US CONGRESS KEEN TO ASSIST ETHIOPIA IN DEMOCRATIZATION PROCESS



Addis Ababa, 29 July: Californian State Congressman Mike Honda said the US Congress would do everything possible toward ensuring democratic system in Ethiopia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

In a statement it sent to Ethiopian News Agency [ENA] on Thursday [28 July], the ministry said Congressman Honda, who is also Chairman of the Ethiopian-Americans Group, expressed the commitment of the US Congress in assisting Ethiopia toward institutionalizing democratic system.

Congressman Honda made the remark last Monday while opening a meeting on role of Ethiopia-US relations in combating international terrorism organized by Public Affairs Committee of the Ethiopian-American Group in Washington DC.

Honda said on the occasion he has a better understanding about the prevailing situation in Ethiopia owing to his visit to the country recently.

He said the Ethiopian-American Group would play its level best toward encouraging Ethiopians living abroad to contribute their share in ensuring democracy and sustainable economic development in the country.

According to the statement, prominent scholars presented papers on, among others, the Ethiopia-US relations, May national elections and democracy in Ethiopia, and the role of Ethiopia in combating international terrorism in the course of the meeting.

Members of the US Congress, representatives from USAID, Ethiopians and people from Ethiopian origin living in Washington DC, and radio programme producers, and representatives of the civic associations were in attendance at the meeting, the statement said.

HEADLINE: ETHIOPIA: POLICE DENY OPPOSITION'S ALLEGATION ABOUT KILLING OF WITNESS IN CENTRE

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Text of report in English by Ethiopian news agency ENA website

Addis Ababa, 27 July: Chief Sergeant of Woremo Wajitu Police Station [Central Ethiopia] has refuted the allegation made by the Coalition for Unity and Democracy [CUD] in a statement it recently issued with the United Ethiopian Democratic Forces [UEDF] saying its witness by the name Wedu Delelegn was killed in Meragna Constituency in Mida Woremu Woreda [District].

Family of the deceased said Wedu was not a witness of CUD. They added, he rather had served as a team leader in development activities undertaken by the government.

Chief Sergeant Yesuf Legese told journalists that the suspect has given his word that his motive to kill Wedu was vengeance.

Chief Sergeant Yesuf said CUD's allegation that Wedu was killed in ambush while he was coming to testify in favour of CUD's election complaints is simply baseless.

The Chief Sergeant said the killer of Wedu was caught red-handed and the investigation on the killing has been finalized, adding the suspect in his own words admitted to have killed Wedu in vengeance as the deceased had earlier killed his cousin.

Preparation is been finalized to submit the investigation file to the local justice office, the Chief Sergeant said, adding it was confirmed that the killing of Wedu had nothing to do with the investigation of alleged election irregularities.

The late Wedu's brother, Ababi Delelegn, on his part said his brother had been a team leader in local development activities carried out by the government until his death, and that he had no link with CUD.

Ababi said his brother had served in various positions in educational and other local development activities, adding that he was not a member of any political party.

Investigation committee representative with north Shewa zone police branch office, Chief Sergeant Yitagesu Abi on his part said the deceased and the suspect were relatives. He said the suspect, Mucho Mengistie, is in fact the cousin of the deceased.

He said Wedu's brother by the name Zewdu Delelegn had earlier killed another cousin of Mucho Mengistie, and that is what triggered the vengeance, that resulted in the killing of Wedu.

A crew of journalists from radio and television agency who were in the area reported quoting police that the suspect had killed Wedu on 16 July 2005 while he was returning from market.

It is to be recalled that in a statement it issued on 19 July with the UEDF, CUD has said that a witness was killed in Meragna constituency in Mida Woremu Woreda.

Asked to comment on the allegation, the National Electoral Board had said it had received no charge concerning the case.
HEADLINE: ETHIOPIA: ELECTION RESULTS ANNOUNCED ACCORDING TO CONSTITUTION - BOARD

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Text of report in English by Ethiopian news agency ENA website

Addis Ababa, 29 July: The National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) says the board has been disclosing official election results in order to discharge its responsibilities entrusted to it by the constitution and electoral law, not to please or disappoint leaderships of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) or the United Ethiopian Democratic Forces (UEDF).

In a statement NEBE issued late on Thursday [28 July], the board said NEBE is accountable to the House of Peoples Representatives and the people of Ethiopia, but not to political parties.

Thus, the statement said, NEBE does not need the good will of CUD or UEDF to declare official election results.

The board is, as stipulated in the electoral law, fully mandated to probe into election irregularities, cancel results as well as hold re-run elections.

The statement said CUD and UEDF need to recognize the fact that NEBE has decided to investigate alleged election irregularities in the presence of contesting parties and international observers in line with the law is indicative of the neutrality and independence of the board.

The statement said the investigation process is nearing completion owing to extensive mobilization of manpower and materials by the board as well as relentless support it secured from the international community.

NEBE has so far announced official results of 435 constituencies including those constituencies where complaints have not been filed and contested constituencies where complaints rejected for lacking concrete evidences.

The results of the remaining constituencies would be disclosed next week, the statement added.

It said the complaint investigation process is being conducted as per the guidelines agreed up on by the concerned parties and in the presence of international observers.

Despite all these genuine efforts, leaderships of CUD and UEDF seize every opportunity to echo that NEBE is not independent, the statement said.

Basically, the neutrality of one institution is determined by the structure and working mechanism of the institution, not by views and perspective of individuals, it added.

Email: shirdons@yahoo.com

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