Ethiopia: parliamentary candidate killed, Opposition suspects government behind attack
March 3, 2010 (ADDIS ABABA) – An opposition group said on Wednesday that his parliamentary candidate was stabbed to death on Tuesday by suspected government agents.
The Candidate, Aregawi Gebreyohannes, who runs for Arena-Tigray party was killed in a bar he owned in Hitsat Village, in the northern Tigray region, the home ground of the ruling EPRDF party.
“He was stabbed to death by unknown intruders at his bar early in Tuesday”, Arena-Tigray vice chair man Birhanu Berhe told Sudan Tribune.
“We believe the attack is politically motivated. One day prior to his attack, he (the victim) has informed us that he has been followed up by six unknown men, who we suspect are government agents,” Birhanu added.
The opposition official said that his party has sent an investigative team to the crime scene.
The opposition group ARENA Tigray, One member of the eight party opposition coalition, Forum, argues that the attack is part of the ruling party’s politically motivated suppressive campaigns aimed to ensure victory in the upcoming national election, scheduled to May, 2010.
However, reached by phone, a regional police official in Tigray on condition anonymity told Sudan Tribune that the attack is unlikely to be politically motivated.
“The victim was stabbed to death after subject tried to stop a fight that broke out between local men in his bar,” police said.
“We have taken a suspect into custody and investigation is underway. He added.
This year’s election will be the first for the horn of Africa’s country since 2005 election, where post election violence triggered by allegations of fraud claimed the lives of nearly 200 protesters in the capital, Addis Ababa.
(ST)
Kuany Dak
Ethiopia: parliamentary candidate killed, Opposition suspects government behind attack
Dear all,
Assissination of Tagray parliamentary candidate is called politically motivated. I have no doubt that this assissination tactic to occur in the southern Sudan. I think, SPLA agents would also suspected in the future, eventhough they are not suspected now, but there is no guarantee at this moment since there is so many independents candidates whose objectives is controversial to party heardliners, especially SPLM political bureau based in Juba. Political bureau want to insist holding power in the southern sudan constituences while they are failing to security significant development of infrastructure and social development in the region since five years of autonomy government is in power.
Thank you,
Kuany Dak