ETHIOPIA'S ELECTION IN NAME ONLY: Ogaden National
Liberation Front (Foreign Affairs Department)
May 21st 2005

Widespread intimidation,coersion, arrests and a general lack of transparency characterized the
TPLF/EPRDF orchastrated so-called elections of Ethiopia held on the 15th of May 2005. The poll was held in an enviornment where prominent international organizations promoting democracy were prevented from conducting civic education programs. These organizations include the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI), International Republican Institute (IRI),
International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) as well as other organization seeking full
participation of vulnerable sections of Ethiopian society such as North American Conference on Ethiopian Jewry (NACOEJ) which served the Falash Mura population.

Furthermore, organizations such as the Ethiopian Human Righs Council (EHRCO) have noted that political arrests and other forms of intimidations continued. EHRCO's head pointed out that his organization was being denied from deploying 1,644 local poll monitors by election authorities despite a court order by Ethiopia's High Court.

Other human rights organizations such as Human Rights Watch (HRW) noted in a May 10, 2005 report titled 'Suppressing Dissent: Human Rights Abuses and Political Repression in Ethiopia's Oromia Region' the TPLF/EPRDF's decade-long tendency "to solidify its grip on power by punishing dissenters and intimidating others into silence". Peter Takirambudde, executive
director of Human Rights Watch's Africa division, noted "The Ethiopian government claims that the
elections demonstrate its commitment to democratic principles. But in the run-up to the elections the
authorities have intensified the repression they have used to keep themselves in power for 13 years."

European Union observors also criticized Ethiopian dictator Melez Zenawi for warning that the country risked being plunged into a "rwanda like" genocide if the opposition won. Ana Gomes, head of the EU observer mission, wrote to the electoral board expressing concern about "unfair" campaigning using images designed to raise alarm. Gomes also cited acts of violence, intimidation and harassment of opposition figures.

For the people of Ogaden, even this dismal enviornment is untenable. In Ogaden, so-called elections will take place in sometime in August, after international obeservors have gone and after the media spotlight has turned elswhere. Infact, the elctions will take place well after the results of the so-called national elections have been held and a clear winner announced. Even those in Ogaden who dare to go to the polls will go with the knowledge of who is going to rule Ethiopia and a narrow selection of briefcase political organizations with no legitimacy.

The Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) has stated publicly months ago that the nature of these so-called election are such that the TPLF/ERPDF regime is assured an illegitimate victory. As such our organization has not participated in this hollow excercise.

The ONLF further calls on the Interational Community to recognize these elctions for what they are are, an attempt to decieve global public opinion into believing that TPLF/EPRDF regime is commited to democracy as a matter of principle only to continue its policy of repression, intimidation and tyranny after the poll.

Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF)
Foreign Affairs Department
Infobureau@onlf.org

More ONLF News
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HEADLINE: ETHIOPIA: ONLF (Ogaden National Liberation Front) CLAIMS VICTORY OVER GOVERNMENT FORCES IN SOUTHEAST
HEADLINE: SOUTHEAST-BASED ETHIOPIAN REBELS CLAIM MILITARY TRIUMPHS OVER GOVERNMENT FORCES

 

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