NEBE misleads Associated Press in election results
By Liz Burlastino
26/06/05
A senior official of the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) misled the Associated Press by deliberately releasing inaccurate information to the news wire service, it was claimed.

The senior official, who hid his identity under the cover of anonymity, told AP that the “official results” released today were uncontested. In its news wire headlined “Ethiopian ruling party, allies short of majority for govt”, AP reported that the party and its allies were 11 seats short of the majority needed to government.”

“The uncontested results of 435 seats of the 547-member lower house of the legislature gave 242 seats to the ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front while smaller, allied political parties have 22 seats, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity since the results have not yet been officially released,” AP reported.

However, it turned out that eighty-eight of the 128 results declared were those which Complaint Investigation Panels (CIPs) recommended upholding of provisional results and the remaining 40 were the ones rejected by the Complaints Review Body (CRB) after a hearing despite the strong protests by the main opposition parties, UEDF and CUD.

The two opposition parties have already branded investigations into alleged election fraud a failure, saying their representatives in panels probing the charges have been arrested, beaten and killed by pro-government militias. They indicated last week that they would take legal action against what they called it a totally unacceptable practice of the ruling party and NEBE.

The parties have also called on the NEBE to stop working against the democratic process in collusion with the ruling party to give it an advantage in the “farcical and unfair election probs.”

The said official created the impression that the opposition did not contest the results while they had already condemned the NEBE for its flagrant partisanship with the ruling party. “The official’s conduct violated the code of conduct that NEBE. They don’t even respect their own rules,” said Mehari Negash.

According to opposition sources the unfair election probes, which have been undertaking under threats, intimidation and imprisonment of opposition supporters and sympathizers, is expected to prove nothing but the resolve of the ruling party and its brainchild, the NEBE, to cling to power despite being rejected by the people.

After protests defying a controversial government ban, on 8th June 2005, the ruling party resorted to terrorist tactics of killings, intimidations, mass arrests prompting strong international condemnations. The Prime Minister defended his actions saying he gave orders to put down “insurrection.” Diplomatic sources believe that the PM has in effect admitted giving orders for the massacre of stone-throwing civilians, which put him in precarious political future. If an independent inquiry commission finds him responsible, he could be impeached and face trials, which all depends on the strength of the judicial system.

Ethiopians across the country have been caught in uncertainties, as most believe that the Prime Minister has stolen the people’s vote in collusion with NEBE. Many Ethiopians say they have lost confidence in the whole process of election. “A new election must be held as soon as practically possible. The people don’t want to be ruled by Meles Zenawi, who never qualifies to be our leader. We need a leader that truly represents the interests of Ethiopians, ” says Abera Lema, a college lecturer.

He said an interim government aimed at organising a truly fair elections within a year should be formed to end the political stalemate which has caused a great deal of tension and polarisation in the poor nation, which is facing another cycle of famine.
END/NAR

Well observed!

Abide by legal principles
Ø In the previous regimes political power was an instrument in the hands of few gathered around Haile Sellassie and Mengistu. The vast majority, the oppressed people of nations and nationalities were absolutely condemned to lack of free and equal rights. They were forced to sing about the infallibility of the rulers. When appropriate, political power was applied for suppressing the resistance of the people struggle for democracy. In this respect political power in the hands of EPRDF has proved to be different in essence form that of the Imperial and derge regimes. Citizens including functionaries of those regimes enjoy free and equal rights at full scale . As a result all citizens participate in deciding the destiny of the country. We have a federal system of government practiced by electing representatives of the citizens by the citizens. This is what is called indirect participation. When a representative is found guilty of serious weaknesses of expectations citizens have the right and power to pull him out of the parliament seat and replace him by a representative who is considered to be reliable. This is what is called direct participation in the political system of government established in the context of the constitution.
Ø The political system we are in demands every body to respect democratic principles practiced in civilized world. As there are free and equal rights any opinion be it positive in encouraging democratic way of life or negative in causing the political system to appear evil in the eyes of citizens inside the country or the international community provided it is legal is respected. Diversification of opinions is in line with the system. Political groupings are permissible on the basis of political point of view one could possibly uphold. As far as it is in the context of the constitution political parties and individual citizens have full right to run for any level of political power. And citizens can cast votes for any party or individual whom they consider represent their wills and wishes. Competing forces are obliged to accept election results. If a force comes up with any alleged injustice can present its case for the electoral board for investigation. If the decision of the investigation is considered unacceptable the road to the legal court is wide open.


Ø The said principles are currently put in practice. As this is the case there is no ground for any fraud. Any effort to call on the electoral board to stop working in line with democratic principles would be farcical and characteristic of those beasts in the forest. Real human beings have human values Any effort to cling to power despite being rejected by the majority vote does not contribute to strengthen democracy in this country. Any act guided by destructive ego will not pay off , rather it may result in permanent disappearance from the democratically and legally constructed political arena of the country. The peaceful and democratic forum does not attract those who commit to any form of violence. Linkage with a chorus of ISEPA and MEISON type of complaints does not smell of democracy which the civilized world appreciates. Therefore we expect of the opposition parties especially CUD and UEDF to exhibit determination and firmness of purpose which should be guided by the democratic principles. Even if you have inflated opinion of yourselves, what one expects from you is nothing but to be abided by the legal principles stipulated in the constitution.