this could be a fabricated story by ENA
------------------
US lawmaker urges Ethiopian opposition not to boycott parliament

ADDIS ABABA, Aug 15 (AFP) — A leading US Congresssman urged Ethiopia’s opposition not to put into effect threats to boycott parliament in protest against alleged fraud in May’s general elections.
Chris Smith Visiting Republican representative Chris Smith said the opposition would be better off voicing its views within the parliamentary system than from the outside, the state-run news agency and opposition officials said.

"Opposition parties can play a positive role by actively participating in debates and other mutual concerns of the country peacefully," the official Ethiopian News Agency (ENA) quoted him as saying.

"That is why multi-party or two-party systems are so good," said Smith, the chairman of the House International Relations Committee’s panel on Africa and human rights, according to ENA.

Smith, on the first leg of a two-nation Africa trip that will also take him to Sudan, spoke to ENA after separate meetings with Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and opposition officials in which the disputed May 15 polls were a major focus, it said.

After peaceful polling marked by massive turnout, the electoral process deteriorated in June when preliminary results showing a ruling party victory sparked protests over alleged fraud that led to deadly violence in the capital.

Final results released this month confirmed a win for Meles’ ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) but the opposition has refused to accept the returns.

Instead, they have proposed the formation of a national unity government to oversee new polls, a suggestion rejected outright by the EPRDF which has said acceptance would be anathema to democracy and violate the will of the voters.

In the absence of a power-sharing resolution, the opposition has threatened to boycott parliament, where it won significant gains that the ruling party has conceded, including all 23 seats in Addis Ababa.

Opposition party officials said they were disappointed by Smith’s calls for them to drop protests over alleged fraud, complaining the congressman did not understand the situation in Ethiopia, a key US ally in the region.

"We have realized Congressman Smith had not been well informed of the situation," said Beyene Petros, vice chairman of the opposition United Ethiopian Democratic Forces (UEDF).

"By implication, his message was asking us to join (parliament) as the opposition with more seats than we had before and prepare ourselves for the next elections," Beyene told AFP.

He said hoped Smith would convey the opposition’s concerns to Meles in follow-up meetings in the coming days.

The story on VOA was different? May be it is one of those Bereket's misquotations.

Email: jaduethio@yahoo.com

City: DC area

My question to the congressman is —To resolve this mess fair and square, why not rerun the election just like Ukraine did with the international observers? The congressman needs to work on what the people of Ethiopia want not what Meles wants. For God’s sake Meles has been a treacherous leader for fourteen years—enough!!

The most important thing we need to know is we the people of Ethiopia have rejected the Meles/Bereket Eritrean rule in Ethiopia.If the opposition remains strong and reject the so-called election reasult I have no doubt that Mr.Smith will be the first one to congradulate the future true Ethiopian Government, which will be established after the TPLF regime is defeated.
We need to focus and stay on course.Ethiopia at this point is ruled by Eritrean agents,bandas from Adwa.We have to pay every price for change.

City: Alexandria

It is up to us Ethiopians in diaspora to inform the congressman and other leaders of the undemocratic nature of Meles and Co. We have to fight the disinformation by Meles and Co. with information.

Let us stay focused and channel our anger to promoting the cause of the Ethiopian people. Action, action, action!

I doubt if the west has any intention of democratizing Africa. Let's pose and recall our history and learn how our fathers were able to fold covert foriegn interventions.

gm

Email: getahun35@yaqhoo.com

City: Hyattsville

Again further Blow for your Boosting.
I am sure most of you are not ready to accept the
Truth even if you know this is inly way.
First EU, then AU now USA witnessed that the Game is
over.
Please be aware of fact and let your childish Game
at home.

Email: Teddyzek@hotmail.com

City: Addis/Arada

The most important thing we need to know is that the prvious regime(for 100 years)was basically dominated by Amhara Feudals.This arrogant system is once defeated for ever.Even now we are ready to pay any price for the theory of one language one Identity emanated by CUD. The stragle for freedom and democracy
will continue antil the arrogants make them calm.

Email: hawelttariku@yahoo.com

City: Addis Ababa

I WOULD LIKE TO REITERATE THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN THIS EQUASION IS THE ETHIOPOAN PEOPLE'S DECISION !
THE COUNTRY IS OUR'S, SO ANY INTERNAL MATTER IS THE ETHIOPAN PEOPLE'S BUSINESS TO SOLVE. WE ETHIOPIANS DON'T, WON'T , SHOULD NOT RELAY ON ANY FOREIGN, ALIAN, GOVERNMENT, LET ALONE AN INDIVIDUAL, TO SOLVE OUR PROBLEMS. WE KNOW OUR ENEMY (TPLF) BETTER THAN THEY DO, AND WE WILL DEAL WITH THEM AS SUCH. THE ETHIOPIAN PEOPLE WILL NEVER BACK DOWN WITH OUT MAKING SURE THE VOTE OF THE PEOPLE IS RESPECTED!!!!

