In a few days Ethiopians head to the polls for parliamentary elections. It is almost five years since the 2005 elections that were heavily criticized by the international observers for being less than free and fair, a claim that the ruling EPRDF has often denied, calling it an international conspiracy to discredit Meles Zenawi’s government.
Once described as Africa’s ‘new breed of leaders’ many say that Zenawi has clung to power for far too long. As Ethiopians prepare for this year’s elections, human rights groups and U.S. lawmakers have expressed concern for political conditions in Ethiopia, citing authoritarian tendencies by its government including human rights abuses. Recently the Ethiopian government decided to jam Voice of America’s broadcasts in Amharic. The opposition continues to blame the government for the death of hundreds of protestors after the 2005 elections. They fear a repeat if government continues to detain opposition figures like Birtukan Mideksa. In a study recently released by the International Crisis Group (ICG) warns of the potential for a violent eruption of conflict ahead of the election scheduled for May 2010 because of rising ethnic tensions and dissent.
In a few days Ethiopians head to the polls for parliamentary elections. It is almost five years since the 2005 elections that were heavily criticized by the international observers for being less than free and fair, a claim that the ruling EPRDF has often denied, calling it an international conspiracy to discredit Meles Zenawi’s government.
Once described as Africa’s ‘new breed of leaders’ many say that Zenawi has clung to power for far too long. As Ethiopians prepare for this year’s elections, human rights groups and U.S. lawmakers have expressed concern for political conditions in Ethiopia, citing authoritarian tendencies by its government including human rights abuses. Recently the Ethiopian government decided to jam Voice of America’s broadcasts in Amharic. The opposition continues to blame the government for the death of hundreds of protestors after the 2005 elections. They fear a repeat if government continues to detain opposition figures like Birtukan Mideksa. In a study recently released by the International Crisis Group (ICG) warns of the potential for a violent eruption of conflict ahead of the election scheduled for May 2010 because of rising ethnic tensions and dissent.
The ICG called on the international community to “stop ignoring and downplaying these problems and encourage meaningful democratic governance in the country,”
Analysts say that things have changed this time around. One of the encouraging signs was the recent move by Siye Abraha a respected military general to the opposition. His clout combined with that of former president Negasso Gidada could present a formidable challenge to the incumbent party. However others say that there are no signs that Meles Zenawi is ready to give up power and that the elections are more of a show to appease the international community. Bereket Simon the government spokesman says that the government has broadened the democratic space to avoid a repeat of the bloody 2005 post-election violence. He told VOA’s James Butty that his government had
drafted a code of conduct signed by the major political parties. He also said that the public broadcasting service allocated about 570 hours of radio and television time to the parties “for the first time in our history the federal government has given political parties financial subsidies. So in our opinion, everything is in place for the upcoming elections,” he said.
Bereket Simon said assertions by the opposition that the government was already violating the electoral code of conduct were a smear campaign by those who did not sign the code.
I had a long discussion with three analysts who have been following the political process in Ethiopia. Jawal Siraj a political commentator,Henok Fente a reporter with the Voice of America Horn of Africa and recent Law School graduate from the University of Addis Ababa. The second part of our discussion with be posted in the coming days as events unfold leading to the elections and after the elections.
