opposition parties.
“Indirect violence and pressures against our party and supporters are wide which are difficult to prove to court” he said.

“The deliberate delays in recognizing our party is the ruling party’s fear that we will stand being strong contestants in the election” Birhanu added

The ATDS party is established by former higher members of the ruling party who believe the ruling party is hitting a wrong track in terms of democracy, economy, politics and leadership.

(ST)