I want to let you know that Amhara will crash your type again if you don't straighten out.
Your stupid bird brain is washed out by stupid TPLF's propaganda. Amhara was , is, and will always be for all, for unity, and one country with no haterade amongest Ethiopians, for respect and integrity of our nation.
You are very poor. Poor because, you don't have an identity, you are a sell out, a treator with nothing to be proud of.'
You are enslaved by your stupid mentality which is very characteristic of TPLF
and Shabia !

I want to let you know that Amhara will crash your type again if you don't straighten out.
Your stupid bird brain is washed out by stupid TPLF's propaganda. Amhara was , is, and will always be for all, for unity, and one country with no haterade amongest Ethiopians, for respect and integrity of our nation.
You are very poor. Poor because, you don't have an identity, you are a sell out, a treator with nothing to be proud of.'
You are enslaved by your stupid mentality which is very characteristic of TPLF
and Shabia !
We don't want you on our forum, why do you sniff around ? It is because you are our dog!! and you know it !!!

Why is Mr.Smith advise the oppositon parties not to boycot entering into parliament?Did not he hear Meles Zenawi's plan to trap the opposition parties members in the parlament?Did not he hear the out going Meles's backed parlament designed new ruls and proceduers to make the new parlament functionless?Please if he can do something good for Ethiopia let he insist his government to force the EPRDF regim to organise a reelection.

Email: tarikyeseral@yahoo.com

City: A.A

Did the oppositions tell you about the discussion between them and US congressman? No. This type of modern war and terror is going on by the TPLF criminal cadres against the Ethiopian people including in the Internet. People, before we responding to any action, we have to try to see whether it is true or not. The oppositions and congressman for sure did or will discus about the election as it is very important about the future to our country. With in the discussion framework, the congressman might/may raise the question of boycotting the parliament. That means, he is not asking or warning or advising or else the opposition to join a gorilla originated TPLF cadres rule. People wake up; TPLF is not engaging against the Ethiopian people on the ground but also in the cyber. They are in defence with the last resort they have. How is it possible groups of criminal cadres became able to play with the level of our thinking. As long as we know the way they are playing dirty games against us, we will stay as talking groups with no practical results.

Email: Gimma@hotmail.com

It is not the time to be immotional, childish or make chauvinist remarks. What is going on in Ethiopia is serious and dangerous.

What we need political skill and a focus on how to defeat an ethnic rule and establish multi-ethnic society where all are treated equally. Any statement against other ethnic groups including against Tigrie people distracts our direction and serves the interest of the ethnic rulers.

The leaders should tell therir constitutencies that the struggle is long and protracted and that supporters should be ready for civil disobedience. Those who live outside should should also start making financial contributions.

City: Paris

Hawelt Tariku,

I think you are already infected with the Ethnicity diseases TPLF cadres are spreading for the last 14 years to destroy Ethiopia hoping they would build Tigry this way. As the TPLF cadres told you, you are caring on saying Amhara as an Ethnic group. Amhara was/ is not an Ethnic Group. Amhara means the free people of Ethiopia. Free from Ethnicity, religious fanatic and sexism. All members of the free people of Ethiopia (Amhara) are from all ethnic groups in the country. Take menilk II. He was born from Ethnic based family members, and became free from Ethnicity and religion by joining the already free people of Ethiopia (Amhara). Haile selasse and menen. Who were they from their grand parents? They chose to be free and joined the free people of Ethiopia( Anhara). Mengistu Hilemariam. He also became free and joined the free people of Ethiopia. If you see the people inside the Amhara, you see all kinds of faces and postures. This shows Amhara is not from one Ethnic group but from all ethnic groups of Ethiopia.
Believe me. The Amhara (free people of Ethiopia) will continue playing important roles in Ethiopia. Every one wants to be free from your Ethnic poison to affect people's day-to-day life. We continue with our old inter marriage relationship among all Ethnic groups of Ethiopia. If you force to chose a person or a child who have an oromo grandfather and Afar grandmother from his/her father side and a gurage grandfather and tigre grandmother, what would be his/ her choice according to TPLF policies? The Amharas (free people of Ethiopia) created from these kinds of situations. Amharas are groups of free people comes from Oromo, Sidama, gurage, Tigre, kembata, shankla, hadija, Afar, Somali, Irob etc. But you don’t admit the truth. You are shouting the false propaganda told you by TPLF as Amhara an Ethnic group. As the free people of Ethiopia (the Amharas ) will stand strongly to protect their freedom from bad people like TPLF. Most of the Ethiopian young people don't like to be part of only one Ethnic group. They want to be free from Ethnicity and religion and become Amhara (the free people of Ethiopia). A Criminal Woyane policy for 14 years will never change the best way of life all the Ethiopian people have for years.

