UEDF says preparing to initiate ‘tide of popular struggle’
- CUD discusses current political affairs with Woreda 5 residents



Addis Ababa, August 28,2005- The United Ethiopian Democratic Forces (UEDF) said it is making preparations to initiate, in concert with other opposition forces, what it called ‘a tide of popular struggle’ under the slogan “Respect Peoples’ Voice” in the coming Ethiopian New Year.

UEDF made the announcement in a resolution adopted at the conclusion of its 2nd regular conference held in Rockwell, Maryland in the United States of America.

UEDF said it has set up a coordinating task force to organize from October 1-2, 2005 what it called a “National Conference of Peace, Citizens’ Unity and Democracy” in which a cross-section of the public would participate so as to realize its plan.

UEDF said in its statement posted (in Amharic) on the Internet that it would hold on the 3rd of October 2005 a demonstration aimed at realizing its strategy dubbed “a tide of popular struggle” in which its supporters here and abroad would launch the massive movement.

The statement said if EPRDF does not accept the proposal jointly forwarded by CUD [Coalition for Unity and Democracy] and UEDF for the establishment of a National Unity Government, it (UEDF) would work hard to realize what it called a “popular mayhem”.

UEDF admits in its resolution that due to various internal reasons, it did not obtain election results as per its expectations. Nevertheless, the resolution says, the Union will not accept the election results, anyway.

The statement also said UEDF’s participation in the May 15 National Election in Ethiopia was a subtly designed mechanism to launch a sustainable tide of popular struggle geared towards transferring the public to a democratic system.

The statement expressed UEDF’s concern over the support rendered by some unidentified influential governments to the ruling-EPRDF, while they neglected opposition parties.

The statement indicated that UEDF, which was established in the United States on August 5, 2003 by 14 political organizations that have different political programmes, adding it is registered as a legal body through five member parties of the Union.

The UEDF resolution demanded the lifting of the restriction imposed on member parties of the Union and individuals who are branded by EPRDF as enemies, so that they could unconditionally enter into the country.

One of the overseas members of UEDF, Dr. Negede Gobezie, who is regarded by many as the strategist of the opposition parties, and other leaders of the UEDF are allegedly involved in the infamous Red Terror, which claimed the lives of thousands of innocent Ethiopians in the late 1970s.

Meanwhile, residents of Woreda 5 in Addis Ketema Sub-city here in the metropolis vowed to accept and implement the decisions the Council of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) will pass based on discussions with the public on the issue of whether or not CUD should join the Parliament.

The residents made the pledge in a public meeting CUD organized at the Ras Theatre, where leaders of the party briefed the residents about the May 15 national elections

(ENA)