ENA is a government news agency so more likely most of what's reported here is not the fact
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The Ethiopian Herald (Addis Ababa)
August 19, 2005
ENA
Addis Ababa
The Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) announced that it has filed charges against the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) concerning what it said "irregularities" conducted by the Board.
At a press conference they gave here yesterday, officials of CUD said the Coalition has filed charges to the Federal High Court, so that the Court could order the NEBE to give copies of decisions of complaint hearing bodies, minutes, audiocassettes and other relevant documents to the CUD.
CUD has also said it has demanded under oath for the suspension of decisions of the NEBE, which declared victory for EPRDF to establish the next government as well as cancellation of rerun elections in constituencies where CUD had won the elections.
Executive committee members of the CUD also said though CUD had repeatedly asked the NEBE to get documents and evidences that support its charges, NEBE has refused to respond.
Responding to a question raised concerning CUD's decision to go to the Court seeking solutions for election related problems, which is contrary to what has been repeatedly said by its leaders, the members said CUD has filed charges as it has left with no other option.
Concerning the readiness of CUD to accept the rulings of the Court, they said CUD has all rights to reject any rulings given in contrast to its beliefs.
The leaders also indicated that CUD has asked for the cancellation of rerun elections in areas where CUD had won the election, while the EPRDF has lodged complaints.
Concerning the charges filed against NEBE, Board Deputy Head, Tesfaye Mengesha told ENA that CUD had asked for the documents at the time when recommendations of the Complaints Investigation Panels (CIPs) were being presented to the Board, adding, the Board was unable to do so at that time.
Tesfaye said the United Ethiopian Democratic Forces (UEDF) has obtained copies of minutes and decisions based on its request presented after the CIPs had already finalized presenting their recommendations to the Board.
Though the Board had informed CUD to take copies of the decisions through one of the members of the CUD Executive Committee, Engineer Gizachew Shiferaw, he did not take copies of the decisions, Tesfaye said.