Email: Gimma@hotmail.com

My friend/brother:
No one can put the fact any better than you did.
The deciples of TPLF unfortunately, blinded by pure stupidity, with false hope of clinging to sweet power, choose to not acknowledge that fact. This is a testament to how backward TPLF is and their way of thinking.
I feel assured that a backward government will never lead Amhara !!!!

Look here guys, the world is a small place. be an internationalist and join hands with all oppressed people of the world for freedom and fairness for all. Village politics, ethnic hatred is not the way forward. It is a reflection of backward societies.

AS USUAL AMERICA IS BACKING A DEAD HORSE!AND EVER SINKING IN TO QUICKSAND.IS THRE NOT A KENEDDY,A REGON ,OR A CLINTON,IN THE NAME OF GOD, TO TAKE AWAY POWER FROM THIS LITTLE BOY,BEFORE HE STARTS WORLD WAR THREE!!
THE ETHIOPIAN PEOPLE HAVE REJECTED THE ALBANYA LIKE COMMUNISM DRESSED UP IN LOOK ALIKE DEMOCRACY,TO DUPE THE WEST.
HOUNERABLE,CONGRESS MAN,WE KNOW YOU ARE ALL,ALL HONURABLE MEN,AS SUCH WE APPEAL TO YOU ,CITING FROM YOUR OWEN CONSTITUTION,"THAT ALL MEN ARE BBORN EQUAL..."
DEMOCRACY HAS NO COLOUR!THERE IS NO ONE DEMOCRACY FOR BLACK AND ONE DEMOCRACY FOR WHITE!AS A NATION AMERICA HAVE TRIED THIS PRACTICE THIS DUAL DEMOCRACY FOR YEARS,AND BLOODS WERE SHADE IN THE STREES OF AMERICA!RESULTING IN AMERICA ACCEPTING THE TRUTH THAT THERE FOR FATHERS HAVE EMBEDED IN THE CONSTITUTION,THAT THERE IS ONLY ONE DEMOCRACY..BY THE PEOPLE,FOR THE PEPOLE,AND WITH THE PEOPLE;MAY GOD BLESS AB'S SOUL
YOUR,HONOR
AMERICA AAND THE WEST HAVE SPENT UNTOLD AMOUNT OF ITS CITIZEN TAX MONEY FOR AIDS,EDUCATION AND BUILDING OF POOR AND BACKWORDS COUNTRIES,LIKE ETHIOPIA.YOUR PLANT
IS READY AND ABOUT TO GIVE FRUIT!WOULDN'T YOU LIKE TO SEE ITS FIRST FRUIT?
YOUR HONOR!
AMERICA'SFIRST ACT TOWARDS DEMOCRACY WAS TO KICK OUT THE COLONIALIST REGEME OF IMPERIAL ENGLAND,BY FORCE!
ALTHOUGH,WE THE PRESENT DAY ETHIOPIAN HAVE NO GUN.AS OUR AWRE,DICTATOR HAS WE HAVE FOUGHT HIM IN THE STREET,IN THE MOUNTAINS,USING ONLY THE BALLOT AND HAVE VANQUASHED HIM TO THE AMAZMENT OF THE WORLD!IN ABSOLUTE DITHER,TITHER STATE OF MIND THE AWARE,,GIVE ORDER FOR TANKS TO COME OUT AND MOW DOWN THE CITIZEN OF ADDIS,RESULTING IN THE MASSACRE OF JUNE 8.THE MASSACARE IS LIKE THAT OF TTHE FAMIOUS MASSACARE OF GRAZZINE DURING ITALIAN OCCUPTION IN 1936-8.
YOUR HONOR
IN THE NAME OF GOD!IN THE NAME OF HUMANITY,THE ETHIOPIAN PEOPLE WONTS TO GET THIS RUTHLESS DICTATOR OUT,AND ESTABLISH DEMOCRACY.THAT IS THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE!!
PLEASE TAKE THIS UNITED MESSAGE AND EXPLAIN IT TO PRESEDANT BUSH IN THE MOST MOST SIMPELEST TERM,SO HE CAN KNOW "WHAT IS GO'G ON"IF YOU ASK ME,I TRULY BELIVE ,HE DOES N'T EVEN KNOW WHERE ETHIOPIA IS!ANYWAY,THANKS AND GOD BE WITH YOU FOR YOUR EFFORT!!

