It was triggered by recent developments in Ethiopia
involving the intensification of attacks on national
institutions such as the Church and the flagship
university, the vulnerability of millions of
Ethiopians to famine and pandemics such as AIDS, and
the gathering movement toward a united opposition to
tyranny. The declaration addresses citizens,
political organizations and civic groups that are
fighting to bring about meaningful political change in
Ethiopia. The EEDN declaration provides a more
nuanced and detailed follow-up to the Resolutions
passed by the “EEDN Conference on the Need for a New
Governance in Ethiopia,” in September 2001. Both
documents are available at our website: www.eedn.org.

MOTIVATION: We, the people, having watched Ethiopia
being relentlessly savaged and its venerable
institutions systematically dismantled by pernicious
dictators in the past three decades, and fervently
wishing to break this vicious cycle; and having ran
out of patience with a fractured opposition movement
that has so far been unable to unite around a common
vision and a concrete program of action, hereby submit
the following solemn declaration in the hope of
galvanizing citizens and organizations to mount an
effective struggle to reclaim our democratic rights
and salvage our historic national dignity.

We recognize that our country faces four major
challenges. First, over half of us do not meet the
most basic needs for a minimally decent life: food
security, clean water, literacy, and essential medical
services. Second, we have yet to resolve the discord
that has emerged between national identity and
regional identities so as to come up with a workable
formula for ‘unity in diversity.’ Third, we have yet
to transcend the traditional big-man (or the
modernized, big-clique) model of politics to build
sufficiently accountable, citizen-based organizations.
Fourth, we have not yet devised an amicable formula to
forgive, but not forget, our maltreatment of each
other so that we can single-mindedly concentrate on
the future rather than unduly dwell on the most
contestable aspects of our past.

MOTTO: To lead the Ethiopian people effectively, one
must first learn to follow them with humility.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:

SHORT VERSION: “We pledge allegiance to the Ethiopian
flag, and the history and ideals for which it stands:
one indivisible nation under God, and with equality
and freedom for all.”

LONG VERSION : “We, the citizens of Ethiopia, bound by
our common humanity, history and shared values, pledge
ourselves as one people, regardless of ethnicity,
language and religion, to build a truly democratic
society based on justice and equality, including
respect for individual human rights and the rule of
law, so as to achieve lasting peace, ethnic and
religious harmony, with prosperity and progress for
all of our people.”

A. Necessary Preparatory Measures (see below for
details)

In light of the demonstrated unwillingness of the
current regime to even consider changing its policies
and mode of governance:

1. We call on all Ethiopian political parties as well
as major civic and professional organizations to agree
on a common pan-Ethiopian platform for national
salvation.

2. We call on political parties with significant
domestic constituencies to develop a common
negotiating position concerning the key issues of
transition.

3. We urge political parties to issue public
declarations regarding the amendments they will make
to existing party programs to ensure full consistency
with the common platform.

B. Basic Principles that Inform a New Constitution

In light of the need to substantially revise the
current constitution or write a new one, we urge that
the following basic principles be embedded in it:

1. No Ethiopian shall go to bed hungry.

2. There shall be majority rule with protection of
minorities based on the principles of
one-person-one-vote, and the right of citizens to
live, work, or own property anywhere they like in
Ethiopia.

3. No political units shall be organized explicitly
along religious or ethnic lines. Self-governing
regions, under a decentralized unitary or federal
model, shall be established with full participation of
citizens and recognition of historical, social, and
economic links among people.

4. The integrity, including independence from
political interference, of key national institutions
(Church, Mosque, Universities, Civil Service and
Military) shall be protected.

5. There shall be a two-language policy: Amarigna as
the official national language, and the dominant
regional language(s) for each self-governing region.
Amarigna as the national language, and English as the
international lingua franca, shall be taught in all
private and public schools to ensure equal opportunity
and understanding by all in national life. Predominant
regional languages, e.g. Oromigna, Somaligna,
Tigrigna, Guragigna and Sidamigna, should be available
for all Ethiopians as languages to learn in public
school, college and university institutions.

6. The right of sub-regional communities to develop
and fully practice their cultures, languages and
customs shall be fully respected.

7. All political prisoners shall be released
immediately and unconditionally.

C. Negotiable Issues (on modality and timing only)

Should it become possible to end the misrule of the
Ethiopian people through negotiated means, it is our
fervent wish that:

1. A transitional government shall be established with
the participation all political parties and notable
civic organizations and with a firm timetable for
national elections.

2. A framework for truth and reconciliation shall be
agreed upon to handle the painful legacies of the Derg
and Woyane regimes.

3. A Constituent Assembly shall be elected to revise
the Constitution. We particularly draw attention to
articles in the current constitution pertaining to
ethnic-based killiloch (including the right to
secede), and state ownership of land that should be
stricken out unceremoniously.

4. An independent electoral commission shall be
established, and all political parties and civic
groups shall have equal access to the mass media under
a liberal press law.

5. Membership in the national military, civil service
and civic organizations shall be meritocratic and
reflective of the diversity of the country.

6. Full international auditing shall be conducted for
the banking system, key state enterprises, and
party-owned businesses.

7. No political party shall engage in any kind of
commercial activity. Existing party-owned assets
should be nationalized and liquidated.

8. Campaign financing shall be provided from state
coffers, and shall be disbursed by electoral
commission to groups on the basis of the sizes of
their constituencies.

9. The ruling party’s odious cadres who are currently
planted in government offices and civic organizations
shall be summarily dismissed.

10. In as much as donor countries profess to support
the present regime toward a path of democratization,
the opposition coalition shall formally request full
protection from persecution by the regime and equal
treatment with respect to diplomatic, political and
financial assistance.

D. Position Papers

Fully cognizant of the fact that political parties and
civic organizations that wish to assume responsibility
for governance must have a firm grasp of the problems
facing the Ethiopian people and a sound understanding
of the policy options, we urge that public debates go
beyond the tiresome ritual of regurgitating lofty
principles to address practical issues. Informed
public debates should be conducted on the basis of
position papers, based on sound research, on the
following key areas of urgent policy action:

1. Reform of Rural and Urban Lands

2. Appropriate Form of the State: Federal, Centralized
Unitary,
or Decentralized Unitary

3. Organization of Government: Relationship among the
Branches

4. Economic System: Free Market versus Regulated
Market

5. Appropriate Procedures for Conducting Elections for
a Predominantly Rural Society

6. Relationship between Church/Mosque and the State

7. Regional Policy: Coordination, Integration and Nile
Waters

8. Dealing with the Legacies of Totalitarianism:
Cadres, Regional Elites and the Challenge of
Recreating Local Leadership

9. Economic Policy to Restore Rural Livelihoods and
Diversify the Economy

10. Management of Foreign Development Assistance and
Investmen