Addis Fortune (Addis Ababa)

July 31, 2005
Tesfalem Waldyes

The Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) is calling for a reconstitution of the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) with the appointment of "neutral" personnel, as agreed by all parties involved, and for re-elections to be carried out in 299 constituencies or for the re-examination of the complaints in those constituents.

CUD's proposal followed NEBE's announcement of the results for the 435 seats of the House of Peoples' Representatives on July 26, 2005. This announcement gave the Ethiopian Peoples' Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), CUD and Union of Ethiopian Democratic Forces (UEDF) 241, 108, and 51 seats, respectively. NEBE made this announcement after complaints in 128 constituencies filed by the ruling and opposition parties. The results for these constituencies were added to the previous result, announced on July 9, for 307 seats which was accepted by all parties.

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The complaints in the 128 constituencies were presented to the Complaints Review Body (CRB), which upheld the results of 40 constituencies and referred the other 88 to the Complaints Investigation Panels (CIPs). The result that was announced by NEBE after the CIPs completed their work was rejected a day after by the two opposition parties, CUD and UEDF, which called a joint press conference at the Ibex Hotel.

The two parties went further, accusing NEBE as being a loyal agent of the EPRDF. They claimed that as a result of the unjust decisions of the NEBE, the people had been robbed of their voice. They called for the establishment of a neutral body so the people's voice could be respected and peace and stability could prevail. They demanded that a re-election or re-examination should be conducted in an atmosphere free from abduction, beatings, imprisonments and general harassment.

Gezachew Shiferaw, election watchman of CUD, said that the proclamation that established NEBE and authorized it to handle electoral processes was acceptable. He said, however, that the mode of operation and the administration and management of the board were problematic. The oppositions want to see Kemal Bedri, chairman of NEBE, and other board members, as well as other officials of the board, go.

"The existing board is staffed with incompetent people," he said.

Gizachew said that the new members to be elected should fulfil certain qualifications such as relevant experience and social acceptance.

According to Election Law of Ethiopia, amended in 2005, the board shall have seven members appointed by the House of Peoples' Representatives upon the recommendation of the Prime Minister. The proclamation says that the board members shall be appointed on account of their allegiance to the constitution, non-partisanship, and professional competence, and by taking into account their national contribution.

"The board, established in the spirit of the constitution and the electoral laws, is free and impartial," said Mekonnen Wondimu, acting registrar of the political parties of the board.

He added that the appointed people will be changed when their term of service, as stated in the law, is over. Replacements will be appointed by the House of Peoples' Representatives. He said that parties must ask the House if they want any change in the board.

According to NEBE's website, the board established in 1993 can administers elections at national and state levels, and recall elections and referendum. The Board can also issue necessary regulations and directives and is responsible for appointing and training electoral officers. It has a power to rectify electoral irregularities and investigate complaints submitted to it. It may cancel election results and order fresh elections where it finds that there have been violations of directives, or fraudulent acts, or disturbances of the peace of such a magnitude that they would create irregularities in the election process. It also confirms and officially announces results.

Gizachew said that he has no problem with the recommendation and appointment of members, but he argued that all parties should propose and screen out the people to be appointed. He expressed hope that the government could respond positively to their proposal. If that did not happen, CUD will consider its options, according to him.

READER!

CUD MUST BE IN STATE OF BEWILDERMENT TO BRING THIS PROPOSE AFTER SO MUCH HURDLE HAS PAST ONE POINT.

SECONDLY, IT IS FUNNY TO ACCEPT THE RESULT OF 248 WHILE REJECTING 299 AND ASK FOR REVOTE WITH NEW RECONSITUTED NEBE.

Gebreselassie,
You know who appointed NEBE and the decisions they made regaring election observers to observe in the rural areas.They denied them to observe until they were overruled by the High Court a mere 5 days to go before elections.All that was orchestrated to facilitate for EPRDF to do whatever they wanted.

Email: zghiwet@yahoo.ca

City: York

Amde-Meskel

IF CUD BELIEVES NEBE IS NOT UNACCEPTABLE WHY DID CUD DETERMINED TO ACCEPT THE OUT COME OF 248 VOTES AND REJECTS 299 VOTES?