Email: messayewossen@yahoo.com

City: los angels

AS USUAL AMERICA IS BACKING A DEAD HORSE!AND EVER SINKING IN TO QUICKSAND.IS THRE NOT A KENEDDY,A REGON ,OR A CLINTON,IN THE NAME OF GOD, TO TAKE AWAY POWER FROM THIS LITTLE BOY,BEFORE HE STARTS WORLD WAR THREE!!
THE ETHIOPIAN PEOPLE HAVE REJECTED THE ALBANYA LIKE COMMUNISM DRESSED UP IN LOOK ALIKE DEMOCRACY,TO DUPE THE WEST.
HOUNERABLE,CONGRESS MAN,WE KNOW YOU ARE ALL,ALL HONURABLE MEN,AS SUCH WE APPEAL TO YOU ,CITING FROM YOUR OWEN CONSTITUTION,"THAT ALL MEN ARE BBORN EQUAL..."
DEMOCRACY HAS NO COLOUR!THERE IS NO ONE DEMOCRACY FOR BLACK AND ONE DEMOCRACY FOR WHITE!AS A NATION AMERICA HAVE TRIED THIS PRACTICE THIS DUAL DEMOCRACY FOR YEARS,AND BLOODS WERE SHADE IN THE STREES OF AMERICA!RESULTING IN AMERICA ACCEPTING THE TRUTH THAT THERE FOR FATHERS HAVE EMBEDED IN THE CONSTITUTION,THAT THERE IS ONLY ONE DEMOCRACY..BY THE PEOPLE,FOR THE PEPOLE,AND WITH THE PEOPLE;MAY GOD BLESS AB'S SOUL
YOUR,HONOR
AMERICA AAND THE WEST HAVE SPENT UNTOLD AMOUNT OF ITS CITIZEN TAX MONEY FOR AIDS,EDUCATION AND BUILDING OF POOR AND BACKWORDS COUNTRIES,LIKE ETHIOPIA.YOUR PLANT
IS READY AND ABOUT TO GIVE FRUIT!WOULDN'T YOU LIKE TO SEE ITS FIRST FRUIT?
YOUR HONOR!
AMERICA'SFIRST ACT TOWARDS DEMOCRACY WAS TO KICK OUT THE COLONIALIST REGEME OF IMPERIAL ENGLAND,BY FORCE!
ALTHOUGH,WE THE PRESENT DAY ETHIOPIAN HAVE NO GUN.AS OUR AWRE,DICTATOR HAS WE HAVE FOUGHT HIM IN THE STREET,IN THE MOUNTAINS,USING ONLY THE BALLOT AND HAVE VANQUASHED HIM TO THE AMAZMENT OF THE WORLD!IN ABSOLUTE DITHER,TITHER STATE OF MIND THE AWARE,,GIVE ORDER FOR TANKS TO COME OUT AND MOW DOWN THE CITIZEN OF ADDIS,RESULTING IN THE MASSACRE OF JUNE 8.THE MASSACARE IS LIKE THAT OF TTHE FAMIOUS MASSACARE OF GRAZZINE DURING ITALIAN OCCUPTION IN 1936-8.
YOUR HONOR
IN THE NAME OF GOD!IN THE NAME OF HUMANITY,THE ETHIOPIAN PEOPLE WONTS TO GET THIS RUTHLESS DICTATOR OUT,AND ESTABLISH DEMOCRACY.THAT IS THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE!!

Email: messayewossen@yahoo.com

City: los angels

I believe the Congresman who visited Ethiopia recenlty has been well briefed about the current volatile situation in the country before and after his visit to Addis -Abeba. Meeting the opposition leaders before his talks with Meles, by itself, should be seen as a sign of goodwill to the Ethiopian people who flocked in millions to the polling staions on May 7, to elect their representatives.The proposal presented to Meles and his cronies to form a provisional administration by theCDU and UEDF is a great hope for rooting democratic structures in Ethiopia and Africa in general. The repressentative from the American state of Maryland must have realised this fact and should encourage this process. America and the world should realise that thy have able, reliable and mature partners in the opposition raher than the crooks that are steering Ethiopia and the entire area to disaster at the moment.The Ethiopian people are tired and their patience have come to an end with the false pretences and Bantustanite (Killel) propagaters and enforcers of the past 14 years. The International Community has been hoodwinked or has delibertely ignored the ill devised method of the past 14 years of the Meles regime which has no interesr in serving the wellbeing of the Ethiopian people or a mutual understanding of the International Comunity. The experiment hoisted by Rand Corporation on Ethiopia has failed and its sponsors should realise its failure and abandodn the project for the interest of both the Ethiopian and the American peoples and for the benefit of International peace and stability.

Email: sunn@chello.se

City: Stockholm

Of course they should not stay away from parliament. What an utter nonsense it would be to do so. Isn't it a responsibility from those who chose to elect them ?

If by abstaining from parliamentary politics our opposition politicians think they are protesting about the May elections, that would be a disasterous mistake.

My message for them is : get inside and fight to reform the system from within.

The congressman is hence right to urge our politicians to live upto their responsibilities.

City: Addis