Ethiopia’s private candidates demonstrate for access to media

ADDIS ABABA, April 7, 2005 (Xinhua) — Hundreds of private candidates demonstrated Thursday demanding access to media coverage and fair fund distribution donated by the donors’ community to all candidates for the May 15 elections.

The private candidates said that the concerned bodies denied them to give airtime on radio and television to introduce their programs and agendas to their supporters.

They said that they are unable to introduce their agendas even in the kebele’s hall and public gathering areas.

“We have been asking the concerned bodies to have access to media and public gathering areas. But they refused to give us any cooperation yet. That is why we have organized this demonstration today,” they said.

Major Sisay Tsegaye, chairman of the private candidates, said that the private candidates are currently at the crossroad to fairly compete for the May elections.

“We are in a very difficult situation at the moment. Even the NEBE (the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia) closed its door totalk us about any issue we are demanding,” Sisay said.

The private candidates, who were gathered at the NEBE headquarters to present their request, were unable to talk with the officials due to the board’s refusal to allow journalists to attend their discussion.

“We want the media to be with us while we presented our complaints to them. But they refused our request. We are unable toreach any consensus. They don’t even want our members to get inside for the discussion. It was not fair, they are here to serveus,” they said.

The candidates also asked the board to give them the donated money in cash.

“We are told that the money will not be given out in cash but in material form. In the first place the money is too small considering the situation candidates. We deed money for transportation,” they said.

The private candidates were told to be given an amount of 400 US dollars worthy posters for the campaign. But they are asking the money to be in the form of cash to cover their needs.

NEBE however refused to do so, and was not willing to talk on the issue. NEBE officials also refused journalists to talk on the matter.

“The officials told you to come on Monday for any of your question. Now they are unable to talk to you,” said an official with NEBE.

Over 25.6 million Ethiopians are eligible to cast ballots in the May 15 to elect a national parliament and eight regional assemblies. The newly elected federal lawmakers will then select aprime minister.

There are 1,845 candidates representing 36 political parties and independents running for the 480 seats up for grabs in the 547-member federal parliament.

The remaining 67 MPs, who represent Ethiopia’s eastern Somalia Regional State, will be chosen in elections in August.

The national elections will be only the third democratic ballotin Ethiopia, the only African country that had not been colonized.The previous elections have been convincingly won by the ruling party.

Ethiopia has a two-house parliament: the 110-seat upper House of the Federation and the 547-seat lower House of People’s Representatives.